Case Manager - Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project

Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., is a non-profit law firm which provides community education and legal representation to Southern California’s most vulnerable immigrant communities for over 10 years. Esperanza provides legal representation to immigrants who are in detention and/or removal proceedings, and focuses on particularly complex immigration cases which may involve unaccompanied minors, adults with mental health issues, and cases with past criminal or gang history. Esperanza also provides community education programming and pro se assistance to immigrants in removal proceedings both in detained and non-detained settings. Under the Opportunities for Youth (OFY) Program, Esperanza will proudly provide social services to unaccompanied minors. More information can be found about Esperanza at www.esperanza-la.org

Case Manager for Opportunities for Youth Program: 

Esperanza seeks a full-time solution-driven Case Manager to spearhead the Opportunities for Youth (OFY) Program. OFY is a new and exciting project aimed at providing post-placement services to Unaccompanied Minors that promote safety, support reunification with their sponsors and integration into their new communities. As part of OFY, the Case Manager will provide one-on-one coordinated case management services to Unaccompanied Minor youth and their families. This includes case management assessment for social services, placing emphasis on multi-casual processes for Individual Success Plans, such as physical, emotional, and social factors that may impede progress or access to resources. The Case Manager will make use of tools to assess for risk factors, screen for trafficking, identify networks of support, and use a person-centered approach to co-create Individual Success Plans with the youth and their families, as well as make referrals to community agencies. The Case Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Program Manager for Released Youth. The Case Manager will also work collaboratively with a team consisting of a program navigator; youth mentor coach and family workshop provider.  

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Identify Unaccompanied Minor youth in need of community integrative social services.
• Receive and document referrals from community partners.
• Screen youth for comprehensive case management services using trauma-informed lens.
•  Identify youth strengths, vulnerabilities and needs, as well as formal and informal support networks utilizing screening tools and assessments. The Case Manager will also screen for trafficking.
• Obtain consent from young immigrants to participate in program, explain their rights of confidentiality and the process of mandated reporting.
• Develop and maintain a knowledge base of social services available to youth to complete referrals for services.
• Establish working relationships and partnerships with regional service providers to enhance referral process and maximize resources.
• Identify resources to support the family in meeting basic needs as well as connecting families with support workshops. 
• Use person-centered practices to support youth and their family build their Individual Success Plan utilizing SMART goals.
• Implement Individual Success Plan by making use of direct support, informal support, partnerships with other providers, and referral services.
• Coordinate care in collaboration with navigators, mentors and life coaches, and the family workshop provider by leading weekly team meetings.
• Ongoing evaluation of effectiveness of the Individual Success Plan and progress.
• Maintain updated records, including case management files and reporting databases, to ensure confidentiality and compliance with monitoring standards.
• Document service contacts.
• Develop written protocols and procedures.
• Participate in relevant trainings and meetings as assigned. 
• Perform related duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in social work or advanced degree, preferably in related field, or four to six years case management experience.
• The ideal candidate will have experience working with and within immigrant communities in California and working knowledge of the challenges and limitations in accessing services.
• Experience working with vulnerable client populations, particularly with children, families, or clients with trauma history is a huge plus.
• Trauma-informed case management and assessment techniques experience;
• A strong record of intercultural responsiveness, sensitivity and awareness, and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Experience working with a diverse team of social service providers and advocating on behalf of clients.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
•  Experience working at a non-profit organization preferred.
•  Excellent client communication skills.
• Spanish language fluency is required and will be tested at time of interview, those that speak and indigenous Mayan language are highly encouraged to apply.
•  Ability to take initiative and work under pressure required.
• Willingness to be a team-player with an attitude and aptitude for collaboration.
• Strong typing and computer skills including MS Word, Excel, Mail Merges, etc.
• Compassionate and a strong desire to provide immigration services on a interdisciplinary team.
• Passion for social justice for immigrants and vulnerable communities required.