Case Manager

Position: Case Manager

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SALARY:

DEPARTMENT: Regional Public Defender’s Office

OPENING DATE: October 16, 2023

CLOSING DATE:

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Under the direction and supervision of the Chief Public Defender, the Case Manager is assigned to work with clients of the office in need of assistance to address possible barriers he or she may be experiencing, in turn impacting their legal status. Such barriers include social services barriers, such as those with mental illness, emotional disturbance, adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD), poverty, housing issues, unemployment, and individuals who have substance use disorders and/or a serious mental illness with co-occurring substance use disorder. The Case

Manager works with the client and his/her chosen support network in connecting clients with treatment and recovery plans that promote individual choice, the use of community resources, and formal and informal supports in pursuit of the individual’s desired future. The Case Manager provides expertise in providing coordination of service needs, linking persons to appropriate service agencies and supports mitigation while operating as a liaison between the public defenders and our clients as well as service providers, stakeholders, and the public.

BENEFITS:

• Hybrid pension plan which includes a Defined Benefit & Defined Contribution
• Comprehensive Medical, Pharmacy & Dental
• Short-term Disability and Basic Life & AD&D insurance
• Optional Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation plan, VSP, AFLAC & Life Insurance
• Health & Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Vacation and Personal Time & 13 Holidays
• Vacation rollover and PR payout within Policy Guidelines

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS:

• Provides holistic defense case management and mitigation expertise to defense counsel through relevant social work/mental health research and the application of that research to individual indigent defense cases.
• Performs needs assessments for clients. Works closely with clients to make appropriate referrals to address clients’ social service needs such as drug treatment, housing, mental health services, public assistance, and other benefits. Assist clients in navigating social service agencies. Provides access to outreach services to clients in their homes and in the community.
• Provides case management expertise toward holistic defense and in support of the office’s objectives as established by the Chief Public Defender by collaborating with team members to advocate for reduced sentences and/or alternatives to incarceration for clients through gathering factual mitigation through interviews and obtaining records, analyzing records, researching and recommending alternatives to incarceration, and writing pre-pleading memoranda to judges seeking reduced sentences and alternatives to incarceration.
• Advocates in various ways on behalf of clients to social service agencies, judges, programs, and other local stakeholders.
• Gather, obtain, and log information into the Public Defender’s case management system regarding client’s involvement in programming throughout the course of the Office’s representation.
• Provide clients with information, and help clients enroll into, the 85th District Court

Sobriety Court program and/or the 19th Circuit Court Drug Treatment Court when appropriate.

• Fulfills other duties as assigned by the Chief Public Defender.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field preferred
• One (1) year of Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or Holistic Defense experience in a legal setting is preferred,
• Six (6) months to One (1) year experience providing case management or coordination preferred.
• Applicants that have completed the Peer Recovery Coach Certification as required by

MDHHS are preferred.

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Physical: Must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations, including, but not limited to, visual and/or audiological appliances and devices to increase mobility.

Other: Must be able to multi-task and work under stressful and distracting conditions. Must have the ability to operate technology to search, update, correct and retrieve information. Must successfully pass a pre-employment background check. Must maintain regular, reliable, and predictable attendance. Possession of a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle required.

Note: Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends and/or holidays if necessary. This is an at will position.

Benzie and Manistee Counties are Equal Opportunity Employers.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $23.05 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• Social Work field: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $23 - $23