Emergency Assistance & Pathway of Hope Case Manager / Food Pantry Coordinator

Job Objective:  Coordinate social services activities for the corps.  Duties involve interviewing clients to identify problems, determining assistance needed, giving direct assistance or referring them to the appropriate agency.  Provide direct assistance and/or referral to clients in need based on established criteria; assess all families with minor children for eligibility in the Pathway of Hope (POH) program.  Deliver all POH services using the strength-based case management model to families with a desire to take action to break the cycle of crisis and change the trajectory of their lives.  Responsible for pantry including, but not limited to, the transferring of food from donation locations to The Salvation Army’s food pantry.  Responsibilities require considerable contact with the general public and other agencies.

 

Essential Functions:

Emergency Assistance

• Schedule, interview and evaluate needs of individuals and families
• Determine level of assistance needed
• Provide assistance in accordance with established schedules and guidelines, checking eligibility in electronic client database management system
• Develop client assistance plan
• Write and maintain confidential client case notes, documenting requests, findings and services rendered
• Create and update client files and electronic database files by recording each contact made with clients
• Maintain social services procedures and fund balances in MAAC
• Learn about community agencies’ resources, maintain referral list, provide referrals to appropriate agencies and services when further assistance is needed
• Provide short-term case management services as appropriate

 

Food Pantry

• Maintain the food pantry in all areas that adhere to Kansas Food Bank and The Salvation Army food handling policies.
• Finish the appropriate paperwork for the Kansas Food Bank and The Salvation Army reports in a timely manner.
• Pick up store donations, weighing them, and preparing them for food pantry or breadline.
• Maintain gas logs in the program vehicle
• Work with the staff and volunteers to serve clients in a friendly and courteous manner. Helping donors bring in donations.
• Assist with coordinating volunteers for food pantry, food drives, and other events.
• Assist in helping with food drives, commodities, and other donations.

 

Pathway of Hope

• Outreach and Engagement
  • Conduct regular outreach to social services sites and other locations in the community to identify eligibility requirements
  • Engage and build rapport with target population
  • Conduct screening interviews with potential applicants in accordance with POH eligibility requirements
  • Present potential participant to POH team to include the corps officer, corps support staff, and Divisional POH program manager
  • Provide appropriate referrals for individuals not eligible for POH services

 

• Case Management
  • Perform intake that includes required documentation for admission, referral needs, explanation of program and expectations
  • Conduct a written assessment on all participants within 72 hours of contact including screening for serious personal safety and mental health issues
  • Develop a case plan with the participant based on the primary goals of housing stability, increased income/financial resources and skills, and self-determination within one week of intake which includes short-term and long-term goals with objectives. Update case plan as needed
  • Schedule regular meeting times with participants to develop and review goals and objectives
  • Provide information and referral services as needed
  • Assist participants in connecting to and accessing appropriate community resources
  • Provide advocacy services as needed, i.e., court involvement, landlord/tenant conflict resolution, etc.
  • Provide financial assistance in accordance with program policies and procedures.
  • Coordinate case management efforts with all staff and contracted services to meet individual and family needs
  • Develop a discharge plan with participants addressing permanent housing stability, economic stability, em