Case Manager (Daytime Support Center)

Shift Schedule: Monday - Friday (9 am - 5 pm); Fully on-site

Wage: $25.60 - 27.15/hr (approx. $50,000 - $53,000/year)

About us: Sarah’s Circle envisions a Chicago where every woman has a place to call home. Through housing, essential resources, and supportive services, the organization helps women build stability and permanently overcome homelessness. The programs have three overarching goals:

• We welcome all women with safety, respect, and community.
• Support women’s growth in all aspects of wellness: physical, emotional, life skills, economic, and the realization of their unique potential.
• Help each woman find her home.

This position works in the daytime drop-in center which provides women with breakfast & lunch, showers, laundry, computers, and case management to help gain stability and housing.

Summary

Case Managers provide intensive case management for clients seeking housing, which includes linkage and coordination with other agencies. When working in the program space, Case Managers are responsible for fostering a safe and trauma informed environment. They must also document services within a timely manner, including data entry in HMIS. Occasional assistance with program coverage and support of volunteers is required.

Responsibilities

Individual Services

• Provide case management services to all clients to support them in obtaining interim and/or permanent housing, maintaining or increasing income, and increasing skills and resources that will improve housing retention and stability.
• Actively engage with walk-in clients at the Center, building trust and familiarity, which increases client willingness to participate in case management.
• Complete intake, assessments, service plans, and progress assessments. Enroll eligible clients into programs in a timely fashion.
• Collaboratively develop individual goal-based service plans with clients. Facilitate regular progress meetings and make amendments when needed.
• Provide encouragement and education toward clients’ individual goals via coaching, life skills instruction, resources, and referrals. Advocate on behalf of client to ensure they receive needed services.
• Identify strategies to address any short-term or chronic issues, such as substance use or mental illness, which might compromise achievement of goals
• Conduct Coordinated Entry Assessments for Sarah’s Circle clients as needed, adhering to minimum monthly assessments as determined by All Chicago.
• Participate in Housing Resource Specialist meetings hosted by All Chicago, and report information to members of the management team
• Find apartments for clients when needed, establish and maintain relationships with landlords or property managers, and facilitate execution of leases.
• Assist participants with moving and obtaining furniture, home supplies, and other needs.

Program Services

• Welcome clients: greet all individuals that enter the program; address immediate needs such as food, clothing, and medical attention.
• Provide information: ensure clients understand the program overview and the grievance process; provide copies of client rights and responsibilities and the mission statement; assess for language barriers
• Maintain a respectful culture: Respond to conflict and incidents by proactively engaging clients who are angry or in distress in de-escalation and redirection. Use nonjudgmental language, listen, and validate a wide range of emotions expressed by clients. Collaborate with clients to find solutions instead of immediately giving consequences.
• Facilitate groups, as identified with supervisor
• Provide guidance to program staff, volunteers and new staff members as needed
• Assist with daily program operations as needed, such as covering the front desk, cleaning, cooking and serving meals, etc.

Administration

• Input accurate, complete, and timely data for all clients into internal reports and HMIS, in accordance with timeliness standards established by funder.
• Prepare for and participate in program audits.

Other

• Attend staff meetings, training, supervisory meetings, and Sarah’s Circle events as instructed by supervisor
• Maintain current knowledge base by participating in educational or training opportunities, reading relevant publications, and maintaining professional networks
• Perform other duties, as assigned by supervisor

Education & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or related social service field preferred
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred

Job Experience

• Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, severe mental illness, and/or individuals with a history of trauma required.
• Previous case management experience highly preferred, ideally within the homeless services sector

Additional Requirements

• Obtain live HMIS credentials within 45 calendar days of hire
• Case Manager will be assigned training for Housing Resource Specialist (HRS) certification. Once assigned, certification must be obtained within 90 days.
• Obtain Food Handler certificate within 30 days of hire
• Ability to lift approximately 20lbs
• Ability to perform physical activities that require considerable use of arms and legs and moving the whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, standing, bending, reaching, and handling materials

Sarah’s Circle believes homelessness is complex and that our work requires the expertise of people with different life experiences, skills, and perspectives. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that brings together people with different identities & backgrounds and enables all of us to be successful in our work to end homelessness for women in our city. Your unique experience is valuable, so if it aligns with this role and you are excited about the work we do, please apply!

• 401(k) with 6% match
• Dental insurance (free HMO plan & option to pay for PPO plan)
• BCBS Health insurance
  • Option of 2 HMO and 4 PPO plans, including HSA option
  • Premiums for most plans range from $20 - $38 per pay period for employee only coverage
• 11 paid holidays
• ~28 days of PTO/sick time in first year
• Employee assistance program
• Company paid life insurance ($30,000) with optional additional coverage
• Employee paid coverage options for vision, short-term, and long-term disability

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred