Case Manager

Case Manager

Youth, Rights & Justice, an innovative nonprofit law firm based in Portland, Oregon, is seeking a Case Manager. Founded in 1975, YRJ is widely recognized as a leader in juvenile law in Oregon.

We provide court-appointed representation of children, youth, and parents involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems—in both the trial and appellate courts. We also represent individual children and youth in school-related special education and discipline matters. On a larger scale, we work to improve the systems impacting our clients through education, legislative and administrative advocacy, class action litigation, publications, and training other lawyers and community partners.

The clients we serve are racially and culturally diverse and from low-income families. Some are living with disabilities, and many are recovering from trauma. The children we serve are experiencing abuse and neglect. The parents we serve include those who are former foster youth and are struggling to keep their families together.

Youth, Rights & Justice offers a competitive benefits package, including 15 days of vacation annually (increases to 20 days after two years); eight hours paid self-care time each month; paid sick and holiday time; medical, dental and vision plans; matching 401K retirement benefits and more.

We encourage diverse applicants and are aware of research indicating that many women and BIPOC individuals hesitate to apply if they don’t fully match all listed qualifications. We encourage you to consider this opportunity holistically and we commit to evaluating candidates for this opportunity holistically.

Status Classification:  Regular full-time; non-exempt

Hours:  Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, some schedule flexibility necessary to best support clients and their needs. Depending upon case and client needs, the social worker can expect to be called upon to work some nights and weekends.

Location: Case managers spend a significant portion of their time in direct service of clients. In light of this, case managers work off-site, in the office, and remotely as needed.

Salary Range: $45,600 - $64,296 annually / $23 - $33 per hour depending on experience.

Reports to:  Supervising Attorneys

Summary:  Case Managers are an essential partner in YRJ’s work to provide holistic legal services and policy advocacy for children, parents, and families. Case Mangers work alongside YRJ attorneys to collaboratively advocate for parents, children, and youth in the juvenile dependency and delinquency systems. This will entail advocating for clients outside of court with the Department Human Services, the juvenile department, the Oregon Youth Authority, and with service providers as needed.

The Case Manager’s caseload will include a subset of YRJ clients who present with heightened needs, including mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental delays. The Case Manager will assess clients’ needs and goals, and ensure clients are supported to engage in meaningful services that are responsive to their actual needs. Because case managers are part of the legal representation team and their work falls within the scope of attorney-client privilege, they are able to develop trusting relationships with clients and also develop case strategies with the attorney.

Case managers are expected to comply with the Office of Public Defense Services’ (OPDS) Parent Child Representation Program (PCRP)Case Manager Practice Standards. Case managers will participate in site visits and quarterly meetings hosted by OPDS. All Case Managers will benefit from OPDS training and oversight, including technical support from OPDS’ PCRP Case Manager Administrator.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Interviewing YRJ clients and performing strength-based assessments to determine clients’ psychiatric/psychological, social, emotional, and educational needs.

1. Building and maintaining strong relationships of trust with clients and their families.

1. Advising and training attorneys and staff on issues within the expertise of case managers, including family dynamics, trauma, adolescent development and psychology, the use of standard social work assessment tools, and available community-based services.

1. Attending case-related meetings with clients.

1. Observing parent-child visits (parenting time) and provide coaching to parent clients,

1. Developing case plans driven by clients’ expressed interests and goals, including plans that present the court with compelling alternatives to foster care placement, alternatives for services to parents and children, and alternatives to incarceration.
2. Helping clients implement service plans.

1. Evaluating client progress towards service plan goals, and counseling clients to help ensure that goals are met.

1. Being familiar with relevant service providers – including community-based and culturally competent providers of mental health care services, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence counseling, and housing – and assessing the quality of service providers and their suitability for YRJ clients.

1. Being familiar with the range of benefits that may be available to clients and their families, and connecting families to benefits.

1. Making referrals, finding placements, and assisting with logistics and enrollment to help clients and their families access needed services and benefits.

1. Gathering and analyzing information through records collection and collateral interviews including interviews of parents, guardians, and other relevant family members.

1. Entering and maintain case notes in YRJ’s case management system.

1. Other duties as assigned.

Case managers must perform all duties in accordance with applicable law, ethical rules, contract requirements, and the performance standards promulgated by the Oregon State Bar and the Office of Public Defense Services.

Case managers will be provided with ongoing training in areas of importance to their job, including applicable professional, ethical, and legal rules.

Required skills and Abilities:

• A commitment to YRJ’s mission

• Support the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of YRJ.  Commitment to amplifying the voices of our clients and their communities

• Excellent interpersonal and motivational interviewing skills, and the ability to develop rapport with a wide range of people
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Thorough understanding of social, psychological, medical, economic, and legal factors that affect clients in the juvenile dependency and delinquency systems
• Strong work ethic
• Creativity, proactivity, and flexibility in solving problems and meeting challenges

• Ability to multitask and be a productive team player
• Ability to work compassionately and respectfully with clients in crisis
• Experience working with individuals from multi-ethnic communities
• Trained to use a trauma-informed approach to client communication and assessments
• Basic computer skills including Word, Excel, Power Point, MS Teams, and case management database

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preferred Education/Experience: Bachelor's or higher level degree in Social Work/Human Services or a closely related field; OR a Bachelor's degree in a field not closely related (to Social Work/Human Services) and one year of human services related experience (i.e., work providing assistance to individuals and groups with issues such as economically disadvantaged, employment, abuse and neglect, substance abuse, aging, disabilities, prevention, health, cultural competencies, inadequate housing); OR equivalent education and experience. Understanding and/or experience with DHS systems, processes, and policies.

Preference given to applicants who:

• Are Registered and/or Licensed as a social worker in Oregon by the Oregon State Board of Social Workers.
• Have lived experience as a consumer of child welfare or juvenile justice services.
• Have lived experience as members of a historically underserved population.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid Driver's License, Automobile insurance coverage as required by state law, and a vehicle.

Language Ability: Ability to read in English and interpret documents such as court reports, police reports and medical evaluations. Ability to write routine reports, legal documents, and correspondence. Ability to speak articulately before groups to advocate for clients.

To apply:

• Submit a resume and cover letter to: ally.h@youthrightsjustice.org
• Applications will be reviewed as they arrive until the position is filled.