Rapid Re-Housing Case Manager

Company: Covenant House Alaska
Location: Anchorage
Posted on: May 26, 2023

Job Description:

At Covenant House Alaska we are in the people business. We provide holistic services to young people who come to us from circumstances beyond their control. Our people provide absolute respect and unconditional love to youth who deserve a chance to be the best version of themselves. When you join our team, you become part of a massive movement to interrupt the path to chronic adult homelessness. The pay is competitive, the benefits package is best in class and the experience is life changing. We look forward to meeting you.
Position Summary
All Covenant House Alaska program staff work as advocates and allies for youth experiencing homelessness and human trafficking
The Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) Case Manager is responsible for building relationship and individual case management for youth experiencing homelessness and highly vulnerable youth including survivors of human trafficking, within the CHA Rapid Re-Housing Program. Essential functions of the position are to provide support in program development, housing navigation and client case management. The RRH Case Manager will work in partnership and collaboration with multiple agencies to help rapidly rehouse homeless youth who qualify through the Coordinated Entry System. The RRH Case Manager will maintain a case load of 10-15 identified transitional age highly vulnerable youth and/or trafficking survivors, who may have multiple barriers (i.e. Serious Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorders, Chronic Health Conditions, frequent contact with law enforcement, etc). The RRH Case Manager will assist with housing search and placement within the private market, and with youth's consent rally supportive services that will assist the household to maintain permanent housing. The position is responsible for providing these services within the framework of the Mission Statement, Five Principles, and the Policies and Procedures of Covenant House Alaska.
Essential Functions

• Provide case management services and coordinate services with other agencies. Duties may include conducting assessments, developing a Success Plan, monitoring client progress, group facilitation, and resource referrals.
• Apply the Housing First approach to locate and secure housing for identified survivors of trafficking without service requirements while meeting youth needs, promoting youth choice, and linking to proper supports.
• Engage youth throughout the process of locating housing, reviewing and understanding the requirements of the lease, developing a household budget, assisting with finding employment and/or income source, and collaborating with community partners to provide resources the youth needs.
• Facilitate/coordinate or refer rental readiness trainings for youth, such as Ready-to-Rent.
• Participate in Coordinated Entry meetings and collaborate with other providers to identify, refer and place youth into appropriate housing placements and resource linkages.
• Create and maintain consistent communication between several agencies (i.e. housing agency, landlord, mental health case manager, OCS caseworker, substance abuse counselor, creditors).
• Liaise with landlords to identify suitable units for youth and engage in landlord and neighbor mediation to help youth foresee and mitigate issues that may jeopardize their tenancy.
• Effectively manage crisis situations through assessing, deciding, and acting in accordance with standards and laws in emergency situations involving the health and safety of youth being compromised.
• Monitor and document regular progress and/or lack of progress of youth's Success Plan and maintain case management files for all youth, including the necessary electronic databases (ETO and/or AKHMIS) on caseload.
• Monitor program outputs and ensures that all documentation required for external grants are complete.
• Document pertinent information in Critical Incident Reports, Follow-up, etc., as necessary.
• Transport clients to agencies and services, as needed.
• Perform other program duties as assigned.
• Cultivate relationships with youth, community partner agencies, and landlords in the community
• Communications must reflect a strength-based, trauma-informed, positive youth development approach. Bilingual preferred. Qualifications
  Education
  Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology or a related field is preferred. Experience can substitute for post-secondary education on a year-for-year basis.
  Experience
  Previous experience working with at-risk youth, youth experience homelessness, human trafficking survivors or other disadvantaged populations preferred.
  Demonstrated familiarity with homeless systems and resources for housing, education, and employment and methods of access is preferred.
  Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
  • Understand and comply with all Agency policies and procedures, including Child Protection Policies.
  • Understand and embrace the tenets of Housing First, Trauma-Informed Care, Harm Reduction, and Positive Youth Development in all work with youth.
  • Is approachable, relatable, builds rapport well, and practices active listening with individuals of varied cultural backgrounds, embracing differences in behavior and lifestyle choices.
  • High degree of sensitivity to and respect for diversity and cultural issues involved in working with individuals of varying ethnicities and income.
  • Understand best practices in the areas of prevention, recognition, and response to suspected and identified victims of human trafficking.
  • Willingness to engage with partner human trafficking service agencies and law enforcement
  • Understand the intersectionality of youth homelessness, mental health, substance misuse, human trafficking, and poverty.
  • Knowledge of community social service resources to assist youth with needs related to housing, employment, education, and social-emotional well-being.
  • Knowledge of renter's rights and landlord tenant laws; Public speaking abilities conducive to educating others in this area.
  • Ability to assist youth with the financial elements of renting while fostering the development of financial literacy skills.
  • Knowledge of crisis intervention and ability to address conflict between youth exhibiting challenging behaviors; able to respond quickly and safely while continuing to be a settling influence in crisis situations and emergencies.
  • Can maintain confidentiality while understanding and complying with requirements of mandated reporting, duty to warn, HIPAA, and other limits to confidentiality.
  • Willingness to utilize training opportunities in support of personal and professional growth, competence development, and to increase overall capacity to serve youth every day.
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fluid environment.
  • Well developed verbal and written communication skills.
  • Proficient with standard computer operating systems. Ability to navigate Microsoft Office Suite, online databases, and other programs and websites as required.
  • Willingness and ability to work outside of normal business hours as well as Holidays and weekends as needed.
  • Willingness and ability to attain a CPR/First Aid Certification.
  • Possess a current and valid Driver's License.
    • Acceptable driving record assessed through CHA's Drivers Acceptability Matrix
      • Pass federal, state, and local background check investigations. Working Conditions
        • Position will work in a variety of settings, both inside and outside, and at times in inclement weather (Snow, Rain, etc.). Position will be based out of the Navigation Center but will also provide mobile case management using their personal vehicle.
        • Noise level is mild to moderate, consistent with office and residential environments.
        • Must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
        • Must have the ability to observe details within close range.
        • Must be able to remain in stationary position for extended periods of time.
        • Must be able to move within the office to access files and office equipment.
        • Consistently operates a computer and related office machinery.
        • Must be able to ascend/descend stairways within a wide variety of facilities both commercial and residential, with and possibly without the assistance of an elevator.
        • Must be able to manage traversing a wide variety of different terrains and gradient levels in order to meet youth within a wide variety of settings.
        • Occasionally moves items up to 40 pounds while ascending/descending stairways to assist youth moving in and out.
          Covenant House is an Equal Opportunity Employer
          To promote the best in health and well-being for Staff and Youth at Covenant House Alaska we require employees to have/obtain a COVID-19 vaccination as a term of employment unless an exemption has been approved. All vaccination records are maintained by Human Resources and will be stored separately from the employee's personnel file and will only be requested upon acceptance of an offer of employment. Additionally, all CHA Staff are required to follow current CDC best practices, which will be monitored and communicated when changes and updates are needed.

Keywords: Covenant House Alaska, Anchorage , Rapid Re-Housing Case Manager, Executive , Anchorage, Alaska