Family Centered Case Manager

Job Title: Family Centered Case Manager
Department: Housing
Reports to: Director of Housing Services
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $45,000

Overview

In an atmosphere of dignity and respect, Inspiration Corporation connects people and creates opportunity through access to social services, job training, housing, and food.

Each year, Inspiration Corporation provides resources and opportunity to hundreds of resilient Chicagoans who face systemic disparities rooted in social, racial, and economic inequities that result in homelessness, hunger, and social isolation.

In order to help individuals and families overcome these barriers, we provide housing, meals, job training, scholarships, and outreach services.

Inspiration Corporation meets people where they are in life; helping them identify their goals and access the support they need to achieve them.

Inspiration Corporation encompasses two main sites:  Inspiration Cafe and our administrative offices located at 4554 N. Broadway, in the Uptown neighborhood; Inspiration Kitchens, located at 3504 W. Lake St., in the East Garfield Park neighborhood.

Inspiration Corporation’s Housing Program provides scattered-site supportive housing, with units spread across the City of Chicago.

At Inspiration Corporation, employees live this mission by demonstrating the following Core Values. Inspiration Corporation believes that these Core Values are what makes the organization one of Chicago’s leading facilitators of personal transformation, and a great place to work:

• Resilience – We persevere and seek solutions that celebrate our strength in the face of adversity, while practicing and encouraging self-care.
• Hospitality – We create uplifting, accepting, and nourishing connections with everyone who comes through our doors.
• Equity – We recognize each person’s inherent rights and advocate for inclusive access to resources and opportunities.
• Growth – We encourage personal development, curiosity and being open to new possibilities.
• Integrity – We cultivate trusting, collaborative relationships rooted in mutual respect and accountability.

position summary

The Family Centered Case Manager provides case management and coaching services to the head of household and their children with a special focus on children in grades K-12. The position connects parents and their children to age-specific services including early childhood education, secondary and post-secondary education, out-of-school time opportunities, economic, health and well-being resources as well as social supports. This position works directly with the Director of Housing Services and closely with Housing Services staff to support families in the program with identifying and accessing appropriate resources. The position requires experience with harm reduction and motivational interviewing techniques as well as an understanding of positive youth development, early childhood development, and youth and parenting resources throughout the city of Chicago. The ideal candidate will have skills in effective communication, relationship and trust building, strong judgment and ethics, and the ability to provide services to families of all ages and demographics without judgement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

General

• Participate in department and agency meetings and professional development.
• Exhibit professionalism and high standards in all aspects of performance.
• Work both independently and on a team.
• Demonstrate Inspiration Corporation’s Core Values.
• Travel throughout the City of Chicago to provide case management services.
• Ensure the efficient and effective provision of housing services with dignity and respect in accordance with the agency’s mission.
• Work with all departments as appropriate to ensure that the needs of the agency’s participants are addressed.

Coaching, Goal Setting, and Referral

• In alignment with the family’s stage of change, make appropriate referrals, facilitate enrollment, and provide a warm handoff to connect families to community and agency resources.
• Connect families to childcare, home visiting, child development, and other resources for their children.
• Using the Family Centered Coaching and Strengths-Based approaches, work with the head of household to help their family establish and/or further the goals they have identified in their Individual Service Plan (ISP).
• Support families in building protective factors to help heads of households become more resilient, increase social connections, increase their parenting and childhood development knowledge, access necessary support systems in times of need, and increase the social and emotional competence of their children.
• Assess families and their children to identify the appropriate supports to further their goals. Work directly with non-heads of household when necessary to further these goals.
• Connect families to parenting programs and resources that support all family structures including but not limited to parenting grandparents, foster parents, caregivers and others.
• In collaboration with the primary case manager, ensure families have the tools necessary to accomplish the goals of the household. Ensure a non-duplication of services through case conferences with primary case manager and other providers in the agency and community.
• Ensure that all school-age children are enrolled in school and that children under 5 have appropriate developmental assessments.

Resource Development

• Maintain working relationships with community partners including but not limited to social workers, educators, and other school staff and external agencies.
• Educate, provide referrals, and facilitate information sessions to parents and case managers on early childhood and youth programs and services. This includes but is not limited to mental health, education, summer camp, summer employment, mentoring programs, violence prevention, career exploration, financial skill building, health and wellness and social emotional learning.
• Establish a relationship to school social workers, school case managers and connect parent to school resources if requested.
• Share out family focused information related to economic asset building. This includes sharing information on WIC, Child Support, TANF, family-specific grants and other supports.

Program Development and Record Keeping

• Help build out the position by participating in relevant trainings. Utilize latest data and current thinking within the homeless services, early childhood, youth and family services fields to inform the program development process.
• In collaboration with the Director of Housing Services, identify evolving best practices, provide input on policies, procedures, and assist with the procurement and implementation of screening tools and forms and other administrative supports.
• Maintain appropriate data collection and reporting as required for internal management reports and external funding sources and regulatory agencies. Participate in program audits.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

No supervisory responsibilities.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The following requirements are representative of the education, experience and skills necessary for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Access to a personal vehicle to be used regularly for home visits and meetings and valid driver’s license

and insurance required. Some positions may not require access to a vehicle full-time . Bachelors in Social Work or related field required; or equivalent life experience required. Two years’ related work experience in a non-profit or educational setting required. Candidates who have worked with homeless or impoverished populations preferred for position. Proficiency in Windows and Microsoft Office.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk up and down steps, and drive throughout the city of Chicago. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10-20 pounds. Must be approved to drive agency vehicles. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

The working environment may include: shared offices, in-person visits to participants’ homes, accompanying participants to referrals or partner agencies, remote work or hybrid work model with remote and office hours scheduled. The housing program is located at Inspiration Corporation’s main office and shares work space with the agency’s meals and Homeless Engagement Services programs.

Maintains standard office hours. Attends evening, weekend, and early morning meetings and functions as required.

Inspiration Corporation is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• 401(k)
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• 8 hour shift

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Experience:

• Case management: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: On the road