Case Manager, Community Connections

Illinois Action For Children•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Illinois Action for Children seeks a compassionate, care-driven Community Connections Case Manager to provide case management services to families whose children from pre-K through eighth grade are chronically absent from school. Under the direction of the North Lawndale Community Connections Manager, the Case Manager works with families and schools to reduce barriers to consistent attendance and develops strategies with families, children, and community partners to increase awareness of the importance of school attendance. The role also builds relationships with North Lawndale families, neighborhood schools, and partner organizations to support community systems and improve outcomes. The Case Manager is expected to create effective case management systems, communicate well with families, children, and partners, and work with minimum supervision in accordance with organizational standards. The role promotes IAFC’s core capabilities of accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement, communication, competent people, and clear priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Early Childhood Education, Family Studies, or a closely related field.
Two years of experience as a Caseworker or in a similar position.
Prior experience working with children and families.
Experience working in varied settings with culturally diverse families and communities, with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to establish rapport at all levels.
Good documentation skills.
Respect for confidentiality involving families and fellow employees.
Experience motivating others toward achieving goals.
Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and some weekends.
Skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and comfort entering data.
Valid driver’s license, reliable personal transportation, and insurance.

Responsibilities

Manage a caseload of families with chronically absent children and schedule in-person contact with families at least twice a month.
Emphasize the importance of consistent attendance and the early years of school.
Listen to families and help solve challenges affecting attendance.
Connect children and families with community resources and document referrals.
Assist families in setting and pursuing personal goals for increased self-sufficiency.
Follow up with families and agencies and document services until each case is closed.
Track required data related to case management services and maintain the confidentiality of information received and managed by IAFC.
Work with the team and partners to create systems that address barriers to attendance.
Develop strategies to identify highest-need families as early as possible.
Develop and maintain a community resources directory.
Track obstacles to implementation for team reflection and continuous improvement, and help design responsive strategies for emerging obstacles.
Work with schools to develop and implement a Parent Attendance Committee.
Support community systems building and Innovation Zone collaboration.
Build ongoing relationships with North Lawndale families, children, and partners.
Promote and connect children ages 0–5 with formal early learning programs.
Coordinate field trips for North Lawndale families.
Meet with community resource partners at least twice a month to facilitate referrals and serve as a connector and information resource.
Represent IAFC to external groups and organizations as assigned, promoting the agency and increasing service utilization through events, presentations, or day-to-day contact.
Attend program-related events regularly and carry out the organization’s workplace core capabilities.