Caseworker - Street Medicine

The Department of Family Medicine of the Keck School of Medicine of USC provides care for every member of the family, across generations and over lifetimes. We aim to enhance the quality of life for underserved and vulnerable patients while educating future generations of highly skilled, compassionate primary care specialists. Our goal is to combine education, patient advocacy, and evidence-based research to advance family medicine and geriatrics.

Our Department is seeking a Street Medicine Caseworker within the Street Medicine Division. This position will be part of Street Medicine’s Social Work team which will address the clinical and non-clinical needs of patients through coordination of health and health-related services.

This is a full-time position, Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm on-site at the Alhambra, CA office. Some after-hour and weekend work may be involved. It is not a hybrid or remote position.

**The Street Medicine Caseworker duties include but are not limited to**:

- Skillfully conduct intakes, assessments, and service goal planning within required time frames
- Assist patients to access and utilize services in the community including medical and mental health care, substance use treatment, housing programs, crisis intervention, educational and vocations program and support resources as appropriate.
- Support patients with housing access, housing relocation, and housing stabilization services.
- Responsible for coordinating with those individuals and/or entities to ensure a seamless experience for the patient and non-duplication of services.
- Engage eligible members.
- Oversee the provision of services and implementation of referrals and navigations services.
- Offer services near the patient’s encampment, where they seek care or other locations of their choosing.
- Accompany patients to office visits, as needed, and in the most easily accessible setting.
- Health promotion and self-management training.
- Arrange transportation services.
- Distribute health promotion materials.
- Connect patients to other social services and supports they may need, including transportation.
- Advocate on behalf of patients with health care professionals both internally within Street Medicine and externally at other organizations.
- Use motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and harm-reduction approaches.
- Coordinate with hospital staff on discharge plans.
- Accompany patients to office visits, as needed and in line with MCP guidance.
- Monitor medication and other treatment adherence.
- Provide health promotion and self-management training.
- Document all activities within Keck Cerner Electronic Medical Record.

**Minimum Education**:
Bachelor's degree in Social work or equivalent

**Minimum Experience**:
2 years

**Minimum Field of Expertise**:
Directly related experience in mental health and working with unhoused/unsheltered individuals. Demonstrated knowledge and skill necessary to provide appropriate care, interventions, and services to-related and cultural needs of individuals served. Knowledge of principles and practices of crisis intervention; interviewing techniques; psychosocial problems; principles, practices, and techniques of counseling and case management documentation process. Demonstrated ability to interact with people who are under physical and/or emotional stress. Ability to deal tactfully with others. Demonstrated interpersonal, critical thinking, and communication skills.

**Preferred Experience**:Working with unsheltered/unhoused/homeless population, working in housing and social services.

**Required**: Current California drivers license.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Minimum Experience: 2 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related experience in mental health. Demonstrated knowledge and skill necessary to provide appropriate care, interventions and services to age related and cultural needs of individuals served. Knowledge of principles and practices of crisis intervention; interviewing techniques; psychosocial problems; principles, practices and techniques of counseling and case management documentation process. Demonstrated ability to interact with people who are under physical and/or emotional stress. Ability to deal tactfully with others. Demonstrated interpersonal, critical thinking and communication skills.