Job Title: Street Outreach and Aftercare Case Manager 

Department: Program  

Reports To: Director of Clinical and Supportive Services  

Direct Reports: NA

Classification: Exempt  

Date: 4/16/24   

Revised: 4/24/25

 

Organization Overview 

Founded in 2017, Covenant House Illinois (CHIL) provides critical protection and resources for youth ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness throughout Chicagoland and across Illinois. With a newly renovated base of operations, increased capacity to serve greater numbers of youth, a slate of new and expanded programs, and a recently enacted strategic vision guiding growth and service delivery over the next three years, CHIL is primed to become Chicago’s premier agency serving young people experiencing homelessness.  

   

Position Summary

The Outreach Clinical Case Manager provides supportive services in a positive and nurturing manner to assist youth with identifying barriers to housing stability and engage in goal planning that aims to link individuals to the resources and skills that they need in order to achieve long-term housing stability.  The Outreach Case Manager reports to the Director of Clinical and Supportive Services, and in addition works with CHIL Case Managers, and other community partners to ensure the delivery of robust, comprehensive services to homeless youth.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities: (Covenant House Illinois reserves the right to unilaterally modify, remove, or add to any of the following)

 

1. Mission and Standards of Procedure

  • Provide street-based outreach, navigation, and supportive services to young adults experiencing homelessness.
  • Provide support and assistance to youth in accessing resources in the community.
  • Establish and maintain professional and positive relationships with staff, youth, and community providers.
  • Adhere to housing first and harm reduction models of advocacy with youth.
  • Conduct interactions with youth and other professionals in a respectful and courteous manner.
  • Ensure all outreach activities are conducted in a trauma-informed manner, prioritizing safety, dignity, and respect for youth.
  • Participate in staff meetings, trainings, conferences, program evaluation, and program development.
  • Participate in on-call and holiday and weekend rotations to ensure clinical support is available 24/7.
  • Other duties as assigned.

2. Outreach & Community Engagement

  • Develop and maintain strong ties to the community, law enforcement, and other youth and homeless service providers.
  • Coordinate with other outreach teams in joint outreach efforts.
  • Build trust and rapport with individuals experiencing homelessness.
  • Participate in city-wide homeless street outreach systems.
  • Advocate for the needs of homeless youth within the community, raising awareness and fostering partnerships with local providers.
  • Coordinate and facilitate referrals to community-based services that support youths’ long-term stability goals including housing, mental health, education, and employment.
  • Link youth to appropriate housing programs and assist them in completing required paperwork in order to enroll them in permanent housing-related programs.
  • Link youth to physical health, mental health, and other supportive services.
  • Assist youth to enroll in mainstream benefits and obtain identification (i.e., Driver’s License, Social Security Card).
  • Coordinate social, educational, and other activities/appointments for youths.
  • Attend appointments as requested and needed for the outreach and aftercare youth.
  • Respond to social media and email inquiries for youth seeking shelter and services.

 

3. Aftercare Case Management

  • Assist youth with moving to more stable housing.
  • Regularly provide case management for youth enrolled in Aftercare (every 2 weeks) for 6 months, after gaining housing.

4. Documentation and Record Keeping

  • Keep highly organized files for each youth.
  • Enter appropriate data into applicable data systems (e.g., HMIS, ETO).
  • Participate in case conferencing meetings and other community meetings.
  • Perform follow-ups and wellness checks on outreach and aftercare youth and on all new referrals.

5. Trauma-Informed Care

  • Ensure all outreach activities are conducted in a trauma-informed manner, prioritizing safety, dignity, and respect for youth.
  • Foster a supportive, non-judgmental environment that promotes trust and encourages youth to seek assistance.
  • Support youth during crisis moments using trauma-informed crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
  • Assist and support youth in maintaining cooperative and effective relationships with case managers and other service providers.
  • Listen attentively to youth needs and suggestions and address their issues fairly and professionally, coordinating with immediate supervisor for supervision.

6. Self-Care and Professional Development

  • Participate in staff meetings, trainings, conferences, program evaluation, and program development.
  • Engage in regular supervision and performance check-ins to support growth and professional development. 

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, human services, or a related field required.
  • Minimum of 2-3 years of experience working with at-risk youth, preferably in community or social services settings.
  • LSW or LCSW preferred.

Skills, &Abilities:

  • Experience providing street-based services to highly vulnerable populations.
  • Strong leadership and collaboration skills with the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
  • Must be highly motivated and a self-starter. The ability to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of people including youth, community, and other staff.
  • Must have excellent organizational skills and the capability to work in a fast-paced environment.
  • Have an understanding of how to work with low-income and homeless individuals.
  • Knowledge of how to work effectively in a harm reduction environment.
  • Demonstrate cooperative and professional behavior at all times and maintain a professional appearance.
  • Strong knowledge of homeless services and resources.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, and Housing First models.
  • Effective crisis management and de-escalation skills.
  • Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
  • Knowledge of local systems of care and available resources to support youth transitions.
  • Ability to accurately enter and manage data in ETO, HMIS, or other databases.
  • Commitment to ongoing learning, training, and participation in professional development opportunities, including topics such as trauma-informed care and human trafficking prevention.
  • Willingness to engage in community outreach events and cross-agency collaboration to expand resource access for youth.
  • Ability to manage the emotional demands of the role through healthy self-care and emotional regulation practices.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

  • Ability to work a flexible schedule as required including non-traditional hours, weekends, and holidays.
  • Ability to work standing, walking, and/or sitting a minimum of eight hours per day/shift. 
  • Ability to drive agency or personal vehicles to transport items and/or persons.
  • Valid Illinois Driver’s License with acceptable driving record.
  • Ability to travel as needed for training or to fulfill job requirements.
  • Light lifting.
  • Performs all duties as assigned.
  • Annual tuberculin test is required.

At Covenant House Illinois, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of our mission. We know that a team with varied backgrounds and perspectives is stronger and better equipped to serve our youth. That’s why we foster a culture where every team member feels valued, heard, and supported.

We are committed to continuous learning, honest reflection, and creating opportunities for growth.

Covenant House Illinois is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We base all employment decisions on qualifications and business needs—without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected status. Discrimination and harassment have no place here, and we welcome all qualified applicants to join our team.

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