Crosswalk Case Manager & Life Skills Program Coordinator (Full Time)

Description:

Volunteers of America (VOA) and Crosswalk Emergency Youth Shelter (Program) envision a community where no young person experiences homelessness, and all young people have the opportunity to thrive. Our Mission is to uplift all people, including our staff, our clients, and our community. We cherish every human and celebrate their unique experience.

We seek a workforce that reflects the diversity of the clients, whom we serve: people of many ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and religious beliefs.

Working with us, we cannot tell you what to expect: any day, emotions may run high and things may get loud. You may get yelled at and called names. You may witness heartbreak, manage squabbles, and have to clean up a huge mess. And you will also get to hang out with fantastic people, watch teens find brighter futures after years on the streets, and walk away every day knowing that you’ve made a difference. So while we can’t promise smooth sailing, we can guarantee an unforgettable roller-coaster ride that will be so worth it! To us and to those we serve, all our staff are Heroes – and we’d love for you to join our ranks!

Position Overview:

Youth and young adults who access Crosswalk have a long history of inequities and disparities; including but not limited to: homelessness, economic instability, high rates of chronic health and mental health conditions, traumatic events, lack of social support, etc. Crosswalk Clients, typically, have developed numerous skills that have helped them survive and meet their needs, while facing homelessness.

The Case Manager is responsible for connecting clients to services that will help them attain a safe and stable exit from the emergency shelter or their housing instability. The Case Manager will closely collaborate with local resource providers to provide a holistic, individualized approach to meet all the needs of the young people utilizing the emergency shelter or drop in center. Further, the Crosswalk Case Manager will also work in the community, build relationships with agencies that can benefit our youth and young adults, and facilitate our life skills program, which utilizes community partners with the goal of teaching our clients how to live independently.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position with 40 work hours per week. Core work hours fall between 8am and 8pm Monday through Friday. However, schedules may vary depending on the needs of the youths and sometimes may require long work hours and varied shifts, as well as evening, weekend, and holiday work. Additionally, this position requires being on-call on a rotating schedule.

Compensation and Benefits:

Monetary compensation for this role is $18.00 per hour, but other benefits of working at VOA go far beyond that:

Essential Job Functions:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

o Facilitate access to emergency services whenever necessary, including medical, law enforcement, shelter and detox services for youth, etc.
o Create a client-driven case management plan with each youth/client.
o Assist youth/clients with paperwork to apply for services in the community.
o Assist youth/clients with scheduling appointments and attending meetings to help them build trust with other service providers who can offer specialized services and case management.
o Advocate for youth to help remove barriers to services in legal, educational and rehabilitation settings.
o Assist youth in obtaining identification documents to remove barriers to housing.
o Complete all required paperwork.

o Facilitate conversations with parents and guardians with the goal of family reconciliation when appropriate to do so.

o Coordinate with community partners to create schedules for the Life Skills classes they would like to teach.

o Obtain commitments from community partners for teaching their desired classes on an ongoing basis on agreed-upon days and times.

o Create schedules for youth/clients, so they know when their Life Skills classes take place.

o Effectively and efficiently communicate expectations to and follow up with community partners.

o Facilitate introductions between community partners and youth/clients before each Life Skills class begins.

o Complete information sheets for community partners, and complete post assessments after Life Skills classes.

o Complete Life Skills pre and post assessments with youth/clients.

o Plan and carry out celebrations for youth/clients who participate in Life Skills at the end of each 6-week Life Skills session.

Travel:
Travel is primarily local and during the business day, although very occasional out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected.

Work Environment:
This job operates in a youth shelter; in an environment that can often be stressful, and at times, even hostile. The work space is often loud and chaotic. The employee should be prepared to emotionally regulate themselves at work and be ready to de-escalate situations and resolve conflict at a moment’s notice. The employee must be skilled in creating and maintaining professional boundaries.

This position interacts with youths ages 13-17 on a daily basis. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to a variety of extreme behavioral and emotional conditions when working with clients. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

The employee is also occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions, and can potentially be exposed to pests, pathogens, and service or emotional support animals.

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to effectively communicate with youths in the shelter and must be able to efficiently exchange accurate information in these situations.

The employee frequently is required to remain in a stationary position (such as sitting or standing) and to move about inside and outside of the shelter to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc, as well as to occasionally transport clients. This role constantly operates a computer with keyboard and mouse, as well as other office equipment, such as printers, copy machines, telephones, etc.

The employee must be able to perceive text and buttons on the computer screen and discern print and handwriting on paper forms in order to complete intakes, case notes, and other required physical and electronic documentation for client files.

The employee may occasionally be required to ascend and descend stairs, when accompanying youths to various appointments. The employee must frequently help lift and/or move client possessions, small to medium objects in the shelter, and/or cleaning supplies (up to 25 pounds) and occasionally help to lift and/or move food, shelter furniture, and large shelter items, such as furniture, large orders delivered to the shelter, etc. (up to 50 pounds).

. Requirements:

Required Education and Experience:

Preferred Education and Experience:

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

o Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) background check

o Complete Driving Record Check

May Obtain at No Cost Within 6 Months of Hire:

Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications:
Must be at least 21 years of age according to the grant requirements

Skills, Abilities, and Competencies: