Case Manager, Children's Services

About The Organization:

Doorways is an Arlington-based non-profit agency helping individuals and families create pathways out of homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault leading to safe, stable, and empowered lives. We envision a community where all people live free of violence and have safe and stable housing regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, age, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, abilities, language, or national origin. We see a future without homelessness or domestic and sexual violence.

Doorways began in 1978 when a group of concerned community members saw there was no safe place in Arlington for families in crisis. What began then with one shelter and one response has grown into a series of pathways individually tailored for adults, youth, and children seeking safety and shelter. From immediate crisis intervention to counseling, housing, and employment support, we offer real options and multiple pathways for people of all ages and genders—women, men, youth, and LGBTQIA+ people.

Position Summary:

The Case Manager, Children’s Services (Case Manager), focuses on providing services that address the mental wellness, physical, emotional, social, and educational needs of children whose caregivers are adults affected by violence and/or family homelessness. This position works with clients who are part of Doorways’ housing and shelter programs. This position will complete trauma-informed, comprehensive assessments with children to determine their individual and family needs and will offer developmentally appropriate, child and family centered and trauma-informed support to children and their parents. Assessments, services, and interventions are comprehensive, short term, and tailored to a culturally and linguistically diverse population. Individual and group counseling is psychoeducational, and the focus is to provide support and to enhance executive functioning skills.

The Case Manager also provides advocacy, connection, and referrals to community programs to ensure clients’ needs are met. This position will collaborate on a multi-disciplinary team of case managers, therapists, advocates, and home coordinators which requires flexibility in work hours, working at least two evenings per week. This role is designed to work in person in various settings in the community including shelter and in client’s homes. The Case Manager is part of Doorways on-call Tier system, which will require in-person availability in rotation with other clinical staff. This position reports to the Senior Case Manager, Children’s Services. Spanish Speaking language ability required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Child Social/Emotional/Physical Support

• Conduct timely needs assessments for children, ensuring completion within two weeks of referral.
• Based on assessment, collaborate with Family Case Manager to link family to needed community services, including pediatric and mental health/developmental providers.
• Coordinate with parents and family members to ensure family-centered services in Doorways programs.
• Provide counseling for children facing trauma or mental health crises, including:
  • Psychoeducation on grounding, trauma, and its effects.
  • Counseling to build resilience, coping skills, and social-emotional growth.
  • Support groups for children and parents.
• Coordinate with outside mental health service providers to support the child by:
  • Meeting to discuss home-based tools and techniques.
  • Provide regular updates on concerning behaviors or critical client information.

Educational/Developmental Support

• Support Family Case Manager to quickly enroll children in age-appropriate education and childcare services.
• Collaborate with Family Case Manager to coordinate education services and transportation for school meetings, in person or virtual.
• Advocate and coordinate with school staff on IEP or 504 Plan needs, including meetings in person.
• Establish contact with school staff to ensure communication about children’s needs.
• Arrange tutoring and remedial education with schools and agencies as needed.
• Identify recreational and aftercare activities, including summer programs, and support enrollment.
• Provide parents with psychoeducation on child development and support for developmental challenges.
• Meet teachers to explain trauma’s impact on development and related behaviors.
• Join school meetings with parents to support the child's academic and social-emotional growth.
• Ensure all school-related data is entered into the electronic database to collaborate and coordinate services with Arlington Public Schools.

Parent/Family Services Support

• Provide parents psychoeducation on trauma, homelessness, and domestic violence impacts.
• Provide ongoing coaching to children, parents, and staff on trauma effects, mental wellness, safety, health, nutrition, dental care, and education
• Plan, coordinate, and lead regular Parent and Child Support Groups.

Advocacy/Volunteer Responsibilities

• Advocate for client needs within and outside Doorways programs.
• Assist in training and supporting volunteers serving children in shelters.

Programmatic and Administrative Responsibilities

• Serve as subject matter lead on children’s services for Doorways Client Services Team by sharing resources, supporting CST staff, and facilitating training for staff and volunteers
• Serve as a liaison with the development team to coordinate and facilitate in-kind drives for children’s goods.
• Complete administrative tasks, including monthly reports to Arlington Public Schools and quarterly funder reports.
• Document client information per policies, role guidelines, and maintain confidentiality.
• Compile and submit all documentation, data, and statistics promptly.
• Other duties as assigned.

Agency Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate alignment with Doorways core values and mission.
• In partnership with Doorways staff, assist with Doorways client and community events.
• Attend all staff meetings, as required.
• Maintain current industry knowledge and best practices.
• Adhere to agency policies and procedures.
• Flexibility and availability to participate in agency’s on call rotation.

Knowledge and Skills Needed:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services field and at least 3 years of direct experience working with trauma survivors, domestic violence, sexual assault survivors, children/youth or similar field.
• Qualified Mental health Professional- Child (QMHP-C) required, or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Bilingual (Spanish) required.
• Flexible and a self-starter; able to multi-task.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills with experience collaborating on multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic teams.
• Basic computer skills including Microsoft suite.
• Must demonstrate an acceptance and respect for cultural diversity in all its forms, including ethnicity, sexual orientation, abilities, and religious backgrounds and an ability to work collaboratively in an ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse environment.
• Current or ability to get CPR/First Aid Certification
• Completion of Fingerprints, Criminal, Sex Offender and CPS Background Check.
• Access to a reliable vehicle, valid driver’s license, and proof of automobile insurance.
• Must maintain personal cell phone for work-related purposes.
• Must be located in the DMV area.

Compensation:

• Salary range is $55,000 to $57, 000 annually.
• Excellent benefits – health/dental/vision, life, LTD, 403(b), etc.

Doorways is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All our employment decisions are based on merit. We do not discriminate in any employment actions based on race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status.

Doorways is a drug-free workplace committed to the safety and well-being of all employees. Doorways prohibits the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of controlled substances or marijuana within the workplace.