Outreach Coordinator/Case Manager

Jewish Family Service of the Desert (JFS) is a nonsectarian provider of social services serving Coachella Valley since 1982. JFS programs are designed to increase mental and financial stability, reduce senior isolation, prevent homelessness, enhance quality of life, help seniors remain independent and age in dignity, help youth develop beneficial traits and skills, and support our local Holocaust survivors’ every need. Our mission drives us to provide for the social service needs of the Jewish and general community in this region. Our services are open to all and are dedicated to promoting the well-being of people of all ages, incomes, and lifestyles. In fact, more than 93% of our clients are from non-Jewish backgrounds, reflecting our inclusivity and our community’s diversity.

JFS offers a wide array of counseling and social services that significantly impact the lives of many, and most of these services are free to the community. Current services include (1) low- to no-cost, in-person and telecare mental health counseling; (2) case management services that assist with connecting clients to available benefits such as Calfresh, LIHEAP, and others, and offer needs-based emergency financial assistance for necessities such as overdue rent and utilities, food, and medication; (3) Let’s Do Lunch! senior education and socialization program in six locations that offer free education, a nutritious lunch, cognitive exercises, onsite mental health interns, administration of a quarterly geriatric depression scale (GDS) to assess client mood, and connections to other services with the goal of helping clients remain independent and age with dignity; (4) Cafe Europa education and socialization program for our local Holocaust survivors; (5) Cafe Europa 2.0 events for local children of Holocaust survivors that provide a social forum for sharing of information, stories, and support; (6) monthly food distribution program in collaboration with FIND Food Bank to JFS clients in several locations; (7) weekly "well-check" phone calls to isolated seniors to assess their physical and mental health and offer connections to needed services; (8) Friendly Visitor program connecting individual volunteers with senior clients who are homebound or have limited mobility and may live alone, to provide companionship and support, reducing isolation; (9) needs-based camp scholarships up to $1000 for local youth; and (10) volunteer-based transportation services for medical appointments.

The JFS Outreach Coordinator/Case Manager is a unique non-exempt position, “officially” serving two distinct agency programs, while reporting to the Director of Community Outreach.

Outreach Coordinator

The JFS Community Outreach Department offers programs designed to:

• reduce isolation, especially senior isolation;
• increase understanding of and access to available community resources; and
• help our local seniors age in dignity, remaining independent as long as possible.

The following programs are served by the Community Outreach Department, and assignments in support of the following may be made:

Let’s Do Lunch! (LDL):

• LDL is a live, two-hour event held regularly at six locations throughout the Coachella Valley. Clients receive education, a boxed lunch, connections to other JFS services as needed, and referrals to other local services. LDL clients are administered a quarterly geriatric depression scale (GDS) to assess mood, and clients whose score is deemed “troubling” are contacted by a member of the JFS clinical staff. Assistance in the oversight of LDL programming, with a desire to expand the program to new sites, may be requested.

Friendly Visitor (FV):

• FV connects JFS volunteers to clients in a one-on-one program offering live interaction in the client’s residence. Volunteers are asked to make “regular” visits to clients and report back any client concerns or successes. Assistance in recruiting volunteers, volunteer training, and client interaction may be requested.

Cafe Europa:

• Cafe Europa is a live, monthly event similar to LDL but specifically for local Holocaust survivors. As with LDL, assistance in event logistics and oversight may be requested; assistance with client transportation may also be requested.

Cafe Europa 2.0

• Cafe Europa 2.0 is a monthly, live meeting specifically for local children of Holocaust survivors. Currently, it is a social gathering, allowing participants a chance to share stories and otherwise interact with each other. Assistance in event logistics and oversight may be requested.

Monthly Food Distribution

• In collaboration with FIND Food Bank, JFS offers a monthly food distribution program on the first Friday of each month. Volunteers meet JFS staff in the JFS parking lot to offload foodstuffs from the FIND truck, and deliver items to various local locations. Assistance with these logistics may be requested.

