Community Case Manager

 The Organization

Founded in 1971, Y.O.U. is an Evanston-based non-profit that partners with families, schools, and the community to provide academic, social, and emotional support to close the opportunity gap and prepare all youth for post-secondary and life success. Each year, Y.O.U. provides over hundreds of youth with free, holistic, out-of-school support, including afterschool and summer learning programs, mental health counseling, and experiential learning through partnerships.

Youth and Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) is seeking a dedicated Community Case Manager to support the implementation of our community-wide runaway and homeless youth programs. In this role, you will deliver comprehensive, community-based services for youth (ages 11–22) as part of a collaborative initiative aimed at helping young people secure housing stability. Utilizing a trauma-informed lens, the Community Case Manager will develop, facilitate, and oversee program activities and community partnerships to help adolescents and young adults achieve post-secondary and lifelong success. Additionally, this role provides critical support to families and youth participating in Y.O.U.’s Out of School Time programs as well as individual and family therapy. The Community Case Manager is a full-time position and reports to the Director of Clinical and Outreach Services. 

Summary of Role:

• Direct Service and Case Management (40%): provide youth in Y.O.U. Out-of-School Time programs and broader Evanston community access to critical community-based resources in housing, education, employment, and healthcare
• Community Partnerships and Preventative Services (40%): Develop and manage relationships with community partners to link youth to immediate needs such as housing, healthcare, employment, education and social supports.
• Administration and Management (20%): Works with CCBYS Manager and Grants Manager to ensure monthly RHY data entry and up-to-date records for service tracking grant compliance. Maintains comprehensive case management documentation.

Direct Services and Case Management (40%):

• Manages a caseload of 20-25 individual clients at a time through CCBYS and BCP as referred by the OST and Clinical departments as well as clients age 11-22 from community partners.
• Builds positive, age-appropriate relationships with youth and their families support in Y.O.U. after school programs, community presence at key locations including Community Events, Robert Crown Community Center, McGaw YMCA, and other partner organizations where congregate.
• Participates in the Housing Crisis Response Team on pager rotation serving runaway, homeless, and/or locked out youth ages 11-17 on weekdays (2pm-6pm) as well as periodic nights and weekends with additional compensation.
• Serves as a Backup Supervisor to Housing Crisis Response Team, as assigned.
• Engages in monthly check-ins with After School Program Managers for Y.O.U. Middle and High school programs, identifying youth/families in need of additional support, and providing updates on supports to help the youth successfully participate in Y.O.U. programs.

Community Partnerships and Preventative Services (40%):

• Helps identify emerging issues faced by RHY populations in the Evanston area and incorporates necessary program design changes to ensure that Y.O.U. RHY strategy is addressing needs.
• Partners with community organizations on initiatives that assist youth on post-secondary and life success, such as job preparation, financial literacy, college exposure, etc.
• Obtains and assimilates best practices related to restorative justice, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction strategies with RHY populations. 
• Attends annual RHY conference to share, gain, and integrate best practices for disconnected youth across the country, as assigned.
• Builds, strengthens, and manages community partnerships that increase youth access to Housing, Employment, Education, and Healthcare.

Administrative/Management (20%):

• Maintains accurate, complete, and up to date client records including case notes, treatment planning and data entry for all grants through necessary databases.
• Completes 3/6/9-month follow-ups regarding RHY to assess long-term housing stability

Required Qualifications:

• Associates Degree in social services
• At least three years of relevant experience working with runaway and homeless youth, including development and implementation of programming related to case management, life skills, and/hour housing displacement; 
• At least three years of experience cultivating, leading and maintaining a coalition of partners in support of effective programming;
• Familiarity of and experience with working in youth-facing programming within northern/suburban Cook County or Chicago. 
• Demonstrated strong project management skills in directing complex, multifaceted projects that result in measurable successes and growth in program quality and capacity.
• Experience in designing and delivering adult learning experiences focused on runaway and homeless youth-related topics.
• Excellent communication skills, ability to build relationships of mutual trust and respect with youth, colleagues, school professionals, and community members.
• Demonstrated experience in and passion for youth services.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for Y.O.U.'s mission.
• Must live within an hour driving distance from Y.O.U.’s headquarters at 1911 Church Street, Evanston, IL 60201.
• Other: Must have a car, valid driver's license, and auto insurance, which meets or exceeds Y.O.U. agency standards for liability coverage.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social services
• Familiarity and experience working with youth in Evanston.
• Experience in program evaluation and improvement.
• Experience in performing in a highly collaborative setting.
• Proficient in using technology (i.e. Ecornerstone and HMIS) as a management and reporting tool.
• Bilingual Spanish/English is a plus.

Y.O.U. Benefits

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Hours: Full-time flexible schedule

Benefits include: Health, dental, vision, and group term life insurance; Voluntary Life and AD&D insurance option; EAP; PTO; 401K with up to 1% match after two years of employment; FSA/Pre-tax transit option; professional development; and flexible work schedule.

There will be no relocation costs included in this package. Applicants should have a current, valid legal authorization to work in the United States.