Oversee the Chicago Lights Outreach Program, engage in community discussions surrounding homelessness and poverty, provide case management services for Social Service Center participants, supervise graduate level Social Work Interns, and cultivate new partnerships with other mobile outreach teams in Chicago.

The Chicago Lights Social Service Center (SSC) connects with over 1,300 adults to encourage self-development, deep connections, and brighter futures through case management, enrichment programming, and food and clothing services.

The Case Manager (CM) will oversee the Chicago Lights Outreach Program, engage in community discussions surrounding homelessness and poverty with volunteers, Fourth Presbyterian Church members, and business partners, provide case management services for SSC participants, assist with drop-in services, supervise graduate level Social Work Interns, and cultivate new partnerships with other mobile outreach teams in Chicago. The CM is expected to become knowledgeable regarding SSC programs/procedures and to engage in professional development activities to stay up-to-date on best practices.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Case Manager include, but are not limited to:

Field Outreach

• Coordinate Outreach Programming: Plan and enhance outreach services to include daily outings and additional routes, coordinate volunteer recruitment, training, and scheduling, track/record data and statistics, track and order inventory of supplies, partner with local outreach teams, conduct program evaluation, and oversee all outreach operations.
• Outreach Services Partnerships: Actively partner and engage with other mobile service providers (i.e. Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Thresholds, etc.) to mutually assist individuals experiencing homelessness. Attend service provider meetings; outreach-specific workshops; All Chicago and Coordinated Entry System events. Collaborate with partners to ensure best practices in outreach services.
• Advocacy and Community Education: Assist with community education opportunities related to advocacy and public education on homelessness with community stakeholders, Fourth Church/Chicago Lights staff, and community immersion groups. These projects may include engagement with volunteers, Magnificent Mile Association, Chicago Police Department CAPS, and/or Good Neighbors participants. Serve as community representative.

MSW Field Instruction

• Support, encourage, and serve as mentor for interns as they develop their professional identity as social workers through regular training, supervision, and case consultation.
• Provide direct supervision to MSW students both individually and group.
• Complete all necessary paperwork according to each graduate school’s requirements.
• Model best social work practices related to boundary-setting, client self-determination, social justice advocacy and other areas of practice as relevant.

SSC Team Member Responsibilities

• Case Management: Work with SSC staff to provide individual case management to participants, especially those encountered during Outreach. Coordinate and conduct in-the-field case management whenever a participant prefers this type of engagement. This includes assessment, goal setting/achievement, timely documentation, and ongoing support.
• Community Outreach: Cultivate relationships with neighborhood businesses and organizations to increase funding sources, donations, and volunteers within the community.
• Daily Operations: Participate with daily operations through providing curbside services, monitoring Food Pantry and Share shop appointments, and assisting with donation processing.
• Use the S.P.I.R.I.T. principles of hospitality when interacting with visitors, guests, members, and staff of Fourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Lights.
• Attend staff meetings as required.

It is impossible to convey every single task into one job description. As the role evolves over time, this job description will be adjusted accordingly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Comfortable working with individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and other barriers.
• Deep understanding of and commitment to providing trauma informed care.
• Database (Salesforce CRM) experience preferred; Microsoft Word and Excel experience required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, public speaking, and group facilitation experience.
• Strong leadership, team player, and great organizational skills. Preference for working in a team environment with shared responsibilities and decision-making.
• Willingness to adapt regular schedule three to five evenings or weekends a year for special Outreach events.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.
• Ability and willingness to conduct mobile outreach on foot for up to an hour at a time, in all seasons and weather conditions.
• Strong work ethic and judgment, apparent collaboration skills, and a commitment to Chicago Lights’ mission.
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice: Recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in shaping disparities, and work toward amplifying community voices to advocate for equity. Recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.

Schedule

Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM with very occasional required work outside of normal hours and on weekends.

Compensation

$42,000-$45,000 annual salary + benefits

Apply

Please send cover letters and resumes to jobs@fourthchurch.org. No phone calls, please.

Fourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Lights are committed to equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, without regard to race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status or familial status, veteran status, military status, source of income, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.