Woman’s Advocacy Case Manager

Woman’s Advocacy Case Manager

Requisition #: req5871

Location: Reading, PA

Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week)

Bethany is changing the world through family. We began our work by serving one child more than 75 years ago. Today, Bethany is an international Christian nonprofit partnering with communities in more than 30 states and in several countries around the world. We strengthen and preserve families, support displaced people fleeing danger, and find safe, loving families for children who need them. Bethany is at the forefront of creating and implementing solutions to meet the growing needs of vulnerable children and families in the U.S. and around the world.

The Woman’s Advocacy Case Manager is primarily responsible for providing support to women and their families. This individual will also be responsible for strengthening the client’s capacity to engage in health practices and to maintain stable homes through a family centered approach that includes the woman’s significant other and her children. The Woman’s Advocacy Case Manager is expected to maintain the appropriate caseload in accordance with program and contractual expectations.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide comprehensive case management services and life skills education to include conflict resolution, family planning, career planning, self-sufficiency, education, health maintenance, environmental health, role modeling, child development, and goal setting for clients referred by community resources;
• Develop a comprehensive service plan with a consumer and family-centered focus with strategies for recovery;
• Develop a full-cycle birthing plan to include linkage and prenatal follow-through coordination; • Locate and develop positive working relationships with local OB/GYNs or prenatal clinics, while also ensuring that the woman is fully participating in prenatal care;
• Develop a parenting plan or “Plan of Safe Care” that prepares collaboration with Child Protective Services (CPS) at time of birth and addresses the mother, infant, and family needs;
• Develop and maintain early intervention, WIC, and other community resources;
• Cultivate information sharing between all providers related to the woman’s progress and challenges;
• Coordinate the necessary interventions and services provided by multiple agencies;
• Provide home visitation services and maintain regular contact with the woman and baby;
• Facilitate parenting education using Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) during home visits;
• Complete paperwork within appropriate time frames;
• Coordinate with Perinatal Cooperatives/Risk Reduction Specialists in educating medical community partners on stigma around pregnant women with Substance Use Disorders (SUD);
• Effectively prepare a woman for birthing including the potential for child welfare involvement in the event of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), as well as accessing a pediatrician familiar with this prenatal exposure;
• Prepare woman for living and care arrangements for infant;
• Effectively advocate on behalf of the family;
• Maintain on-going contact with service providers that includes progress reports, status updates, and any other critical information, while participating in multidisciplinary meetings as needed;
• Coordinate team meetings that bring all formal systems together on behalf of the woman from pregnancy through 1-year post delivery, as needed;
• Attend and participate in meetings to include but not limited to SUD/Child Welfare consortia, and Perinatal Addictions meetings as needed;
• Provide the appropriate care and community referrals, as needed;
• Stay abreast of all agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements related to social services;
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s level degree in Social Science, Human Services, Behavioral Science, Psychology, Education, or related field of study from an accredited college;
• Master’s level degree in Social Science, Human Services, Behavioral Science, Psychology, Education, or related field of study from an accredited college, preferred;
• At least three (3) years’ experience working with high need families involved with substance use and mental health disorders;
• Demonstrated evidence of working with populations with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders or evidence of addiction coursework;
• Possess knowledge of systems that provide services for women and their families to include but not limited to maternal health, early childhood intervention, child welfare, or other related services;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) approach and interventions;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated excellent assessment and crisis intervention skills;
• Ability to work independently and exercise a high level of confidentiality;
• Must be willing and able to work outside of normal business hours to include some evenings and weekends;
• Computer and typing skills sufficient to perform essential job functions;
• Active motor vehicle license and a reliable automobile with adequate insurance coverage;
• Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries;
• Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith, Mission Statement, and Cultural Diversity Commitment.

We value and embrace the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; our culture is strengthened and our workplace is more dynamic. We are a global organization with multicultural staff, clients and stakeholders, so we strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. More work remains, but we are deeply committed to honestly acknowledging and addressing the impacts of race and racism throughout the organization. This work can be uncomfortable and even painful, but we believe that the greatest challenges bear the greatest rewards.

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