Advocate Program, Inc. is a multi-faceted community agency whose missions is to facilitate social change and enhance public safety through leadership, research, education, supervision, and services, utilizing best and evidence-based practices.
Advocate Program is funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide Rapid Re-Housing and Prevention services to low-income veterans and their families. Additionally, Advocate Program receives funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist homeless individuals, families, victims of domestic violence, and veterans with Rapid Re-Housing services. Lastly, Advocate Program is funded through the Miami Dade County Homeless Trust to provide intensive case management services to chronically homeless veterans supported by HUD Section 8 rental assistance vouchers.
Responsibilities:
1. The primary goal of the Vet Haven/APS/SSVF programs are to increase housing stability for individuals and their families. The main component of the program is case management services designed to improve the households ability to remain stable and housed.
2. Complete the initial assessment to determine level of service to be provided, by focusing on the low-income veteran/ veteran family’s eligibility for public benefits, housing status, income, household composition and other factors impacting the individual/ family’s Housing Stabilization.
3. Develop a trusting and working relationship with the veteran/ veteran family seeking help.
4. Identify participant’s available resources, strengths and supports that can support the goals in his/her Housing Stabilization action plan, as well as any and risk factors and unmet service needs, that should be taken into account in the development, implementation and monitoring of the Housing Stabilization action plans to prevent homelessness and maintain a stable, permanent housing arrangement for the family.
5. Provide appropriate referrals and linkages to community-based agencies that can provide resources to address service needs of participants that cannot be provided directly by Advocate Program or its community partners.
6. Assist the participant in household budgeting and refer for additional credit counseling and financial management services, if needed, to other community resources.
7. Effectively communicate with the participant and his/her landlord about the required documentation needed to process the family’s application through Public Housing.
8. Develop and maintain effective liaison and interagency referral partnerships with all of the agencies in the community, and continuously identify new community resources that may benefit participants in all categories.
9. Periodically monitor the participant’s progress on the Housing Stabilization plan, and amend the plan as needed to ensure that participants have achieved their Housing Stabilization goals. Follow up with all participants monthly to assess their housing stability and needs.
10. Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing “client centered services” with all staff members, as well as the other case managers participating in the Program.
11. Report to the Director on all issues relevant to program’s functioning, including the interagency referral process.
12. Participates in in-service training as needed to develop and/or enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities of the Case Manager, including interagency case management team meetings.
13. Maintain participants’ files accurately for internal and external audits.
14. Maintain all required documentation in participants’ confidential case records, and assisting the Program Manager and Director with the preparation of any required program and statistical reports.
15. Accepts and responds to supervision by the Program Director.
16. Case Manager will maintain a 1:30 active caseload ratio of participant households.
17. Performs other duties upon request.
Requirements:
Willingness and ability to learn human services skills; knowledge, experience and desire to aid homeless individuals and families. Comprehensive training will be provided to motivated applicant.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed above satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the additional knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Experience with working with veteran &/or homeless population and/or housing is necessary.
OUTREACH/ INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS
The ideal candidate for the position of Case Manager is an individual with experience in team leadership skills; someone who is self-motivated and able to motivate others, who enjoys social interaction and engagement, who can successfully gain the acceptance and trust of clients, as well as with staff in other agencies that have entered into referral and service coordination agreements with the Advocate Program, and possess strong work ethic and organizational skills.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Bachelors Degree in Social Services or related field. Extensive knowledge and experience of Miami-Dade County and the local network of community-based health and human services organizations providing support services to families at risk of homelessness is preferred. Demonstrated ability to learn human services skills and knowledge as well as motivation to aid homeless individuals and their families is required. Comprehensive training will be provided to motivated applicant.
COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Must have excellent interpersonal skills coupled with excellent oral and written communication skills. Must possess strong observation and analytical skills; functional knowledge of emergency assistance services in Miami Dade County; strong personal responsibility. Flexible approach to working hours is mandatory, as it impacts ability to attend outreach events, and the ability to meet with participants after normal business hours.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze and interpret program procedures, outreach protocols and related policies. Ability to write reports, correspondence, and assist team in outreach tools development. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions about the Program from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Must have demonstrated skills in the MS Office 2000 Suite or higher (includes WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT, EMAIL OUTLOOK or EMAIL EXCHANGE) and Internet Explorer.
- Ability to use or is familiar with web based social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.
- Additional knowledge in the following is ideal, but not required: Adobe Acrobat for PDF creation; Document Scanning; CD Burn/creation.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
- Must possess a valid Florida driver’s license.
Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
The employee performs work in a normal office setting within a reasonable environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to perform local and non-local travel.
TRAVEL:
- This position requires travel to attend trainings, workshops, or professional development opportunities as assigned.
- Employees must be available to travel locally within Florida or to other locations as required by the organization.
- Travel may include day trips and/or overnight stays, depending on training location and schedule.
- All travel expenses will be covered in accordance with company policy; gas milage will be reimbursed for use of personal vehicle.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $53,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you a veteran or have experience working with veterans/homeless population?
Work Location: In person
