Case Manager - Van Buren Family Shelter

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of others? The YMCA of Central Ohio is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Case Manager to join our Shelter team. In this vital role, youll help individuals overcome barriers to housing stability, connect them to essential community resources, and empower them to build brighter futures. This is an opportunity to combine your problem-solving skills, advocacy, and heart for service with the YMCAs mission of strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS include the following, other duties may be assigned:

• Thinks, communicates and behaves as a cause-driven leader and role model for other staff and guests when it comes to desired staff behaviors; promotes youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility in all job-related functions.
• Provide direct services to clients, including intake, engagement, assessment, service plan development, referral, advocacy, exit summaries and follow-up.
• Manage a case load and monitor and document client progress toward service plan goals; ensures accuracy of files for audits and program outcomes.
• Coordinate client services with other social services, mental health, medical, employment, educational, child care and other providers.
• Conduct regular case conferences with clients and service providers as required.
• Assess clients legal, financial, social, medical, psychological, and other needs related to their housing situation.
• Develop familiarity with unique challenges and resources as it relates to homelessness.
• Develop effective, trusting relationships with client.
• Develop individualized housing stability plans, including post housing stabilization plan.
• Provide life-skills training and financial literacy training to enhance housing stability.
• Mediate conflict between clients and their family and/or landlords to promote housing stability.
• Performs unit inspections within contract, county, and federal guidelines.
• Maintain a current, thorough knowledge of community resources and utilize these to provide services to clients. Document all interactions with, or on behalf of, clients. Maintain familiarity with program resources available on- and off-site.
• Participates in operations meetings, other program/association meetings/trainings and community meetings.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree preferred; 2-3 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Some knowledge of local and federal government benefits and entitlements and other social service providers
• Able to work in a high-tolerance, harm reduction model with clients who have multiple barriers
• Detail oriented with excellent time management, organizational, written, verbal, and computer skills
• Valid OH Drivers license, reliable car, auto insurance, and an acceptable driving record
• Prior advocacy or academic experience in housing and/or homeless services preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong multi-tasking abilities
• Knowledge of the Social Services available through Franklin County, the State of Ohio, and local agencies.
• Able to work in a team environment
• Training requirements:
  • Immediately upon hire:
    • American Red Cross First Aid and CPR certifications
    • Within 1 year of hire (and every 2 years thereafter): Non-violent crisis intervention, community resources, cultural competency, child and elder abuse, ethics mental health/substance abuse, motivational interviewing, and evacuation procedures.
  • Within first 3 months of hire, obtain CSP Administrator license.
• Passionate belief in the Ys cause of nurturing the potential of all youth, supporting healthy living for all people and finding ways to help and support our neighbors
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
• Proven track record of developing authentic relationships with others.
• Ability to foster a collaborative team approach to solving challenging situations
• YMCA Team Leader certification; if not certified, must obtain certification within 12 months. Requires completion of: Principles and Practices, Introduction to Volunteerism, Introduction to Leading Others, Introduction to Fiscal Management, Leadership Competency Assessment, Team Leader Certification Test.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Case Manager is responsible for providing services for participants in the Men's Emergency Shelter. The Case Manager is responsible for ensuring that best practices are implemented by following a Housing First approach. Case manager is responsible for connecting clients to permanent housing location.

The Case Manager will build housing and budget planning for individual clients. An integral part of the Case manager responsibilities are to connect clients to resources (e.g. mental health, employment, etc.) in the community in which the client decides to reside. The Case Manager is trained to assist individuals with identifying barriers to housing stability and engage in goal planning that aims to link individuals to the resources and skills that they need in order to achieve long-term housing stability.

This Case Manager contributes to Men's Emergency Shelter's success by being impeded in the leadership of the shelter, keeping updated files, interacting with participants using a strengths-based, client-centered approach, and empowering clients to reach their goals.