Community Case Manager

Overview

Y.O.U. is an Evanston-based non-profit founded in 1971 that partners with families, schools, and the community to provide academic, social, and emotional support to close the opportunity gap and prepare youth for post-secondary and life success. Y.O.U. provides after school and summer learning programs, mental health counseling, and experiential learning through partnerships.

Youth and Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) is seeking a dedicated Community Case Manager to support the implementation of our community-wide runaway and homeless youth programs. The role delivers comprehensive, community-based services for youth ages 11–22 as part of a collaborative initiative aimed at helping young people secure housing stability. Working with a trauma-informed lens, the Community Case Manager will develop, facilitate, and oversee program activities and community partnerships to help adolescents and young adults achieve post-secondary and lifelong success.

This role also provides support to families and youth participating in Y.O.U.’s Out of School Time programs, as well as individual and family therapy. This is a full-time position reporting to the Director of Clinical and Outreach Services.

• Direct Service and Case Management (40%): provide youth in Y.O.U. Out-of-School Time programs and the broader Evanston community access to resources in housing, education, employment, and healthcare.
• Community Partnerships and Preventative Services (40%): develop and manage relationships with community partners to link youth to immediate needs such as housing, healthcare, employment, education, and social supports.
• Administration and Management (20%): collaborate with CCBYS Manager and Grants Manager to ensure monthly RHY data entry and up-to-date service-tracking records for grant compliance; maintain comprehensive case management documentation.

• Manage a caseload of 20–25 individual clients at a time through CCBYS and BCP, referred by OST and Clinical departments, including clients aged 11–22 from community partners.
• Build positive, age-appropriate relationships with youth and their families; support participation in Y.O.U. after-school programs and community events at key locations (e.g., Community Events, Robert Crown Community Center, McGaw YMCA, and partner organizations).
• Participate in the Housing Crisis Response Team on pager rotation serving runaway, homeless, and/or locked out youth ages 11–17 (weekdays 2pm–6pm) with periodic nights/weekends and additional compensation.
• Serve as Backup Supervisor to Housing Crisis Response Team, as assigned.
• Conduct monthly check-ins with After School Program Managers for Y.O.U. Middle and High School programs, identifying youth/families in need of additional support and providing updates on supports.

• Identify emerging issues faced by RHY populations in Evanston and adapt program design to address needs.
• Partner with community organizations on initiatives that support post-secondary and life success (e.g., job preparation, financial literacy, college exposure).
• Assimilate best practices related to restorative justice, trauma-informed care, and harm-reduction for RHY populations.
• Attend annual RHY conference to share and integrate best practices for disconnected youth.
• Build, strengthen, and manage partnerships that increase youth access to housing, employment, education, and healthcare.

• Maintain accurate, complete, up-to-date client records, including case notes, treatment planning, and data entry for grants in necessary databases.
• Complete 3/6/9-month follow-ups regarding RHY to assess long-term housing stability.

• Associate’s Degree in social services
• At least three years of relevant experience working with runaway and homeless youth, including development and implementation of programming related to case management and housing displacement
• At least three years of experience cultivating, leading, and maintaining a coalition of partners in support of effective programming
• Familiarity with…