YOUTH SERVICES CASE MANAGER
Midwest Youth Services, Inc.
Position Summary
The Youth Services Case Manager provides trauma-informed, strengths-based, and youth-centered services to at-risk youth, young adults, and their families. The position serves youth experiencing a variety of challenges, including family conflict, crisis situations, housing instability, homelessness, involvement with the juvenile justice or child welfare systems, educational or employment barriers, and other circumstances affecting safety and stability.
The Youth Services Case Manager provides crisis intervention, assessment, case management, advocacy, family support and reunification services, limited supportive counseling, referrals, housing stabilization, and independent living support. Services may be provided individually, with families, in groups, through scheduled activities, or within community-based settings.
For youth under age 18, services emphasize safety, crisis stabilization, family preservation and reunification, positive youth development, school engagement, and connection to a safe and appropriate living environment.
For youth and young adults age 18 through 23, particularly those experiencing homelessness or housing instability, services emphasize emergency shelter and transitional living supports, independent living skills, education, employment, income development, housing navigation, self-sufficiency, and transition to safe, stable, long-term housing.
The Youth Services Case Manager will maintain an assigned caseload, generally ranging from 20–30 clients, based upon program needs and the intensity of services required.
Participation in the agency's crisis/on-call rotation is a required essential function of this position. The Case Manager must be able to respond appropriately to assigned crisis cases in accordance with agency policies, program requirements, and established response procedures.
Program Goals
The Youth Services Case Manager supports Midwest Youth Services' mission and continuum of services by working to:
- Divert youth from unnecessary involvement in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems through early intervention, crisis response, case management, advocacy, shelter, and community-based services.
- Preserve and reunify families whenever safe, appropriate, and in the best interest of youth under age 18 through family engagement, mediation, stabilization, and supportive services.
- Assist youth and young adults age 18–23 in developing independence, self-sufficiency, life skills, employment, income, and long-term housing stability.
- Provide and coordinate a continuum of community-based youth services, including prevention, outreach, crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transitional living, case management, housing stabilization, education and employment assistance, referrals, and aftercare.
- Identify and address gaps and barriers related to housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, behavioral health, identification documents, benefits, food, clothing, child care, and other needs affecting youth stability.
- Connect youth with education, employment, vocational training, career exploration, and other opportunities that support long-term success.
- Assist youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability in developing individualized plans to obtain and maintain safe, stable, and sustainable housing.
- Build partnerships with schools, law enforcement, courts, landlords, employers, service organizations, volunteers, and community agencies to expand resources and opportunities available to youth.
- Assist youth and families in healing, recovery, and growth through trauma-informed, strengths-based services that promote resilience, healthy relationships, positive connections, and long-term stability.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The Youth Services Case Manager will:
- Represent Midwest Youth Services, Inc. in a positive, ethical, and professional manner at all times.
- Provide trauma-informed assessment, crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, family support, limited supportive counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to assigned youth and young adults.
- Participate as a required member of the agency's crisis/on-call rotation and respond to assigned crisis cases in accordance with agency protocols. This may include responding to youth and families experiencing immediate crisis and coordinating with law enforcement, schools, hospitals, probation, courts, child welfare agencies, shelter programs, and other community partners as appropriate.
- Process program intakes and referrals received during regular business hours and complete required screening, assessment, eligibility, and documentation procedures within established timelines.
- Complete comprehensive assessments for assigned clients and identify individual strengths, needs, risks, barriers, available supports, and service priorities.
- Develop, implement, monitor, and regularly update individualized service plans with measurable goals appropriate to each youth's age, developmental level, needs, and circumstances.
- For youth under age 18, actively support family preservation and reunification when safe and appropriate by engaging parents, guardians, caregivers, and other supportive adults in service planning and intervention.
- For youth and young adults age 18–23, provide individualized support focused on independence and self-sufficiency, including employment, education, budgeting, financial literacy, transportation, household management, community resources, benefits, and other independent living skills.
- Assist youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability with emergency shelter, transitional living, housing navigation, and development of a plan for obtaining and maintaining permanent housing.
- Assist youth with identifying and addressing barriers to housing, including income, employment, transportation, identification documents, benefits, rental readiness, budgeting, and connection to available community resources.
- Assist youth with employment preparation and job seeking, including identifying employment opportunities, completing applications, developing resumes, preparing for interviews, understanding workplace expectations, and maintaining employment.
