Job Description

About PLN

Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños (PLN) partners with more than 10,000 children, youth, and families each year through integrated education, wellness supports and advocacy, addressing individual and systemic barriers to create pathways to success. In addition to operating early education centers, charter elementary and middle schools, youth workforce development sites and family services, PLN is the only children’s mental health provider in the Skid Row neighborhood. PLN's community transformation work brings together community members, community-based organizations, city and county agencies, elected officials, and businesses to tackle issues that impact PLN families. Ninety-three percent of families served by PLN live in areas with the highest levels of food insecurity and homelessness in L.A. County. discipline

Position Overview

The Case Manager provides comprehensive, survivor-centered case management and supportive services to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence. This role works directly with domestic violence survivors and their families to assess needs, develop individualized safety and service plans, provide ongoing case management and resource navigation, and facilitate virtual and in-person groups designed to promote safety, stability, and self-sustainability. It requires a specialized understanding of the dynamics and impact of domestic violence, trauma-informed and survivor-centered practices, crisis intervention, safety planning, confidentiality, and culturally responsive service delivery.

The Case Manager supports survivors in addressing barriers to employment, strengthening financial literacy, accessing public benefits and community resources, and developing strategies that promote long-term financial and family stability. Through ongoing support, advocacy, crisis intervention, resource coordination, and group facilitation, the Case Manager helps survivors and their families achieve their goals while maintaining safety, dignity, choice, and an adequate level of functioning and sustainability.

Duties

• Conducts virtual and in-person intakes, assessments, and evaluations to identify the needs, strengths, goals, and barriers of participants and their families.
• Co-creates individualized safety plans and service plans with participants and supports their implementation through ongoing case management.
• Provides comprehensive case management services, including resource navigation, referrals, follow-up, advocacy, problem-solving, and coordination of services to address participant and family needs.
• Provides intensive intervention services to participants through assessments, safety planning, service planning, case management, and connection to appropriate resources.
• Supports participants in developing pathways toward self-sustainability and long-term stability, including identifying and addressing barriers to employment, financial literacy needs, employment goals, and job-search strategies.
• Assists participants in navigating and accessing public benefits and other resources, including cash assistance, CalWORKs, SNAP, and community-based services, with an emphasis on utilizing resources to support long-term stability.
• Facilitates virtual/in-person groups, including Nurturing Parenting, DV Support Education, Support Groups, Life Skills, Conflict Resolution, and other groups based on participant needs and program requirements.
• Provides support counseling and crisis intervention to participants and their families within the scope of the program and position.
• Collaborates with DPSS and other community partners to provide outreach and increase awareness of Domestic Violence Supportive Services and available resources.
• Participates in community outreach, presentations, orientations, and other engagement activities to provide information about Domestic Violence Supportive Services and available resources.
• Prepares correspondence, case documentation, reports, and other records related to participant progress, services provided, and community contacts.
• Collaborates with the supervisor, specialists, consultants, and other service providers to address case-related concerns and coordinate appropriate services and interventions.
• Participates in staff meetings, case conferences, professional consultations, and other program or agency meetings as needed.
• Builds and maintains respectful, supportive relationships with participants and their families while demonstrating cultural humility and sensitivity to their diverse cultural, social, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Participates in the agency’s Continuous Quality Improvement process and contributes to ongoing program and service improvements.
• Supports program activities, including occasional donation or resource drop-off activities, as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• Bachelor's Degree in applicable field of education from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Possession of, or eligibility to obtain, a 40-hour Domestic Violence certification, within six months of hire is required.
• Nurturing Parenting Facilitator Training, Positive Parenting Program Practitioner, Incredible Years Group Leader/Facilitator, Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) Facilitator, or other Parenting Certificate is preferred.
• Minimum of six months of experience working with low-income children and families is required; Education beyond the minimum requirements may be considered in lieu of required experience.
• Knowledge of domestic violence dynamics, trauma-informed and survivor-centered practices, safety planning, crisis intervention, and confidentiality when working with survivors and their families.
• Knowledge of child abuse, mandated reporting requirements, and crisis intervention techniques.
• Skill in providing supportive counseling, crisis intervention, and emotional support to clients experiencing emotional distress, trauma, housing instability, or other significant life challenges.
• Skill in assessing client needs, developing individualized service and safety plans, facilitating groups, and connecting clients and families to appropriate resources, including housing and other basic-needs supports.
• Ability to build trusting and respectful relationships with survivors and their families, including individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, while demonstrating cultural humility, maintaining professional boundaries, and supporting client autonomy and self-sustainability.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish are required, and we celebrate linguistic diversity, valuing the unique perspectives and strengths that multilingual team members bring to our organization.
• Utilizes Microsoft Office Suite and other business systems to perform daily administrative functions, including data entry, document management, and professional correspondence.
• Travel Requirements: Up to 25% within Los Angeles County requiring a valid driver's license, personal vehicle, and automobile insurance.

Physical Requirements

To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Approximately 50% of time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand and bend.
• Must be able to speak and hear well.
• Good vision is imperative.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.
• TB test clearance to be renewed every two years.
• Verification of Immunizations required by the California Department of Health (Pertussis, Measles and Influenza).

This job description does not encompass all essential functions and responsibilities. Para Los Niños reserves the right to modify or add to the typical duties of a position at any time.

Expectations for All Para Los Niños Staff

Candidates for employment at Para Los Niños, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:

• Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Para Los Niños.
• Deep commitment to the success of all PLN students and families.
• Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.
• Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.
• Use of data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to thrive as a member of a collaborative team.
• Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition.
• Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationships with families and children informed by the students’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively handle challenging situations.
• Comfort with basic Microsoft Office applications and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.
• Regular, punctual attendance and professional appearance.

Para Los Niños is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.