Address
Form of workJob Description
Job Title: Youth Homelessness Drop-In Center Case Manager
Location: 230 E. Travis, Travis Park United Methodist Church
Reports to:Youth Homelessness Drop-In Center Program Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt
Approved by: Rex Brien, Vice President of Programs
Salary range: $40,000-$42,000 annually
JOB SUMMARY:
SAMMinistries’ Youth Homelessness Drop-In Center targets young adults, ages 18-24, who are experiencing homelessness. This is a collaborative project in which SAMMinistries is the collaborative’s lead and is the recipient of the HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration grant funding the project. The Youth Homelessness Drop-In Center will serve as a place where young people, ages 18-24, who are not housed or are unstably housed may receive on-site housing-focused case management, ID recovery, therapy, high school completion courses, workforce readiness/life skills classes, and can access meals, snacks, recreation, spaces to rest, showers, and connection to emergency shelter and other resources in the community.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Youth Homelessness Drop-In Center Case Manager will provide comprehensive case management and housing navigation services to young adults, ages 18-24, who are currently experiencing homelessness. The Youth Homelessness Drop-In Center Case Manager is responsible for connecting with and engaging the program’s target population. These connections will primarily occur at the physical site of the drop-in center and the immediate surrounding area, but can also consist of street outreach operations within the boundaries of Bexar County. The Case Manager must work collaboratively with the Youth Homelessness Drop-In Center Program Manager and will:
- Connect with and engage youth and conduct assessments needed to enroll them into the Coordinated Entry System for homeless services;
- Ensure services are offered to youth in accordance with principles of Housing First and Trauma Informed Care approaches;
- Develop strengths-based, individualized service plan in collaboration with the youth addressing short-term and long-term goals;
- Provide on-going case management support to assess progress and ensure service plan outcomes are met or adjusted as needed;
- Provide services focused on enhancing the clients’ ability to independently problem solve, utilize effective coping skills, and manage and self-coordinate their own care;
- Identify, develop linkages with, and coordinate access to services in the community and ensure active follow-up occurs. Work collaboratively with staff of other community agencies to establish and maintain partnerships that maximize benefits and resources for SAMMinistries’ program participants.
- Transport youth in personal vehicle, as needed. Transportation may occur in a SAMMinistries’ vehicle, but use of personal vehicle for client transportation will sometimes be required.
- Provide crisis intervention for youth, including crises involving mental health, assessing for potential danger of participants harming themselves or others, assessing for danger in situations involving domestic violence, etc.
- Communicate assessments, interventions, and ongoing client contact through timely, thorough documentation, contact forms, and verbal communication;
- Utilize evidence-based practices in service delivery such as intensive case management, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Critical Time Intervention, Trauma Informed Care and Housing First practices;
- Complete necessary documentation and tracking of activities, in accordance with all agency and grantor requirements;
- Attend and actively participate in team meetings, demonstrating an ability to prioritize participant needs and provide needed assessments and services in an ethical manner;
- Understand and maintain client confidentiality and record-keeping, in accordance with HUD, SAMMinistries, and HIPAA privacy practices;
- Adhere to strict boundaries and professional ethics in the care of others at all times;
- Be available to provide crisis intervention after regular business hours, as needed;
- Perform all other related duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of basic principles and practices of social work and/or counseling
- Knowledge of principles of Trauma Informed Care
- Knowledge of referral processes and sound case management practice
- Ability to adhere to protocols that assure service quality and accountability related to funding expenditure, case documentation, and other program/funder requirements
- Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a variety of settings with culturally diverse persons and communities; must be able to communicate and practice in a culturally sensitive and professionally appropriate manner.
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and a high regard for client confidentiality
- Ability to analyze facts and exercise sound judgment arriving at proper conclusions
- Ability to exercise initiative, problem-solving, decision-making
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, community partners, and members of SAMM leadership and the general public
- Proficient with computer software programs, to include: word processing, spreadsheets, graphics and databases
- Must have ability to communicate both in writing and verbally with professionalism and accuracy
- Ability to manage and organize time and priorities to accomplish responsibilities and meet deadlines without constant direction from supervisor/others
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The Case Manager must operate in accordance with SAMMinistries’ policies and any applicable laws/regulations.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a closely related Human Services field is preferred, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Experience working with people experiencing homelessness, and experience with housing, shelter, or outreach programs, preferred.
- Knowledge of dynamics of individuals in crisis, ability to de-escalate situations of conflict, and ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, and experiences.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Bilingual (Spanish/English) is desirable but not essential. Must have effective professional written and verbal communication skills.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as addition, subtraction, division and percentages.
REASONING ABILITY:
Must be able to react swiftly and effectively to crisis situations. Must possess good conflict resolution skills. Must be sensitive to the dynamics associated with homelessness, trauma, victimization, and marginalization. Logic and ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
Class C Driver's License in good standing is required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Normal walking requirements include the ability to move in and around personal workspace and to and from other areas including walking up and down stairs several times a day. Street outreach operations will take the employee into the elements where they may need to navigate incline and decline surfaces, unstable footing, traversing wooded areas or drainage tunnel systems. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds, e.g. office equipment, file boxes, donations, etc.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Position requires weekend and evening hours. The employee may be in contact with individuals in crisis who may be ill, using alcohol and drugs, and who may not be attentive to basic personal hygiene, health and safety practices. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in an office setting.
EEO
SAMMinistries provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, SAMMinistries complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the organization has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