- Support youth in remaining engaged in or reconnecting with school, post-secondary education, vocational programs, credentialing programs, or other training opportunities.
- Coordinate access to appropriate services, which may include mental health treatment, substance use services, medical care, education, employment, housing, transportation, financial assistance, benefits, food, clothing, and other community resources.
- Maintain regular contact with assigned clients and provide ongoing case management to ensure services are coordinated, goals are monitored, barriers are addressed, and appropriate follow-up occurs.
- Recognize signs and symptoms of trauma and utilize trauma-informed approaches that promote safety, healing, recovery, resilience, and growth.
- Demonstrate effective crisis intervention, de-escalation, conflict resolution, and redirection skills when working with youth and families.
- Engage parents, guardians, caregivers, family members, and other natural supports when appropriate, while recognizing and building upon the strengths of youth and families.
- Develop and maintain professional working relationships with Midwest Youth Services staff and community partners throughout the service area, including law enforcement, Sheriff's Offices, Police Departments, State's Attorneys, Judges, Probation Departments, school districts, social service organizations, employers, landlords, and other referral sources.
- Provide education and information to community partners regarding youth needs, trauma and its potential impact, available agency services, housing instability, and appropriate referral procedures.
- Maintain accurate, timely, confidential, and complete client records and documentation for all assigned cases, referrals, walk-ins, crisis contacts, services, and required program activities.
- Complete required billing, service documentation, statistical information, outcome data, and other program reports within established deadlines.
- Provide required monthly billing and service information to the Business Office and assist with information necessary for grant, program, and agency reporting.
- Participate in staff meetings, case consultation, supervision, program development, and quality-improvement activities.
- Participate in required job-specific, trauma-informed, crisis intervention, and professional development training opportunities, seminars, meetings, and retreats.
- Participate in agency outreach, community awareness, prevention activities, special events, and fundraising efforts as assigned.
- Maintain professional boundaries and protect client confidentiality in accordance with agency policy, contractual requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
- Work collaboratively with other Midwest Youth Services programs to provide a coordinated continuum of care and facilitate appropriate internal referrals.
- Perform other duties as assigned and as professionally determined to support the mission, programs, and operations of Midwest Youth Services, Inc.
Service Philosophy
Midwest Youth Services recognizes that the needs and goals of youth change as they transition into adulthood. Case Managers are expected to meet youth where they are developmentally and provide individualized services appropriate to the youth's age, circumstances, strengths, needs, and goals.
For youth under age 18, the priority is safety, crisis stabilization, family preservation and reunification when safe and appropriate, school engagement, positive youth development, and maintaining or establishing safe and permanent family connections.
For youth and young adults age 18–23, services increasingly focus on independence, housing stability, employment, education, income, life skills, community connections, and the ability to successfully maintain permanent housing.
Across all programs, services should balance immediate safety and stabilization with long-term planning and provide youth with the support, skills, resources, and connections necessary to achieve stability and success.
Crisis Response Requirement
Participation in the Midwest Youth Services crisis/on-call rotation is a condition and essential responsibility of this position. Case Managers are expected to participate in the established rotation and be available to respond to assigned crisis situations in accordance with agency scheduling, response-time expectations, safety procedures, and program protocols.
Crisis response may involve communication and coordination with youth, parents or guardians, law enforcement, schools, hospitals, probation, courts, and other community partners and may require services outside of normal office-based case management activities.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Successful candidates should demonstrate:
- Ability to work effectively with adolescents, young adults, and families experiencing crisis or significant life challenges.
- Understanding of trauma-informed, strengths-based, and youth-centered practices.
- Strong assessment, case management, advocacy, and service coordination skills.
- Effective crisis intervention, de-escalation, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.
- Ability to engage youth and families from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
- Understanding of the unique needs of youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
- Ability to support young adults in developing independent living, employment, education, financial, and housing stability skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to establish effective professional relationships with schools, law enforcement, courts, social service agencies, employers, landlords, and other community partners.
- Ability to maintain accurate documentation and meet required timelines.
- Ability to work independently while functioning effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Sound professional judgment, appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, reliability, and flexibility.
- Ability and willingness to participate in the required crisis/on-call rotation.
Equal Opportunity
Midwest Youth Services, Inc. is committed to providing quality services to youth and families and to maintaining a professional, respectful, and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made in accordance with applicable federal and state employment laws.
