Position: Case Manager – Illinois Welcoming Center (IWC)

Reports to: IWC Program Supervisor

Program/Department: Illinois Welcoming Center

The Illinois Welcoming Center services is a one-stop human service center designed to help immigrants navigate Illinois’ human services delivery system. Program design can include co-location of services and provision of service coordination at the local level so individuals with multiple needs can be provided with comprehensive services from one central location.

POSITION SUMMARY: This individual will identify individuals in the community who would benefit from education or services offered by the Illinois Welcoming Center program in Kankakee, IL. The case manager specialist will function as a conduit to engage, educate, and promote the IWC program to community members or stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Act as a point of contact for the local community, including but not limited to shelters, hospitals, health care providers, emergency responders and social service providers.
• Provide comprehensive and culturally sensitive case management services to all clients, including intake assessment, benefit assessment, financial goal setting, educational goal setting, money management, and financial literacy training.
• Regularly engage individuals who are in need of IWC program or services from the IWC collaborative.
• Follows procedures during a crisis intervention of medical and/or psychiatric emergencies on and off site.
• Monitor behavioral functions and report as needed to ensure a safe, welcoming environment for patients and staff on site.
• In collaboration with IWC will assist in the referral and linkage to behavioral health or social services in the community.
• Document accurately, neatly, and consistently every and any contact with or on behalf of a participant in the participant’s designated chart, as required by funding source.
• Work in conjunction with agency staff to assure that appropriate referrals are made and follow up services are provided as needed.
• Connect families with needed and available community resources. Follow up with referrals agencies to ensure the use/success of the referral.
• Weekly case plan development, progress monitoring, advocacy, and referrals.
• Provide linages for patients to community-based services as needed; stay abreast of staff changes and referral procedures at partner agencies.
• Participate in staff meetings, staff trainings, and other duties as assigned by the program supervisor.
• Transport participants if needed to locations within the Kankakee Illinois area.

Support

• Provide practical help and mentoring, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, problem solving and direct assistance to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living.
• Promote the client’s self-advocacy skills.
• Other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (verbal, written)
• Case Management and Outreach experience
• Be flexible for potential second and/or third shifts as needed.
• Comprehensive understanding of substance use, mental health and HIV/AIDS
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Learns technology quickly.
• Ability to engage in many projects at once.
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks, set priorities and follow-through on daily tasks in a timely fashion.
• Ability to handle confidential information professionally and appropriately.
• Fast, accurate analysis and reporting.

OTHER REQUIRED ABILITIES:

• Bilingual Spanish/English and Bicultural applicants strongly preferred.

• Ability to work effectively with peers, individual clients, and groups.

• Desire to learn new skills.

• Knowledge of community and social service agencies.

• Ability to maintain accurate records and necessary paperwork.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employees are responsible for informing supervisor of any invisible disability or medical restriction that limit physical capability.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. There may be occasions that call for an employee to carry out duties at other agency offices. Traveling to and from meetings is necessary.

MIMIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: An case manager must meet the following qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED; enrolled in an Associates/Bachelor’s program.
• At least 1 year of previous case management experience preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of the local community and its stakeholders.