JCM Care Manager I / Lead Care Manager I

Alliance for Community Empowerment • Canoga Park, CA

6d

About The Position

The JCM Care Manager serves as the primary point of contact for participants enrolled in the JCOD Care Management (JCM) Program, including those receiving Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services. The role supports justice-involved individuals as they reintegrate into their communities through intensive care management, advocacy, and participant-centered coordination. Using a whole-person, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, strengths-based approach, the Care Manager helps participants overcome barriers, access housing and essential services, improve health outcomes, and achieve stability and well-being.

The position includes community-based outreach and engagement, pre-release planning and post-release connections to services, comprehensive assessments, individualized care planning, and coordination across health, behavioral health, social service, correctional, and Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan systems. The Care Manager provides field-based support, resource referrals, advocacy, and participant and family education; manages a caseload of up to 30 participants; and maintains required contact, documentation, confidentiality, and program compliance. The position may be designated Care Manager I or Lead Care Manager I; no distinct lead-level duties are specified in the posting.

Requirements

• Experience as a Community Health Worker (CHW) or Peer Support Specialist (PSS); PSS applicants must hold or be eligible for certification through the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA).
• At least two years of experience providing intensive case management, care coordination, reentry services, or related human services to justice-involved, reentry, or underserved populations.
• Experience working with individuals with complex needs, including co-occurring behavioral health conditions, chronic physical health conditions, housing instability, and involvement in multiple service systems.
• Must not appear on applicable Provider Exclusion Lists for ECM service delivery, including the Medi-Cal List of Suspended and Ineligible Providers and the DHHS OIG exclusion list.
• Valid California Driver’s License, proof of automobile insurance, reliable transportation, and ability to travel throughout Los Angeles County.
• Successful completion of required background clearance and TB screening.
• Knowledge of intensive care management principles, including person-centered, trauma-informed, strengths-based, harm reduction, and restorative justice approaches.
• Knowledge of the justice system, reentry challenges, and the needs of justice-involved individuals during community reintegration.
• Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health, Medi-Cal/ECM eligibility, Managed Care Plan requirements, and community-based resources.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention, de-escalation, and safety planning.
• Ability to conduct comprehensive assessments, develop individualized care plans, and coordinate services across medical, behavioral health, housing, and social service systems.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with justice-involved individuals using motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and other evidence-based engagement approaches.
• Ability to deliver culturally responsive, participant-centered, equity-focused services that reflect participants’ backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Ability to work independently in community-based settings while communicating effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong advocacy, problem-solving, organizational, and case management skills, including the ability to respond promptly to urgent and court-ordered referrals.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and documentation skills.
• Proficiency in electronic case management systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and other technology platforms.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and applicable privacy laws.
• Ability to work in office, community, healthcare, correctional, and residential settings; sit, stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 15 pounds; and maintain accurate, timely electronic documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Lived experience with incarceration and/or justice system involvement is highly valued and consistent with the program model.
• Bilingual English/Spanish ability is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct community-based outreach and engagement to identify, locate, and enroll eligible justice-involved individuals.
• Support transitions from incarceration and other institutional settings, including pre-release planning, warm handoffs with jail-based and CDCR care managers, and immediate post-release connections to services.
• Conduct holistic, person-centered comprehensive assessments of physical health, behavioral health, social service, and other support needs.
• Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized Care Management Plans with SMART goals in collaboration with participants.
• Serve as the single point of contact for participants and coordinate care across medical, behavioral health, social service, correctional systems, and Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans.
• Provide field-based services, accompany participants to critical appointments, coordinate transportation, and provide hands-on support to access services.
• Advocate for participants and help them navigate complex service systems.
• Connect participants with community resources addressing Social Determinants of Health, including housing, employment, benefits enrollment, legal assistance, and transportation.
• Educate and empower participants, family members, and natural supports to participate in care planning and self-management.
• Manage a caseload of up to 30 participants; provide at least four hours of care management contact per participant per month, including at least one face-to-face visit every two weeks; and monitor progress toward care plan goals.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation of services, referrals, and case notes in the JCOD Care Management System and ACE internal EHR system.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA, program requirements, agency policies, and documentation standards.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, mandatory trainings, bi-weekly County check-ins, Quarterly Learning Communities, and quality improvement activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health, vision, and dental insurance at no cost to the employee, starting after 60–90 days depending on start date; coverage begins on the next first of the month after 60 days of employment.
• Retirement plan with employer contributions of 2% of annual salary.
• $100,000 life insurance at no cost to the employee.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
• Vacation accrual of approximately 10 days (80 hours) annually during the first two years, approximately 15 days (120 hours) annually at 2–4 years, and approximately 20 days (160 hours) annually at 5 or more years.
• Up to six sick days per year, usable after 60 days.
• 15 paid holidays selected by ACE.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed