Case Manager For Runaway & Homeless Youth

 Ambassadors For Christ Youth Ministries, Inc. (AFC) is a model 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed in 2006 for the purpose of providing multifaceted prevention and intervention programs for at-risk, underprivileged, and displaced youth. AFC has provided service as an outlet and platform for growth to over 16,000 at risk youth in partnership with schools, churches, and other community serving youth programs throughout the Houston, Texas, and Pine Bluff/Little Rock, Arkansas areas for more than 15 years. AFC's overarching goal is to inspire excellence and promote leadership in youth, regardless of their backgrounds, through the implementation of multifaceted youth development programs centered around homelessness prevention, mental health and substance use prevention/intervention, and the overall reduction of sexual and other risky behaviors.

We are presently seeking candidates with excellent skills and experience working with at-risk youth to serve as Case-Managers for all of our youth prevention, intervention, treatment, and referral programs. The Case Managers will facilitate intake and assessments, referrals, outreach, recruitment and retention efforts, and will report to the programs’ Project Managers. All positions are salary/full-time.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS:

Project EQUIP: a prevention navigator program that delivers substance abuse, HIV and hepatitis prevention education, HIV and viral hepatitis (VH) testing, and navigation services. The Case Manager will ensure that his/her assigned clients receives a coordinated range of client-centered services linking clients with health care, psychosocial and other services. The Case Manager is responsible for completing quarterly reassessments with clients to include completion of a care plan in addition to seeing clients periodically to address their current needs and checking compliance to medical care and adherence HIV medications. The Case Manager is responsible for entering all client data, units of service, and case notes into the database in a timely manner.

Project REACH: serves homeless individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), serious emotional disturbance (SED), substance use disorders (SUD), and/or co-occurring disorders. The goal of this program is to increase capacity and provide accessible, effective, comprehensive, coordinated, integrated, and evidence-based treatment services, peer support and other recovery support services, and linkages to sustainable permanent housing. The Case Manager is responsible for completing quarterly reassessments with clients to include completion of a care plan in addition to seeing clients periodically to address their current needs and checking compliance and adherence to Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) and overdose prevention care. The Case Manager will also make proper referrals for housing to the HUD Coordinated Entry system.

Transitional Living Program (TLP): a holistic service approach to operating within a framework of positive youth development (PYD), trauma-informed care, evidence-informed practices, Social Support and Relationship Capacity Building, and Coping Strategies that helps runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) between the ages of 16 to under 22 establish sustainable living and well-being for themselves. Through the provision of shelter and services, TLP youth will realize improvements in four core outcome areas (i.e., stable housing, education/employment, permanent connections, and social and emotional well-being). Case managers will assess a youths’ needs for referral services and support; and identify, obtain, coordinate, and connect youth with continuum service linkages to meet those needs; as well as manage communications across service linkages.

Street Outreach Program (SOP): a street-based services program that targets unduplicated runaway, homeless, and street youth who are 21 years of age and younger, and who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, sexual exploitation, and severe forms of trafficking. SOP aims to build relationships between street outreach workers and runaway, homeless, and street youth to move youth into stable housing, and prepare them for independence. Case managers will work to increase young people's personal safety, social and emotional well-being, and self-sufficiency, and help them build permanent connections with families, communities, schools, and other positive social networks through outreach, prevention (life skills and positive youth development), individualized assessment, service linkages, service planning, and follow-up. 

Domestic/Dating Violence Prevention Program: a community-based prevention, intervention, treatment, and response services program for youth (ages 12-18) impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Case managers will provide a continuum of services for eligible program participants including assessments, crisis intervention, and advocacy to assist participants with recovery from victimization.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducts client screenings for service needs and potential program participation
• Accomplishes clients’ care by assessing treatment needs; developing, monitoring, and evaluating treatment plans and progress; facilitating interdisciplinary approaches.
• Determines clients’ requirements by completing intake interviews; determining need for therapeutic medical, psycho-social, and psychiatric evaluations; reviewing therapist evaluations, treatment objectives, and plans.
• Establishes treatment programs by setting schedules and routines; coordinating services being provided; arranging resources, including transportation and escort.
• Monitors cases by verifying clients’ attendance; observing and evaluating treatments and responses; advocating for needed services and entitlements; obtaining additional resources; intervening in crises; providing personal support.
• Maintains clients’ records by reviewing case notes; logging events and progress.
• Communicates clients’ progress by conducting weekly interdisciplinary meetings and evaluations; disseminating results and obstacles to therapeutic team and family; identifying treatment influences.
• Prepares clients’ discharge by reviewing and amplifying discharge plans; coordinating discharge and post-discharge requirements; orienting and training family members; providing resources.
• Improves community competence by providing educational workshops and resources; balancing work requirements with learning opportunities; evaluating the application of learning to changes in treatment results.
• Improves treatment results by studying, evaluating, and re-designing processes; implementing changes; rewriting policies and procedures.
• Meets budget by monitoring expenses; implementing cost-saving actions.
• Prepares reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing treatment and results data and trends; compiling statistics.
• Follow-up with clients and agencies as appropriate to document use/success of referral.
• Input accurate and complete data for all contacts with clients into AFC database.
• Ensure that all documents submitted on behalf of a client are valid.
• Provide all required documentation in a timely manner, which may include client follow-up, outcome evaluation, client contact sheets, case notes, and evaluations.
• Participate in regular staff meetings, staff training programs, supervisory sessions, and accept the responsibility for aiding the development of positive team relationships as requested.
• Adhere to agency policy, procedures and the professional code of ethics.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

EDUCATION:  Must have a Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or a related field. Masters Degree preferred.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of two (2) years of relevant case management experience working in child and adolescent behavior.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; computer proficiency; excellent writing and verbal skills
• Demonstrated ability to interact with different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment, as well as ability to multi-task and work under pressure.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED: (specific minimum competencies required for job performance)

• Valid State of Texas or State of Arkansas Driver’s License with appropriate insurance coverage. Ability to travel, as needed, within AFC’s service area
• Physical demands are minimal for this position and include sitting, standing, walking reaching, light-lifting (less than 25 lbs.), and any other office situation.
• Requires flexibility with scheduling, as necessary.

HOURS:

• Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week
• 10% Travel Required

SALARY:  $42,000 - $48,000 (Commensurate with experience and licensing)