College Initiative Case Manager - Inland Youth

Description

Program Overview: The College Initiative Housing Navigator partners directly with Sacramento City College to support homeless and at-risk students by providing housing navigation and access to essential basic needs services. Many of the students served can be in recovery from substance use, have mental health conditions or dual diagnoses, and come from backgrounds that include foster care, domestic violence, abandonment, or abuse. The Housing Navigator helps students identify and establish housing opportunities by building connections with landlords, housing programs, and community resources, while also supporting them in developing the skills needed to sustain long-term housing. Through a case management approach, the navigator ensures students achieve housing stability, build self-sufficiency, and access the support necessary to complete their college education. This role is vital in promoting long-term stability, academic persistence, and personal growth for vulnerable student populations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a primary point of contact for the College or University within the Basic Needs Center.
• Coordinate referrals and services in collaboration with campus departments supporting at-risk and homeless students.
• Provide case management services to youth and/or adult students experiencing housing instability.
• Support the development and implementation of student-centered housing plans.
• Conduct initial and ongoing assessments to identify students’ basic needs and support requirements.
• Identify and secure sustainable housing options, including both temporary and permanent solutions.
• Deliver crisis intervention services and facilitate referrals through collaborative consultation with service providers.
• Work closely with students to create housing plans that also address related needs such as mental health care, substance use recovery, education, employment, budgeting, and parenting.
• Assist students in applying for and obtaining eligible benefits, such as SSI, SSDI, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, SNAP, and TANF.
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate written case files for each student, including case notes, housing plans, quarterly summaries, assessments, and other required documentation for LSS and partner colleges/universities.
• Participate in LSS housing services meetings, campus staff meetings, and internal LSS program meetings.
• Serve as a positive role model to students, encouraging appropriate behaviors and skills in daily living, self-care, interpersonal relationships, and time management.
• Act as a mediator between students and their roommates or landlords when conflicts arise.
• Track client outcomes using HMIS or other data systems designated by LSS and the college or university partner.

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT:

• Initiate intake with at-risk or homeless students and introduce the College Initiative program.
• Assess students’ housing needs, safety, and access to basic resources.
• Complete all required program forms and eligibility documents.
• Maintain daily contact with students during the first two weeks to build trust and identify urgent needs.
• Hold weekly check-ins to review progress, provide support, and adjust goals.
• Create individualized housing plans, including short- and long-term options.
• Track student progress and follow through with referrals and support.
• Encourage student strengths, resilience, and active participation in their own success.

WHOLE PERSON CASE MANAGEMENT:

• Help students identify and strengthen natural support systems through family finding or permanency models.
• Assist in accessing resources that support their housing plan (e.g., transportation, rental help).
• Reassess student needs regularly and adjust housing plans as needed.
• Support students in reaching their vocational and educational goals.
• Help students apply for benefits like SSI, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, SNAP, and TANF.
• Refer students to mental health, substance use (AOD), and other specialized services.

CAMPUS LIAISON:

• Inform campus departments about College Initiative services and available supports.
• Provide outreach and presentations to students, staff, and faculty to raise awareness of the College Initiative program and how to access services.
• Collaborate with the campus liaison to coordinate student referrals and service delivery.
• Stay informed on campus procedures, policies, and academic calendar.
• Conduct targeted outreach to students in need of housing and support services.
• Learn and maintain up-to-date knowledge of campus-based resources—including food pantries, counseling, financial aid, and student support programs—to effectively connect students with appropriate services

DISCHARGE PLANNING:

• Conduct a formal discharge process with students exiting housing navigation services.
• Review housing stability, progress on goals, and any remaining unmet needs.
• Connect students with ongoing support services, including community resources and campus-based programs.
• Provide students with a written transition plan when appropriate, including emergency contacts and steps for re-engagement if needed.
• Ensure proper documentation of discharge in accordance with program and institutional guidelines.
• Maintain a student-centered, strengths-based approach that celebrates achievements and prepares students for continued independence.

PAPERWORK:

• Complete weekly case notes to track student progress and service delivery.
• Conduct and submit quarterly reviews to evaluate outcomes and update student goals.
• Update the student roster on the shared server each week to ensure accurate tracking.
• Enter data into HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) when applicable.
• Fulfill additional documentation requirements as determined by the specific needs of each program or funding source.

SAFETY:

• Identify and report safety hazards to your supervisor.
• Report any work place accidents to your supervisor immediately.
• Update your student list on the server as the case load changes.

MILIEU MANAGEMENT:

• Keep work area uncluttered and organized.
• Facilitate a calm work space and student meeting space.
• Be welcoming and engaged with every student that comes into the office.
• Ensure that students know drop-in appointments availability.
• Identify potential crisis situations, and avert the crisis if possible.
• Facilitate groups as needed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function 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 frequently is required to use hands to hold objects, writing instruments, or files; and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms, to use a computer and smell. The employee must be able to climb stairs. The employee must occasionally lift/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to read, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. This position requires the ability to see, review and share the organizations secure electronic and physical files with other program staff; the incumbent will also have access to the organization’s and other highly confidential information. Because of this, the employee must have the ability to perform the job at the location of the assigned program or field office(s). The employee frequently will be required to travel to locations within the region. The employee may on occasion transport students and help the student (physically and emotionally) navigate government, education, health care and other social service systems. This may require standing in lines, walking up and down stairs  and driving and transporting students to multiple destinations on any given day. Case Manager will conduct case management visits within student’s homes as required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. While performing the duties of the job, the employee may occasionally work outside in weather conditions and is exposed to vibration while driving a car.

Qualifications

Qualifications: 

• Maintain a strength-based perspective.
• Provide diverse services to diverse people.
• Treat others with respect and courtesy, striving for open and honest working relationships.
• Maintain high ethical standards when dealing with others.
• Demonstrate good judgment and common sense.

• BA or BS degree from an accredited college or university, preferably with a major in a behavioral science, and/or 2-3 years experience in the human services field.
• Ability to work with adults or youth with low income from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds who have a history of homelessness.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Housing First and Trauma Informed treatment framework.
• Professional experience working with clients who have AOD dependencies, mental health diagnoses, domestic violence histories, issues with abandonment, and abuse.
• Ability to access community-based services and to collaborate with other service providers.
• Good writing and analytical skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, make effective decisions and utilize supervision as needed.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.
• Ability to multi-task and set priorities.
• Has a clean driving record, licensed and registered car, and proof of insurance.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function 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 frequently is required to use hands to hold objects, writing instruments, or files; and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms, to use a computer and smell. The employee must be able to climb stairs. The employee must occasionally lift/or move up to 10 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to read, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. This position requires the ability to see, review and share the organizations secure electronic and physical files with other program staff; the incumbent will also have access to the organization’s and other highly confidential information.  Because of this, the employee must have the ability to perform the job at the location of the assigned program or field office(s).

The employee frequently will be required to travel to locations within the regional areas of LSS. The employee may on occasion transport clients and help the client (physically and emotionally) navigate government, education, health care and other social service systems. This may require standing in lines, walking up and down stairs  and driving and transporting clients to multiple destinations on any given day. and will conduct case management visits within client’s homes as required.

Salary : $25 - $27