Case Manager, CRED

Title: Case Manager, CRED

Unit: Employment Services

Reports to: Program Director, CRED

Status: Full Time; Regular, Non-Exempt

Salary: $27.48 to 30.22 hourly (approximately $50,000 to 55,000 annually)

Location: 3230 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451

Days/Hours: Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm

Organization Overview:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) supports successful reentry from incarceration and promotes alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved over 58 years into one of the nation's preeminent reentry and criminal legal-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to reenter their communities and build productive lives .

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $100 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. Fortune is dedicated to supporting its mission through both services and advocacy . Our advocacy focuses on building a just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry . The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 18,000 people a year. We have locations in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

Position Summary:

The Case Manager (CM) will provide case management and encourage participants engagement and retention in training and work experience activities for participants under Fortune's contract with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development's Community Resources for Employment and Development (CRED) program, which is designed to provide pathways to employment and economic mobility for people who reside in communities where community violence is most prevalent and address the system feedback loop by offering job readiness, training for sustainable and emerging industries, and supported job placement for continued success, coupled with strong wraparound supports and follow up services tailored towards these communities.

Mission and Fit:

Embodies Fortune's mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune's core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Attention to Detail:

The CM must demonstrate competency to develop systems and processes to organize and keep track of information or work progress; is routinely conscientious, thorough, accurate and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; and recognizes trends, detects inconsistencies, and determines essential details. Ability to multi-task is preferable.

Participant Centered:

The CM will focus on identifying the key needs and support opportunities for participants. They have an ability to illustrate the highest level of customer care and empathy while thriving to resolve participant concerns and issues. They will also act as a liaison between Fortune and our community partners that refer individuals to our agency for social service support.

Collaboration:

The CM must collaborate and coordinate with one another to provide care and support to participants and support them with referrals to additional wrap around service supports post release. Additionally, the CMs will need to collaborate with other Employment Services colleagues to effectively support the team and ensure attention to coordination in care for other services they might be receiving.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one case management services in the community, including referring individuals for wrap-around service needs for housing, treatment, mental health, employment and financial literacy counseling;
• Maintain participant caseload of up to 20-30 participants per month; ensuring notes are documented accurately, in a timely manner and contact information is updated when necessary;
• Utilize case management best practices to support participants' in addressing employment and personal issues that can potentially impact employment performance and retention.
• Conduct thorough assessments of participants' skills and aptitudes, supporting individuals with identifying appropriate career paths and any potential barriers to sustaining employment;
• Conduct monthly outreach to participants on caseload for up to two years post completion of the workshop to identify if they need to be connected to any resources and to track employment retention;
• Support participants with career planning, explore career advancement, career change, educational/vocational exploration, ensuring to communicate clearly and appropriate next steps;
• Establish standards with participants that will ensure appropriate boundaries and suitable professional behaviors;
• Facilitate group sessions/presentations, including but not limited to Orientation, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CBI) workshops, Motivational Interviewing, etc.;
• Support with mock interviews, employment applications, and work readiness feedback sessions, collaborating with volunteers as needed.;
• Complete daily data entry documenting interactions with participants within 24 business hours; responsible for regularly closing out enrollments of assigned caseload after two years;
• Attend and participate in weekly case conference meetings with colleagues to enhance participants' care coordination and program engagement;
• Support with developing, maintaining and revising resource binder to ensure we have up-to-date information about referral resources for participants;
• Respond to emails, calls and text messages from colleagues and participants within 24 business hours;
• Maintain both physical and digital participant files; maintain cohort and individual fellow folders in SharePoint and Caseworthy;
• Complete all necessary documentation accurately and input accurate data into case worthy daily;
• Collaborate with internal departments as needed;
• Attend and participate in all necessary meetings, conferences, staff training and development sessions;
• Engage in his/her own ongoing professional development; and
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in social work or a related field and experience working with City systems such as justice, public assistance, child welfare, education, and housing; OR an associate's degree and experience working with City systems such as justice, public assistance, child welfare, education, and housing; OR at least three (3) years successful experience in providing case management/counseling and working with City systems such as justice, public assistance, child welfare, education, and housing;
• 1 - 3 years of relevant work experience in workforce development sector;
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred;
• Documentation, analyzing, research, decision making, conflict resolution and people skills;
• Experience facilitating group sessions, preferably job readiness workshops;
• Skilled communicator who can liaise interdepartmentally as well as with community partners and stakeholders;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, as days/hours are subject to change in accordance with program needs;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Excel, Outlook and Office 365;
• Strong time management and organizational skills;
• Familiarity with the Fair Chance Act a plus;
• Ability to apply skills learned from prior work experience, or formal academic training in a related subject area, to the day-to-day project activities; and demonstrated success in being participant-centered, self-motivated with excellent relationship skills;
• Ability to work independently and on a team;
• Must have initiative and be willing to work in a fast-paced environment with varying demands;
• Must be highly motivated and have excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Experience and/or desire to work with a diverse population.

We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission. Relevant personal experience is a plus.

Travel Requirements: Travel to Long Island City office, other Fortune offices, conferences and other relevant events.

Physical Demands:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.

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