Type: Exempt, Full time

Supervisor: Senior Case Manager

Location: 430 Rindge Avenue, Suite #202, Cambridge, MA

Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000

POSITION PURPOSE 

As a Case Manager you’ll work with opportunity youth/young adults (ages 16-24) from the Boston Metro North region, you will provide wrap-around supportive services and referrals, supporting participants as they work to attain their High School Equivalency credential, explore post-secondary education, and secure high quality, good paying jobs. The Case Manager is a key team member on the YouthBuild Just A Start team, working closely with the Senior Case Manager and front line staff to provide strength-based coaching to ensure trainees remain in good standing and successfully complete the program. This is an exciting career opportunity for a  youth and equity-centered case manager with an interest in supporting young people achieve their personal and professional goals. The Case Manager will join a growing team of youth workers committed to YouthBuild trainees and our growing portfolio of young adult training programs.

The case manager scope of work includes but is not limited to: (1) providing trauma-informed case management services to trainees and alumni, (2) facilitating high quality Life Skills workshops for trainees, and (3) maintaining participant files, case notes and contributing to quarterly funder reports.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

Just A Start is a community development corporation dedicated to promoting equity by creating access to stable housing and building pathways to economic opportunity. We build and preserve affordable housing, offer education and workforce training, and provide housing resources and services to low-to moderate-income people in Cambridge and nearby communities. Founded in 1968 as a teen summer jobs program, Just A Start has a long history of serving young people in Cambridge. YouthBuild Just A Start is a full-time, comprehensive youth workforce development program for ages 16-24 in the Boston Metro North region. Our program is one of 11 independently operated YouthBuild programs and members of the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition. As a proud affiliated member of the global YouthBuild movement, we help young people reclaim their education, gain job skills, and become community leaders. We define students by their potential, not their challenges, offering mentorship, counseling, and support. Utilizing positive youth development and trauma-informed practices, we provide wrap-around services and academic and career training to out of school youth. 

CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

• Manage an average student case load of 15 active students as well as alumni by providing 1:1 case management services across Youth Programs (YouthBuild and Solar Start).
• Support the Senior Case Manager with the development of Supportive Action Plans (SAPs), Student Success, Placement, and Transition Plans.
• Maintain strong and productive relationships and communicate with trainees, family members, guardians, as well as other service providers (including other Just A Start programs) ensuring continuity of supportive services.
• Participate in progress reviews as assigned by the Senior Case Manager ensuring that trainees receive timely feedback on their progress across all program components.
• Surface unmet supportive service needs to the Senior Case Manager and provide referrals. 
• Advocate for trainees who are court-involved through coordination and communication with lawyers, court-room advocates and accompanying youth to court appearances as necessary.
• Support the development and/or facilitation of 1-2 Life Skills classes per week focused on socio-emotional wellbeing and small group work as needed.
• Participate in Youth Programs Orientation and Case Management trainee interviews to assess participant readiness and supportive service needs. 
• Support the Senior Case Manager with effective case management for trainees in Just A Start’s transitional housing apartments.
• Complete case notes, organize participant case records, and contribute to quarterly reporting in a timely, accurate, and strengths-based manner.
• Stay informed about community resources and eligibility requirements (e.g. unemployment, SNAP, housing, mental health services, food resources, etc).

QUALIFICATIONS / KEYS TO SUCCESS

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, or similar field of study, and/or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of related experience in case management and/or with young people/young adults dealing with significant barriers or obstacles to success is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with state and local community service providers and resources, preferably in Cambridge/Greater Boston.
• Passion for working with young people and ability to build positive relationships with an equity-centered mindset.
• Experience and/or comfort with group facilitation is preferred.
• Awareness of principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI), Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is preferred.
• Experience working with populations dealing with court-involvement, addiction, mental health, housing instability, and food insecurity.
• Strong verbal and written communicator who is capable of managing up, down and across the department and organization to deliver quality and integrated services.
• Growth-mindset, patience, and understanding of the evergreen nature of youth needs and goals.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace, Box, Zoom, and Salesforce (or other CRM) preferred.
• Willingness to work flexible in-person/remote work hours outside of Monday – Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM as needed in service to young people.
• Acceptable CORI/SORI is required.

We know that no individual candidate will possess every skill or experience listed. Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all qualifications. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement. If you’re excited about this role and our mission, we want to hear from you!

TO APPLY 

Please submit a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for the role.  

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The starting annual salary for this role is $60,000 - $70,000. In addition to a competitive salary, Just A Start offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, Paid Time Off, Volunteer Time Off, 13 paid holidays, individual professional development budgets, and a 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% employer contribution. In addition, Just A Start has implemented a “Find Your Joy Fridays” benefit that allows staff to leave early on Fridays. 

Just A Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our staff represents a wide range of ages, races, interests, and backgrounds coming together in pursuit of common goals. We value diversity and work together to create an inclusive culture where people from all backgrounds can thrive and belong. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics or any other characteristic protected by law.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Normal office conditions and classrooms. The noise level in the work environment is moderate and can occasionally be loud.