Housing Navigator Clinical Case Manager

Position Summary:

As a Housing Navigator Clinical Case Manager at Covenant House Illinois, the position provides direct, compassionate support to young people in our Youth Development Center and Residential Programs. This position provides clinical case management support to YDC youth as part of a multidisciplinary team. The position provides comprehensive assessments to assigned youth and develops both short-term and long-term holistic service plans, provide emotional healing support, strength-based case management, link youth to needed resources, and help youth build practical skills to promote autonomy. The position works closely with Youth Engagement Specialist staff and community partners to deliver comprehensive and youth-centered services. The position also helps youth secure safe, appropriate housing through case management via a team-based approach. This position facilitates case reviews and case conferencing, and assists participants in overcoming barriers to housing placement, to ensure successful transition into housing resources. The position ensures cross-team collaboration, functions as part of a coordinated team with shared workflows, warm handoffs, and regular care coordination to align engagement strategies and next steps. As part of CHIL’s Housing Navigation services, the position will intentionally engage in housing search and placement related case management, builds relationships with landlords, and external providers, and coordinate applications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

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

Mission and Standards of Procedure:

Ensure the highest quality of delivery of services to youth in accordance with the CHIL Principles, Mission, and Core Values.
Promote a safe and healing environment by utilizing the principles and practices of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and positive youth development in all aspects of work and youth engagement, including crisis prevention, intervention, and de-escalation.
Have an understanding of and support the implementation of Trauma Informed Care, Harm Reduction, and Positive Youth Development.
Have knowledge and experience working with the LGBTQIA+ population
Able to articulate successes and challenges experienced by youth to inform program development and effectively communicate with CHIL staff, community partners, funding sources, and others.
Willingness to advocate for the rights of all youth passionately and actively to be valued, supported, and housed.
Can maintain confidentiality while understanding and complying with requirements of mandated reporting, HIPAA, and other limits to confidentiality.

Case Management and Support:

Manage a caseload of YDC and/or residential youth.
Complete a comprehensive assessment with each youth, integrating trauma histories to develop holistic service plans.
Collaborate with a youth in developing both short-term and long-term goals as part of implementing an Individual Success Plan (ISP).
Meet with youth on a weekly basis and document interactions appropriately to track progress, celebrate milestones, and adapt goals as needed, including convening Success Team meetings.
Provide emotional support and strengths-based guidance to youth, helping build resilience and promote autonomy.
Advocate on behalf of youth with outside service providers.
Attend appointments and services when needed or requested by a youth.
Ensure that youth have sufficient and proper ID (Birth Certificate, School Identification, State ID, and Social Security Card).
Develop motivational tools for youth and support youth in understanding and exercising their rights.
Maintain healthy relationships with the youth, mindful of boundaries and mutual respect.
Model caring engagement with youth.
Facilitate groups on various life-skills issues such as hygiene, conflict resolution, problem-solving, self-esteem, and trauma recovery.
Research and keep current external referral services.
Help coordination and help facilitate re-entry meetings for youth after an incident.

Housing Navigation Case Management & Team Coordination

Build and maintain landlord relationships, coordinate unit leads, schedule viewings, and support housing applications to secure placements.
Manage housing matches and documentation in line with Coordinated Entry guidance; resolve stalled placements through rematches and referrals.
Coordinate lease signing and move-in logistics (deposits, moving costs, utilities setup) while collaborating with landlords, partners, and internal teams to ensure successful housing transitions and consistent youth engagement.

Documentation and Record Keeping:

Ensure that intakes and progress notes are documented accurately in all databases, including HMIS, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO), or other relevant database systems.
Ensure that youth’s files are compliant with all grant, government agencies, and local, state, and federal regulations.
Assist with program audit and review preparation.
Ensure that intake packets are completed and data entered in HMIS for all new youth within 48 hours.
Help ensure that proper documentation and data is being captured in ETO.

Assist with program audit and review preparation.

Trauma-Informed Care:

Promote a safe and healing environment by utilizing the principles and practices of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and positive youth development in all aspects of work and youth engagement, including crisis prevention, intervention, and de-escalation.
Support Youth Engagement Specialists in providing youth engagement practices on the floor.
Actively engages in supervision, case consultations, and feedback loops to improve service delivery.
Provides insights into program evaluation, highlighting youth successes and challenges to inform service improvement.
Provide brief counseling or therapy, if needed, when MA/MSW clinical qualifications are met.

YDC Collaboration with Multidisciplinary Team:

Work collaboratively with both internal and external service providers, including legal advocates, healthcare professionals, and community-based organizations.
Support Youth Engagement Specialists and floor staff whenever possible and/or needed.
Participate in all required training, supervision, and staff meetings.
Participation in on-call Crisis Phone rotation week schedule - respond to crisis calls, emergency calls, and/or other Covenant House Illinois needs within a reasonable time period.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field required.
2-4 years of youth development experience required.
Licensure in Social Work, psychology, counseling or human services related field (any level) preferred.
Experience working with survivors of trauma, trafficking, or homelessness strongly preferred.
Strong understanding of trauma-informed care principles and the unique challenges faced by youth survivors of complex trauma.
Knowledge of community resources, including mental health services, legal support, education systems, and housing programs.
Effective written, verbal, listening, and communication skills.
Ability to exercise appropriate judgment in crisis situations, with effective interpersonal skills.
Must be willing to function as an active member of an interdisciplinary team.

Skills and Abilities

Effective written, verbal, listening and communication skills
Ability to exercise appropriate judgment in crisis situations, with effective interpersonal skills
Must be willing to function as an active member of an interdisciplinary team.
Willingness and ability to attain a CPR/First Aid Certification.

Pass federal, state, and local background check investigations.

Knowledge of community social service resources to assist youth with needs related to housing, employment, education, and social-emotional well-being.

Knowledge of crisis intervention and ability to address conflict between youth; able to respond quickly and safely while calmly de-escalating crisis situations and emergencies.
Bilingual (Spanish) a plus.