Call Tree

• To offer regular interaction with isolated clients, JFS offers a weekly “Call Tree” program where volunteers reach out to clients for a brief check-in phone call. Assistance in training and assigning volunteers and otherwise supporting this program may be requested.

The list of programs and potential assignments is not exhaustive, and the position is dynamic, requiring flexibility, patience, and understanding.

The JFS Outreach Coordinator will assist the Director in managing all aspects of Community Outreach programming, volunteer recruitment and placement, and will assist in various outreach activities including community health fairs, resource fairs, and other “exhibit” opportunities.

Perhaps most importantly, the Outreach Coordinator will be expected to “lead” LDL events and is further expected to help expand the reach of LDL by expanding the number of program sites.

Case Manager

JFS case managers respond to requests for assistance from Coachella Valley residents. Callers often ask for financial assistance, housing, transportation, food support, and other essentials. JFS case managers work with clients to offer stability and hope in an effort to meet all requested needs (via JFS services and/or agency-to-agency referrals). Successful case managers provide compassionate, judgment and bias-free support while collaboratively and effectively working with clients to create a care plan that delineates JFS’ support ability, outreach to community partners whose programs/service may offer beneficial assistance and provide agency-to-agency communication and advocacy as needed.

When performing as a case manager:

• Assess clients, discuss care coordination that may include advocacy on behalf of the client;
• As needed, offer clients connections to all JFS services as well as those of collaborating agencies or other area providers;
• When appropriate, create and submit requests for emergency financial assistance to the JFS Executive Director;
• When appropriate, work with local agencies/community partners to offer clients a more robust solution; and
• As needed, consult with JFS clinicians to receive any behavioral health consultation;

Essential Job Functions

Assessment:

• Using client-centered, active listening and clarifying techniques, interviews clients (and their families) in the appropriate care setting, such as hospital, home, other facility, telephonically or in-person at the JFS office. Obtains and documents assessment information utilizing approved procedures and forms.
• Gathers appropriate information related to the client from a variety of sources, which include but are not limited to community partners, insurance companies, financial planners, attorneys, or sources significant to the client.
• Identifies high-risk factors, barriers to goals, and strengths that will assist the client in achieving goals.
• Reports and/or assessments are clear, accurate, and based on comprehensive data collection.

Planning:

• Develops a comprehensive care management plan that addresses all pertinent areas of the assessment. Goals are measurable, time-specific, attainable, and are agreed to by the client.
• As appropriate, develop an accurate, written analysis, which identifies a variety of ways to meet the clients’ needs.
• Identifies both private and community resources and incorporates them into the plan, providing the client with appropriate supplementary information.
• Other projects and responsibilities may be added at the company’s discretion.

Documentation:

• Authors client notes and saves all pertinent information on the agency’s electronic health record (EHR).
• If engaged with an IEHP referral, complete information required for billing, working with the JFS Office Manager.

Implementation:

• Arranges, directs, and monitors resources as they provide service to the client;
• Requests emergency financial assistance on behalf of the client, providing a written request to the JFS Executive Director;
• Acts as a client advocate when disagreements arise with caregivers, family or agencies providing care.

Monitoring:

• Provides frequent, timely reviews of the plan with the client and re-evaluates and modifies the plan based on the client's outcome; and
• Assures quality of services by gathering information from direct observation, telephone, or in writing as resources involved in the client's plan of care.

Evaluation:

• Participates in quality management studies as needed.
• Documents progress and pertinent information in the client record each billable service and as necessary provide complete information to other case managers/staff who may be involved in the client’s care.

Communication/Interface:

• Attends case management meetings as scheduled.
• Acts as a positive role model for the agency when engaging with clients and the public.
• Accepts clients as assigned. Communicates to the supervisor any conflicts or difficulties with client assignments.
• Responds to and returns telephone calls or communications promptly and courteously.
• Any changes in the plan of care are discussed and appropriately communicated with the client and/or JFS team and documented.
• Accepts all other duties as assigned by the Director/Executive Director.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $23.60 - $27.95 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Patient demographics:

• Adults
• Older adults

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• case management: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Palm Springs, CA 92262