Case Manager Counselor Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA (NOW HIRING)

Description
Position Summary
The Case Manager, Homeless Prevention maintains cases for families and individuals who are in need of support to find, secure, or maintain permanent affordable housing or who require support with financial education and resources. Families and individuals are identified and referred through outreach, walk-ins, internal referrals, and external referrals. The Case Manager, Homeless Prevention performs direct client service and compiles related documentation needed to meet agency standards as well as maintains professional relationships and communicates effectively through shared tools provided by the agency. The duties for this position include orienting all eligible participants to the program, performing administrative tasks involved in the review and maintenance of program caseloads, and linking families with appropriate referrals for continued services. The Case Manager, Homeless Prevention helps ensure consistency of services and processes among providers in the agency.
Essential Functions
1. Develop a housing procurement, financial, and self-sufficiency case management plan with clients that includes an intake interview to determine client's needs, goals, and eligibility.
2. Provide information to clients including, but not limited to, bankruptcy support, collection action, credit education, credit reports, housing issues, consumer protection laws, student loans, wage attachments, banking services, budgeting, credit report ratings, financial resources, and protection laws, etc. while providing answers to clients' questions.
3. Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords, roommates, or family members to develop a workable plan to obtain and/or maintain housing.
4. Collaborate with the Public Defender's Office, mediation courts, or legal aid providers to prevent unlawful detainers and homelessness.
5. Administer financial assistance for rental arrears, rent gaps, security and utility deposits, utility assistance, move-in costs, and other housing related expenses in accordance with agency and program requirements.
6. Assist participants in locating, securing, or maintaining housing of their choice; create and maintain consistent communication channels, both verbal and written, between several parties (i.e., tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors, and creditors).
7. Serve as an ongoing liaison between property managers and participants as well as between participants and neighbors including other resource providers and organizations; collaborates with service providers, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and other organizations and businesses to coordinate services for clients; must travel to provide face-to-face services to clients as needed.
8. Maintain the highest levels of confidentiality regarding client information, sharing it only as agreed upon by the client and as evidenced by a signed release form.
9. Provide information and referral assistance regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and/or community programs.
10. Assist in development of, and encourages adherence to, a personal budget through pro-active housing and budget counseling sessions; provide budget counseling and education to assist clients in establishing payment plans for bills and past debts and to assist clients in obtaining and maintaining their housing.
11. Assist participants in the development of a strength-based/solution-focused individualized goal and action plan that promotes permanent housing and self-sufficiency.
12. Identify participant strengths and barriers to stability and assist participants in reducing barriers; link participants to resources and services.
13. Provide follow-up to ensure stability and further progress towards self-sufficiency, including support, advocacy, listening, problem-solving, and identification of resources to assist with reintegration of participants in the community.
14. Applies knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate clients of their rights and responsibilities as tenants.
15. Collect and maintain accurate program data, client summaries, and records in Datalink and other programs that may be used for monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting.
16. Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations to the workplace or work processes.
17. Support the Mission, Vision, and Values of Catholic Charities in the performance of all essential job functions and responsibilities.
Note: Catholic Charities considers this position to be a mandated reporter of child abuse and elder abuse.
Other Responsibilities
1. Work at locations in the community on a regular basis.
2. Work with the Diocese of Santa Rosa and local parishes as appropriate and requested.
3. Perform other related duties as assigned.
Agency Culture
It is essential that all employees of Catholic Charities aspire to the following:
• A commitment to the agency's mission, vision, and values.
• A commitment to excellence in everything we do.
• A commitment to performance and quality improvement.
• A commitment to outcomes and measured results.
• A commitment to innovation and to what is possible.
Education, Experience, and Skills Required
1. Associates degree preferred; one to two years' working as a Case Manager I and experience with financial counseling, credit, and housing sustainability; two to four years additional experience working in financial counseling may substitute for degree.
2. Previous experience and working knowledge in working with clients in the areas of Housing Affordability, Financial Management, Fair housing education, Credit Counseling and screening clients for eligibility and referring individuals to various community resources.
3. Ability to engage with and educate clients of diverse backgrounds in an interactive and culturally sensitive manner; knowledge and familiarity with harm reduction, motivational interviewing and de-escalation techniques.
4. Cooperative, friendly, and helpful attitude with clients and co-workers; understanding of people from diverse cultures and value systems; prior experience and understanding of the causes of poverty and vulnerability.
5. Ability to communicate, orally and in writing, possess good organization skills, ability to produce accurate and thorough work and to monitor work for quality.
6. Ability to focus and concentrate on essential job function to successfully complete essential functions with timeliness and organization.
7. Dependable, able to follow instructions, respond to management direction and to use feedback to improve performance.
8. Ability to make appropriate decisions based on training and experience when faced with multiple options
9. Ability to work independently and efficiently with strong time management skills as well as ability to work as part of a team.
10. Computer literacy required, including experience with Microsoft 365 suite; familiarity with internet-based tools such as webmail, Google calendar, Webtime, Zoom, and Teams preferred.
11. Passion and enthusiasm for the mission of Catholic Charities and its clients.
12. Valid driver license and at least state required minimum of automobile insurance, clear DMV driving record and ability to provide own transportation. Must be willing and able to travel between agency sites.
13. Must pass DOJ background clearance (fingerprinting) in accordance with the Diocese of Santa Rosa's policies prior to start of employment.
14. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required.
Job Analysis/Job Description Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is often required to stand, walk, travel, and stoop or bend. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods while using a computer.
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 the essential functions. Frequent incoming telephone calls, scanners, and copiers as well as a wide range of clients or at times clients in distress contribute to a noise level of average to above average.