Apply on
POSITION TITLE: Case Manager/Child Specialist
DEPARTMENT: Refugee Services
REPORTS TO: Program Manager, Refugee Services
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt
TIME COMMITMENT: Full-time (40 hours/week) M-F, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Some evenings or weekend work may be required
SALARY: $25 per hour
BENEFITS: Catholic Charities offers a full line of benefits to select from medical, dental, vision. Prescription drugs, life insurance, case-balance pension plan, 403(b), vacation, 15 holidays and sick leave.
ORGANZATION PROFILE: Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego was founded in 1919 to provide service to those in need, to be a witness to the scriptural values of mercy, to advocate for justice, and to call all people of good will to join in these efforts. The agency responds to the needs of the poor in two counties of the Roman Catholic Diocese San Diego and Imperial.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Case Manager, under the supervision of the Program Manager, is responsible for providing high-quality post-release services for unaccompanied children released from the care of shelters under the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to sponsors in the United States, in addition to conducting thorough pre-release home study evaluations of potential sponsors.
This work falls under the umbrella of the Safe Passages Family Reunification Program, which is administered at sites across the country by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS). The Safe Passages Program exists to assess the appropriateness and safety of potential child placements outside of ORR custody, providing assistance and support during the transition from ORR custody to sponsorship.
The Case Manager must travel to the placement environment and reference State and County child welfare home check guidance. The Case Manager will engage in communication with all assigned active cases regularly and proactively to ensure stability, safety, basic needs are met, problem-solving in a timely manner, and documentation of case progress. Frequent communication with program and department staff on a continuous basis providing feedback. The Case Manager will engage in partnerships with community services and local programs.
The Case Manager will also engage on an as-needed basis to assist other Refugee Services, Resettlement Program, San Diego Newcomer Project, Match Grant Program, and other clerical needs. Coordinate with Program Manager, Client Services Coordinator, Case Managers, Transportation Aide, and others as needed.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
POST-RELEASE SERVICES
- Conduct home visits, phone calls, and other activities based on established post-release service timelines to ensure the well-being of children who have been released from ORR custody to sponsors
- Provide assistance to children and sponsors to connect them to appropriate resources in the community for the purpose of addressing the children’s needs, including assistance with school enrollment, education on various topics, guidance in relation to release paperwork and legal processes, food distribution center, emergency services and other sources of support
- Ensure that all children and sponsors receiving post-release services are always treated with respect and provided with high-quality service
- Always maintain vigilance for signs of human trafficking, abuse, neglect, or mistreatment as well as risk factors that are commonly present in situations of child abuse or neglect, reporting any concerns immediately to the Program Manager
HOME STUDIES
- Conduct home studies that may include visits to sponsor homes, interviews with household members, telephonic interviews with children in ORR custody, interviews with shelter staff, probation officers, attorneys, social workers, and others in accordance with ORR guidelines
- Provide recommendations as to whether the placement of children with identified sponsors is in the children’s best interest and whether the sponsors are determined to be suitable caregivers
- Maintain vigilance at all times for signs of human trafficking, abuse, neglect, or maltreatment as well as risk factors that are commonly present in situations of child abuse or neglect, reporting any concerns immediately to the Program Manager
- Consult with Program Manager and USCCB/MRS staff as needed, as well as through regular supervision and case discussion meetings, to ensure the safety, well-being, and permanency of each child in the program
CASE MANAGEMENT
- Provide case management services to unaccompanied minors, unaccompanied refugee minors and other populations served by the Refugee Services Department as needed.
- Provide required services in a timely manner in accordance with ORR and federal policy with a focus on placement stability and child safety.
- Ensure clients have the required medical, education, and immigration documents.
- Work directly with clients to develop practical safety plans, tailored to their unique strengths and weaknesses, that include both short and long-term goals as well as the means and time frames within which these goals will be achieved.
- Make referrals and connections to internal and external services, including ESL, education programs, medical appointments, legal, and any other needs the family may need. Follow-up on these referrals is required to ensure client participation and continued progress towards ORR recommendations.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related field required.
- Two to three years of experience working with Hispanic/Latino families to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services preferred
- Bilingual in English and Spanish required
- Knowledge of the resources and providers (governmental, civic, social, health, educational, economic, faith-based, etc.) that are available within the community/county to assist migrant families
- Exemplary, professional work habits verified by previous employers
- Commitment to the mission and values associated with the agency and the program, including social justice and respect for others
- Ability to contribute to and maintain accurate, complete, and confidential records and reports
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite – including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access – and other commonly used office software required
- Familiarity with data management software and the use of databases for tracking the delivery of services to clients preferred
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
- Valid California Driver’s License
- Safe driving record as demonstrated by a DMV report that shows no violations or restrictions
- Must successfully complete a DOJ/ FBI live scan
- Must successfully pass a CPS Background Investigation
- Must successfully pass CA/N check (Child Abuse & Neglect)
- Tuberculin Skin Test
- CPR/First Aid Certification (desired)
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The employee must travel to various locations as required by the program.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.