Community Case Manager – New Position

The Community Case Manager provides trauma-informed, Housing First–oriented case management services to women with families experiencing housing instability. This role supports families at risk of becoming unhoused by building strong resource networks and coordinating prevention-focused, community-based services that support long-term housing stability and family well-being. The Case Manager serves as a trusted advocate, working directly with clients in their homes and throughout the community to support goals related to housing, income, health, and overall well-being. This position requires knowledge of family systems, experience navigating community resources, and the ability to build and maintain strong partnerships with community providers. The role is community-based, fast-paced, and requires comfort working outside of an office setting.

Preferred candidates have experience working with families experiencing homelessness and housing crises and familiarity with the Milwaukee community service agency network. The Cathedral Center utilizes a strengths-based, housing first approach and participates in the community’s Coordinated Entry System.

This position includes Health, dental and life insurance, 2 weeks paid vacation, retirement, paid holiday/sick leave, mileage reimbursement, supported training opportunities (internal/external), Tuition Reimbursement, mental health resources.

Job Duties

The following are key responsibilities of the Community Case Manager, with additional duties that may be assigned to ensure effective teamwork within The Cathedral Center partnership:

1. Provide primary services to families with children in the community, requiring frequent driving and adherence to safety and communication protocols; approximately 60% of time is spent in the community (including client homes) and 40% in the office.
2. Using a family systems approach, provide comprehensive assessments, case planning and follow up services to families experiencing housing crises and homelessness in a compassionate and dignified manner.
3. Crisis intervention and problem solving among client’s personal supports and networks.
4. Facilitate sessions to assist clients in achievement of goals for independence and utilizing community resources effectively.
5. Participate in data entry and maintenance, complete annual training requirements for Homelessness Management Information System.
6. Maintain accurate, confidential, professional and up to date documentation (electronic and hard copy) of all client services.
7. Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings and client reviews.
8. Actively participate in community meetings and consortiums relative to the homeless provider network, collaborating effectively with coordinating service delivery.
9. Assist with program development, evaluation and planning.
10. Work collaboratively, effectively and professionally with Cathedral Center partner agencies, representing the Center and partner agencies in a professional and dignified manner.
11. Maintain up to date knowledge base of community resources, ensuring effective and appropriate linkages.
12. Other duties may be assigned by the Housing and Community Services Manager or the Executive Director.

Skills and Qualifications

The ideal candidate:

• Is committed to applying housing first principles and trauma informed care practices to end homelessness
• Has a firm understanding of the personal and systemic barriers associated with poverty and housing instability.
• Applies an open, flexible and optimistic approach to the work that does not make unwarranted assumptions or judgements    about the clients’ situations.
• Is adept at interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Is comfortable working in the community rather than in an office.
• Is effective at reaching out, building and maintaining partnerships with other providers.
• Displays a strong ethical sense and respect for the dignity and worth of all clients.
• Manages and prioritizes a maximum caseload of 20-25 families.

Required

Must be able to prioritize – meeting urgent and on-going client needs, compiling data, and focusing on long term goals for the agency, while remaining true to Cathedral Center’s mission to provide a safe environment for women and families, while working to end homelessness one life at a time.

• This candidate will have earned a bachelor’s degree in Counseling, Social Work or a related area, with an emphasis on family systems theory, trauma informed care or families in poverty.
• Have experience serving individuals suffering from addictions, mental illness and/or poverty and homelessness.
• 2-4 years of direct case management experience preferably with families.
• A valid Wisconsin driver’s license and access to reliable and insured transportation are required.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours will be required to meet the needs of the agency.
• Effective skill in use of EXCEL, Word and other Microsoft applications, as well as comfort in learning an internet-based case management program needed.

The preferred candidate will have (not required):

• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) is a plus.
• Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work or a related area

This position is open to all qualified internal and external candidates.  Internal candidates must have reached six months of continuous employment at the time of application. Clinical supervision in Social Work and Wisconsin Provider licensure is available.

Candidates must be able to sit, stand, stoop and walk for extended periods of time, and be able to lift 15 pounds. All staff at The Cathedral Center are expected to work effectively both independently and in a team environment, and to become familiar with and utilize a trauma-informed approach.  Some evening hours will be required.

Candidates for all paid and volunteer positions at The Cathedral Center must have been separated from CCI services for at least one year. All candidates for paid and volunteer positions at The Cathedral Center must be willing to have a background check conducted.