Siouxland Pathway Case Manager

Position Background
The Siouxland Pathway Program is a federal grant awarded to SHIP by the U.S. Department of Labor Reentry Employment Opportunities. 

This program will serve 250 adults aged 18+ who were convicted under state or local law and are incarcerated in Woodbury County Jail, Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) or electronic monitoring and are within 20-270 days of release at time of enrollment. 

Purpose
To support, guide, and mentor participants to successfully remove barriers to success and train for and obtain a career; coordinating participant services, assisting participants in progressing toward their career goals and in connecting with possible employers and follow up with participants when they leave the program.  This position will service Woodbury County, Iowa and report to the Siouxland Pathway Program Director. 

Essential Job Functions

• Plan with the Program Director and Lead Case Manager for optimal program success by beginning of participant enrollment; provide intensive, face-to-face case management to enrolled participants; meet with participants at least weekly at enrollment, or more as needed by participant; continue to communicate with participants as they transition to the follow-up period
• Assess Siouxland Pathway participants to determine individual and family needs, independent living skills, academic needs, and employability
• Assist participants in setting realistic and achievable goals through an Individual Career Plan (ICP)
• Screen participants admitted to the program for indicators of mental health and substance abuse issues
• Refer participants to partners and community providers for needs not provided by Siouxland Pathway (housing, mental and physical health services)
• Ensure that participants understand and consent to services
• Contribute to the development of outreach materials, including social media, to recruit participants and employer partners
• Perform career exploration and referral to Job Training Partners for employment-related services
• Assist participants in selecting vocational training, meeting training admission requirements and facilitate the enrollment into the training
• Assist participants in their need for transportation, appropriate clothing, classroom equipment or materials, training materials and /or childcare
• Guide, oversee and monitor service learning and community involvement
• Prepare participants for employment
• Contribute to the development and submission of quarterly reports per U.S. Department of Labor Reentry Employment Opportunities (DOL REO) grant requirements
• Train in the data collection system, and regularly input case notes and data into the system
• Establish and coordinate accurate records of all case management activity
• Serve as a liaison between participant and the Siouxland Pathway Employer Specialist, who can connect them to employers and help them with job training and readiness
• Provide problem-solving skills to participants to remove barriers to employment
• Be knowledgeable about current workforce needs in the service area
• Collaborate and communicate with other Siouxland Pathway staff and partners about service needs
• Keep accurate and complete records of participant’s employment-related activities, participant and employer satisfaction surveys and maintain documentation of all case management activities
• Attend weekly Siouxland Pathway staff meetings, all program sponsored events, community presentations, celebrations, and all appropriate program professional development activities
• Develop and maintain local, state, and federal collaborations and working relationships with volunteers, staff and grant personnel
• Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with program partners, including Iowa Workforce Development, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, and priority employer partners and referral sources
• Ensure that case management includes culturally responsive elements to ensure services are inclusive to all
• Help create an environment that is safe, drug free, and conducive to teaching and learning; report any observed participant problem to the Program Director
• Assist in giving presentations and outreach for the Siouxland Pathway program to stakeholders, potential employer partners and the SHIP Board of Directors
• Participate in ongoing training and webinars from the DOL ETA
• Assist in securing and purchasing of materials for participants needs as directed
• Contribute as a positive and productive role model for the program staff and participants
• Assist with over all communication for the success of the program
• Perform any other appropriate duties requested by the Siouxland Pathway Program Director, Lead Case Manager, or SHIP Executive Director
• Other duties as assigned

• BA or BS Degree in Social Work, Education or closely related discipline preferred, or the equivalency in years of case management

• At least 3 years of case management experience
• Experience working with justice-involved individuals (adults or youth)
• Lived experience as a formerly incarcerated or justice-involved individual desired
• Good written and verbal skills
• Public speaking skills
• Self-motivated to take responsibility for the success of Siouxland Pathway participants and program
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work responsibilities with limited supervision and/or structured guidance
• Ability to build collaboration
• Ability to motivate people, particularly justice-involved youth or young adults, to succeed
• Computer skills
• Good advocacy skills
• Must be able to pass a background check to enter County or State run correctional facility
• Ability to form relationships and build partnerships with businesses and stakeholders
• Ability to travel throughout the service area (Woodbury County) as necessary, to monitor and assess program, young adults and program partners (must have a clean driving record)
• Dedication to success for formerly incarcerated individuals