Case Manager

Ambassadors For Christ Youth Ministries, Inc. (AFC) is a model 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed in 2006 for the purpose of providing multifaceted prevention and intervention programs for at-risk, underprivileged, and displaced youth. AFC has provided service as an outlet and platform for growth to over 16,000 at risk youth in partnership with schools, churches, and other community serving youth programs throughout the Houston, Texas, and Pine Bluff/Little Rock, Arkansas areas for more than 15 years. AFC's overarching goal is to inspire excellence and promote leadership in youth, regardless of their backgrounds, through the implementation of multifaceted youth development programs centered around homelessness prevention, mental health and substance use prevention/intervention, and the overall reduction of sexual and other risky behaviors.

We are presently seeking candidates with excellent skills and experience working with at-risk youth to serve as Case-Managers for all of our youth prevention, intervention, treatment, and referral programs. The Case Managers will facilitate intake and assessments, referrals, outreach, recruitment and retention efforts, and will report to the programs’ Project Managers. All positions are salary/full-time.

As a member of our team, The Full-Time Case Manager will provide holistic and comprehensive case management services working to provide support to youth and young adults who are most impacted by community violence, or are at-risk of, to advance equity, particularly in areas of concentrated crime and poverty and support them with obtaining high quality jobs and careers. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS:

Project EQUIP: a prevention navigator program that delivers substance abuse, HIV and hepatitis prevention education, HIV and viral hepatitis (VH) testing, and navigation services. The Case Manager will ensure that his/her assigned clients receives a coordinated range of client-centered services linking clients with health care, psychosocial and other services. The case manager is responsible for completing quarterly reassessments with clients to include completion of a care plan in addition to seeing clients periodically to address their current needs and checking compliance to medical care and adherence HIV medications. The case manager is responsible for entering all client data, units of service, and case notes into the database in a timely manner.

Project REACH: serves homeless individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), serious emotional disturbance (SED), substance use disorders (SUD), and/or co-occurring disorders. The goal of this program is to increase capacity and provide accessible, effective, comprehensive, coordinated, integrated, and evidence-based treatment services, peer support and other recovery support services, and linkages to sustainable permanent housing. The case manager is responsible for completing quarterly reassessments with clients to include completion of a care plan in addition to seeing clients periodically to address their current needs and checking compliance and adherence to Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) and overdose prevention care. The case manager will also make proper referrals for housing to the HUD Coordinated Entry system.

Transitional Living Program (TLP): a holistic service approach to operating within a framework of positive youth development (PYD), trauma-informed care, evidence-informed practices, Social Support and Relationship Capacity Building, and Coping Strategies that helps runaway and homeless youth (RHY) between the ages of 16 to under 22 establish sustainable living and well-being for themselves. Through the provision of shelter and services, TLP youth will realize improvements in four core outcome areas (i.e., stable housing, education/employment, permanent connections, and social and emotional well-being). Case managers will assess a youths’ needs for referral services and support; and identify, obtain, coordinate, and connect youth with continuum service linkages to meet those needs; as well as manage communications across service linkages.

Street Outreach Program (SOP): a street-based services program that targets unduplicated runaway, homeless, and street youth who are 21 years of age and younger, and who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, sexual exploitation, and severe forms of trafficking. SOP aims to build relationships between street outreach workers and runaway, homeless, and street youth to move youth into stable housing, and prepare them for independence. Case managers will work to increase young people's personal safety, social and emotional well-being, and self-sufficiency, and help them build permanent connections with families, communities, schools, and other positive social networks through outreach, prevention (life skills and positive youth development), individualized assessment, service linkages, service planning, and follow-up. 

Domestic/Dating Violence Prevention Program: a community-based prevention, intervention, treatment, and response services program for youth (ages 12-18) impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Case managers will provide a continuum of services for eligible program participants including assessments, crisis intervention, and advocacy to assist participants with recovery from victimization.

Growth Opportunities: : The purpose of this program is to introduce and prepare justice-involved youth and young adults for the world of work through placement into paid work experiences, and on a path to more equitable career opportunities with their peers. In addition to paid work experiences, the program encompasses occupational education and training in in-demand industries, leadership development, a mentorship component, and post-work experience placement into unsubsidized employment and/or education. These grants focus on youth and young adults most impacted by community violence to advance equity, particularly in areas of concentrated crime and poverty as well as communities that have recently experienced significant unrest. 

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assess client's need for services and support
• The Case Manager is expected to have actual, intentional contact with every assigned client (as feasible) at least twice a week.
• Engage clients in appropriate educational, vocational, and life skill programming
• Manage communications across systems and serve as a liaison for the client.
• Help the youth increase their conflict resolution skills and develop strategies to prevent and avoid violence, 
• Introduce youth to and prepare for the world of work by identifying career interests, obtaining relevant skills and gaining work experience
• Actively recruit youth for program
• Assist/teach clients to access public transportation
• Engage clients in occupational education and training in in-demand industries, leadership development and mentorship in conjunction with community-based violence prevention partners
• Assist in post-work experience placement into unsubsidized employment and/or education
• Collaborate with team to plan, implement, and support engagement activities facilitated by internal staff and external partners
• Recruit and train mentors and match them with their assigned mentee(s)
• Actively seek and track donations and volunteers for the program match requirements, as appropriate
• Identify opportunities to partner with employers that adopt fair chance hiring policies
• Engage employers to to develop high-quality work experiences for clients
• Assist with quarterly reports and other reporting per program requirements
• Commit to engage in personal and professional growth and competence development and training to increase capacity to serve youth
• Provide documentation for reporting
• Assist clients in accomplishing their identified goals 
• Develop collaborative relationships with other community partners for clients’ support.
• Keep supervisor fully informed of clients’ progress at all times
• Performs other duties/responsibilities or special projects as identified by the supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of community resources and case management/social work practices with
• high risk youth and young adult populations
• Excellent written, documentation and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in a variety of settings with culturally diverse families and communities with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate
• Ability to work independently with a strong sense of focus
• A strong sense of and respect for confidentiality involving both clients and fellow employees
• Self-motivation, initiative, sound judgment, and commitment to ongoing learning 
• Dependable, able to work a flexible schedule outside normal business hours, including some weekends and holidays.
• Is approachable, builds rapport well, and practices attentive and active listening.
• Supports equal and fair treatment and opportunity for all.
• Ability to address conflict well and manage difficult youth and young adults in a supportive and non-threatening manner; able to respond quickly and safely and serve as a settling influence in crisis situations and emergencies.
• Understand, comply, and implement Trauma-Informed Care concepts and a Strengths-Based Approach.
• Proficient with computer operating systems and programs.
• Must have a valid Arkansas Driver’s License throughout employment
• Must obtain a clean driving record throughout employment
• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle and provide own insured transportation

EDUCATION: Bachelor degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or a related field

preferred.

HOURS: Full Time. Some evenings and weekends required.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum of two (2) years case management experience preferred.

SALARY: TBD