Housing Case Manager - Community Health Worker

Job Description

Job Description

Position Goals:

● Serves as the external, community-facing REACH outreach staff person whose work includes regular and

ongoing interaction with individuals in need of housing and healthcare including physical and / or behavioral health services. This is a grant-funded position.

● On site 40 hours per week at designated housing authorities and community based organizations

● Work closely with their supervisor and the Director of Operations to ensure the chronically unhoused populations we serve are getting timely access to leasing services with full wraparound care

● Accept, manage and facilitate all referrals for case management and arrear payments for all qualifying populations within the initiative

● Be responsible for annual renewal of all Department of Social Services benefits, most specifically section 8 vouchers for all individuals to assure there is no lapse in benefits

● Provide culturally appropriate health education, assessment, intensive case management and or navigations, follow-up and/or advocacy as part of service coordination and case-finding activities

● Outreach activities include promoting access to care among individuals and / or community agency

representatives and creating effective and sustained linkages to other needed and/or appropriate health and/or human services

● Patient engagement characterized by direct contact with individuals with empathy and sensitivity

● Responsible for establishing and engaging with community individuals and / or REACH patients by establishing positive and supportive interpersonal relationships

● Responsible for establishing and engaging with housing authority management and staff to cultivate and preserve a high level of professionalism between REACH and the leasing organization

● Functions as a member of a multidisciplinary team providing care for individuals with a substance use disorder diagnosis, mental illness, social and / or psychological needs including but not limited to addressing their social determinants of health needs

Responsibilities:

● Promote the mission, vision, and values of REACH in conducting outreach activities

● Provide housing case management support services

● Provide on site outreach work and case management support to all participants that are enrolled in the initiative

● Become CRPA certified through the organization within first 6 months of employment

● Provide culturally appropriate support services for community based individuals including REACH patients

● Work with other members of the REACH team to assess and address the needs of clients and family including the social determinants of health

● Facilitate patient access to information including formal and informal support systems, web and print based materials, transportation assistance

● Make appropriate referrals to health and social service agencies that may include application assistance and /or advocacy related activities

● Develop, manage and facilitate support groups as needed (training will be provided as appropriate / necessary)

● Provide behavioral health and other regulation-required screenings as needed under the supervision of licensed behavioral health providers (training provided as necessary)

● Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings including but not limited to daily patient care pre-visit huddles

● Update and maintain progress and / or Outreach activity notes in a timely manner

Qualifications:

● A high school diploma or equivalent

● A preferred minimum of two years’ experience working with clients in human services

● Experience with navigation of local medical and social support systems

● Persons with lived experience preferred

● Exceptional communication skills Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

● Knowledge of community human services and health care resources for which the clients / patients are eligible

● Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

● Ability to work independently, exercise creativity, and be attentive to detail

● Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous responsibilities and to adjust priorities accordingly

● Ability to maintain confidentiality of all medical, financial and legal information

● Ability to complete work assignments accurately, independently and in a timely manner

● Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing

● Ability to handle difficult situations in a professional manner

● Commitment to harm reduction, health equity, diversity and inclusion philosophies and approaches

The REACH Project Inc. is a nonprofit organization with the belief that all individuals deserve respectful, equitable, access to compassionate healthcare in a setting where they will not be stigmatized or judged based on drug use, homelessness, or any other issue that may cause less than adequate care in today's healthcare environment.

Company Description

The REACH Project Inc. is a nonprofit organization with the belief that all individuals deserve respectful, equitable, access to compassionate healthcare in a setting where they will not be stigmatized or judged based on drug use, homelessness, or any other issue that may cause less than adequate care in today's healthcare environment.\r\n\r\nThe REACH Project owns and operates the first low threshold, harm reduction medical practice in Ithaca, NY