Case Manager (CHPLA)

Community Health Project Los Angeles (CHPLA) is a program of Heluna Health. CHPLA’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of people affected by substance use in Los Angeles, to increase access to health care, empower people to protect themselves, and educate each other to reduce harm in our communities. CHPLA combines direct services, advocacy, outreach, education, and research collaborations to fulfill this mission. Community Health Project Los Angeles was founded in 1992. Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) is a community-based diversion approach with the goals of improving public safety, and reducing unnecessary justice system involvement of people who participate in the program. In a LEAD program, law enforcement officers exercise discretionary authority at point of contact to divert individuals to a community-based, harm-reduction intervention for law violations driven by unmet behavioral health needs. In lieu of the traditional criminal justice system cycle -- booking, detention, prosecution, conviction, incarceration -- individuals are instead referred into a trauma-informed, harm reduction intensive case-management program where the individual receives a wide range of support services. Prosecutors and law enforcement work closely with case managers to ensure that all contacts with LEAD participants going forward, including new criminal prosecutions for other offenses, are coordinated with the service plan for the participant to maximize the opportunity to achieve behavioral change. There are certain core principles to LEAD that are essential to achieve transformative outcomes. These include LEAD’s harm reduction/Housing First framework, which requires a focus on individual and community wellness, rather than an exclusive focus on sobriety; and police officers and sergeants involvement as meaningful and positive meaningful partners in program design and operations. The LEAD Case Manager reports to the CHPLA’s Program Manager and Clinical Supervisor. The Case Manager position will provide field based intensive case management services to participants of CHPLA harm reduction programming. The Case Manager will provide direct services to assigned participants (approximately 20 case load), and coordinate care by meeting with participants regularly, assessing needs and facilitating access to appropriate resources. The Case Manager must develop and maintain positive collaborative relationships with community partners, and other service providers in order to best serve their participants. This is a full time, benefitted position (40 hours per week). Employment is provided by Heluna Health. If hired for this position, you will be required to provide proof that you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to your start date, or have a valid religious or medical reason qualifying you for an exemption (that may or may not require accommodation). The pay rate for this position is $29.25 per hour.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Provided care from a truly harm reduction, nonjudgmental, participant-centered, and low-threshold approach. * The Case Manager will be enrolling participants assigned to their caseload and meeting with them regularly to establish a working relationship, assess needs, and link to services and care. * At time of intake, assess and address immediate needs of client including need for medical care, shelter, food, clothing, and harm reduction services/supplies. * Assess ongoing client needs in regards to substance use, mental health, medical care, housing, and employment to determine specific service needs. * Assist participants in identifying appropriate housing/shelter and maintaining occupancy. * Develop and implement with client individualized initial assessments and care plans, which addresses client needs and goals including shelter, food, clothing, health care, substance use treatment or harm reduction strategies, education/training and employment resources. * Update assessments and care plans quarterly to reflect client’s progress towards or attainment of articulated goals and the emergence of client needs; assist the client in developing their own autonomy. * Develop and maintain positive, collaborative relationship with community partners and other service providers including substance use treatment/MAT providers, mental health providers, housing resources, and primary healthcare, LA prosecutors and LAPD. * Educate participants on the range services available to them through CHPLA and partnered providers, including CHPLA Empowerment Program, SSP and MAT services, behavioral and health care services, budgeting, job assistance, overdose prevention, and legal assistance. * Complete documentation in a timely basis. Enter data into CHAMP system within 24-48 hours of client contact. Submit incident reports within 24 hours of incident. * Adhere to all contractually mandated guidelines and timeframes related to charting, assessment, contact, and documentation. * Provide structured Intensive Case Management Services consistent with harm reduction and Housing First principles. * Using all available tools, maintain contact with participants while enrolled in LEAD Program and be able to relay contact, attempted contact, and relevant status updates to management. * Assist participants in gaining entry into service programs. Assist participants in scheduling, attending, and keeping appointments, including providing transportation to and from appointments. * Take all appropriate and necessary actions to link participants in to care or services outlined by their needs and goals and support them in continuous engagement in services obtained. * Identify gaps and barriers in available community resources and advocate on behalf of participants with providers to navigate these barriers and successfully enroll client to receive services. * Support participants in the permanent support housing process by utilizing housing vouchers and resources such as HACLA, LAHSA, and Brilliant Corners. * Support participants with basic needs, utility and rental assistance, and housing resources to maintain permanent supportive housing. * Accompany participants to court or legal hearings to support and advocate on their behalf. With clinical support, write letters to court, to provide proof of engagement in LEAD program. * Accompany client to appointments and advocate for the client with a wide variety of other service providers. * Attend regular case conference meetings, weekly supervision, all staff meetings, and other required meetings. * Develop and maintain client files and other necessary reporting for assigned caseload according to contract requirements. * Participate in the upkeep and daily office operations, receiving and organizing of participants supplies, and assembly of participants supplies to be distributed from office space and in the field.

• Supervise client drop-in center weekly as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Client Services

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience High school diploma or equivalent required, Bachelor’s degree preferred. * Experience linking people to housing, health care, entitlements, and treatment preferred. * Experience or fieldwork serving people who use drugs, people at-risk for overdose, and/or vulnerable populations. * Experience writing curricula preferred. Certificates/Licenses/Clearances * A valid California driver’s license, proof of vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions * Successfully background check clearance. Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Written and spoken proficiency in Spanish preferred.

• Understanding of substance use and harm reduction strategies.
• Demonstrated passion for serving the chronically homeless population with

co-occurring disorders.

• Understanding and willingness to take a harm reduction approach
• Able to maintain composure and clear judgement under high stress situations,

high demands, and witness to acute medical and mental health crisis. * Proficient with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook,); high level of initiative and willingness to stay current with technology required to complete work assignments. * Ability to prioritize and self-manage workload and activities in order to complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner. * Dependable, able to work under pressure, receptive to change, willingness to learn, with a cooperative and positive approach to problem solving. * Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, participants, and outside contacts from a wide variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds; effective tact and diplomacy skills. * Basic clerical skills, including typing, ability to proof read own work; good grammar and spelling skills.

• Flexible team player.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work very independently and seek supervision when appropriate.
• Ability to set boundaries, resolves conflict, and de-escalates issues.
• Willingness to utilize own vehicle or company vehicle to conduct business and

provide transportation for participants.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Stand Frequently Walk Frequently Sit Frequently Handling / Fingering Occasionally Reach Outward Occasionally Reach Above Shoulder Occasionally Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend Occasionally Lift / Carry Occasionally - Up to 50 lbs Push/Pull Occasionally - Up to 50 lbs See Constantly Taste/ Smell Not Applicable Not Applicable Not required for essential functions Occasionally (0 - 2 hrs/day) Frequently (2 - 5 hrs/day) Constantly (5+ hrs/day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Both office and community setting. Will be necessary to travel throughout Los Angeles for participant care, participant transports and trainings. Field work takes place in a variety of setting including encampments, hospitals, shelters, courthouse, community settings. Agency vehicles are available, but work may require use of personal vehicle at times. Staff may encounter environmental hazards such as stray animals, moving vehicles, high-crime areas, and individuals who may be aggressive or in crisis. The position requires collaboration with team members and community partners, frequent local travel, and the ability to work in unpredictable or high-pressure situations. Work may occur outdoors and may involve exposure to weather conditions, noise, odors, fumes, pollen, and other environmental factors common to field-based outreach work.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Interested candidates must submit a resume for consideration. Candidates with lived experience are encouraged to apply. It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, without regard to age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, reproductive health decision making, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer), AIDS or HIV, genetic information or characteristics, veteran status or military service.