PURPOSE:
The Cedar House (Bronx) provides therapeutic and supportive services to adolescents ages 16–21 who are referred through ACS and the Juvenile Justice system. Our residents have experienced significant trauma, which may result in behavioral, emotional, and developmental challenges. Cedar Knolls House offers a comprehensive independent living skills program that includes vocational preparation and educational services designed to support youth in achieving independence.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Case Planner provides support, counseling, and case management services to youth while assisting them in developing the skills necessary for independent living. Responsibilities include case planning, crisis intervention, permanency planning, documentation, and coordination of services for youth and families involved with foster care and ACS.
KEY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:Client Engagement:
- Manage a caseload of youth and provide supportive case management and counseling services in accordance with agency and stakeholder policies and program regulations.
- Conduct regular home and community visits with youth, foster parents, and biological families to assess safety, mental health, family functioning, and independent living progress.
- Provide crisis intervention, advocacy, behavioral support, and independent living skills coaching to help youth achieve personal and treatment goals.
- Facilitate family visitation, case conferences, and multidisciplinary meetings to support engagement, permanency, and positive outcomes for youth and families.
- Coordinate with schools, therapists, medical providers, ACS, and community-based organizations to ensure clients receive appropriate services and support.
- Accompany youth to appointments and assist with educational, vocational, housing, and transition planning needs as appropriate.
- Assist youth in obtaining vital documents, including birth certificates, Social Security cards, state identification, and other records necessary for housing, employment, education, and independent living.
- Conduct home assessments and visits to evaluate safety, appropriateness of the living environment, and overall well-being of youth and families in accordance with agency and ACS standards.
- Other tasks as assigned.
Team Process:
- Participate in intake, assessment, discharge, and follow-up conferences with service providers, ACS/OCFS, and other stakeholders as required.
- Engage in regular staff meetings, supervision, and ongoing professional development trainings to support effective service delivery.
- Travel to offsite meetings, home visits, court appearances, and trainings as needed.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members to ensure coordinated care, consistent communication, and alignment of client goals and service plans.
- Contribute to case reviews and team discussions by sharing updates, observations, and recommendations to support clinical and permanency planning.
DOCUMENTATION:
- Complete all required case documentation in a timely manner, including case notes, FASPs, PHRs, transition plans, court reports, and other agency/ACS-mandated documentation in compliance with agency standards.
- Prepare, submit, and file incident reports as required, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to agency policy.
- Conduct and document monthly home visits in accordance with regulatory and agency requirements.
- Ensure progress notes are completed accurately and meet billing, compliance, and audit standards where applicable.
- Develop, update, maintain service plans, permanency goals, and trial discharge plans in collaboration with youth and families, ensuring documentation reflects current progress and objectives.
- Participate in audit preparation and respond to documentation reviews to ensure full compliance with ACS and agency regulations.
- Complete documentation in compliance with agency, ACS, and Medicaid billing requirements, including CFTSS/CPST service documentation and progress notes to support accurate and timely billing, where applicable.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
- Trauma-informed and youth-centered approach to service delivery, with sensitivity to complex family systems and histories of trauma.
- Strong crisis management and de-escalation skills when responding to behavioral or emotional challenges.
- Knowledge of child welfare systems, ACS regulations, and permanency planning frameworks.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with external providers, including schools, medical providers, probation, and community agencies.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to support youth in goal setting and independent living skill development.
- Professional judgment and ability to maintain appropriate boundaries in working with clients and families.
EDUCATIONAL / TRAINING REQUIRED:
- A bachelor’s degree is required, master’s degree in human services or related field preferred
ADDITIONAL QUALIFIICATIONS NEEDED:
- Willingness and ability to work with young adults impacted by trauma and experiencing mental health challenges.
- Compassion, empathy, and respect for vulnerable individuals and diverse life experiences.
- Patience and understanding of the gradual and non-linear process of stabilization, healing, and recovery.
- Commitment to a trauma-informed, youth-centered, and strengths-based approach to service delivery.
- Ability to maintain professionalism and composure in high-stress or emotionally challenging situations.
COMPUTER SKILLS REQUIRED:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Microsoft Teams.
- Ability and willingness to learn and utilize new systems and software applications as required.
- Familiarity with ACS Connections or other electronic case record systems preferred.
- Comfort with telehealth platforms and virtual service delivery tools..
VISUAL AND MANUAL DEXIERITY
- Ability to read and interpret documents for analytical purposes, including computer-based information, Excel spreadsheets, and other digital or written materials.
- Basic use of manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination sufficient to operate standard office equipment and computer systems.
WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL EFFORT:
- In-person role requiring on-site presence and direct engagement with youth and families.
- Travel within the community with residents to attend appointments, services, and activities.
- Willingness to travel between multiple program sites and community locations as needed.
- Ability to walk up and down stairs and navigate residential and community environments.
If you join us, you’ll have these great benefits:
- Generous paid time off in addition to paid agency holidays and 15 sick days
- Affordable and high-quality medical/dental/vision plans
- Tuition assistance and educational loan forgiveness
- Free continuing education opportunities
- 403(b) retirement benefits and a pension
- Flexible spending accounts for health and transportation
- 27/7 Accessible Employee Assistance Program
- Life and disability insurance
Who we are:
The Jewish Board delivers innovative, high-quality, and compassionate mental health and social services to over 45,000 New Yorkers each year. We are unique in serving everyone from infants and their families to children, teens, and adults. We are proud to employ and serve people of all religions, races, cultural backgrounds, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. We are committed to building diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams to help support our mission, and we strongly encourage candidates from historically marginalized backgrounds to apply to work with us.
More on Equal Opportunity:
We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
