Referral Specialist

  • AIDS Foundation of Chicago
  • Chicago
  • May 09, 2022
Full time Bilingual Customer Service Nonprofit-Social Services

Job Description

The Referral Specialist will work with the AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) Keep Empowering Young adults to Succeed (KEYS) and Housing Navigation programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including HUD’s Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) programs, state and city government agencies, and private foundations. This position collaborates with internal and external partners to engage in resource identification, cross-system advocacy, and establish referral systems towards improving health, housing, and employment equity for diverse people living with HIV. This includes networking closely with the programs’ partner agencies that provide direct services for people living with HIV/AIDS and low-income individuals and families.

The salary range for this role is $40,000 to $47,000.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Coordination

  • Establish referral systems to identify eligible clients for the KEYS housing program
  • Provide guidance and support to partner agency service providers and supervisors aligning with the programs policies and procedures
  • Engage, screen, and link clients to HIV Housing Case Managers (HHCMs)
  • Conduct initial and follow-up housing assessment for program clients using the Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) service assessment
  • Liaise with the HIV Resource Coordination Hub (RCH) to receive potential program clients and support the overall resource identification work
  • Update and maintain the housing resource directory
  • Answer phone calls from homeless people living with HIV/AIDS, who are seeking housing navigation services; conduct basic screening for clients to determine eligibility including demographic, psychosocial, and needs assessments; coordinate with other AFC staff who answer housing calls and conduct basic screening
  • Provide ongoing technical assistance to partner agency service providers in use of the AFC database (i.e., CaseWorthy).

Quality Assurance and Data Entry

  • Monitor client outcome dashboard review of services received and health status making programmatic adjustments as needed
  • Screen and assess clients for KEYS housing program
  • Review and approve eligibility data for new clients in the AFC database
  • Participate in annual site visits – review files for eligibility and compliance, produce write-ups, and recommendations
  • Conduct quarterly AFC database (i.e., CaseWorthy) review and meet with Data Services monthly to discuss data quality management issues, opportunities for improvement, and explore new ideas

Meetings and Training Facilitation

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Set up meetings, as needed, with internal and external partners to provide general and situational program support​​​​​​
  • Collaborate with interdepartmental teams
  • Deliver presentations to providers and network with community organizations (i.e., working with Care Team to access the Ryan White Case Management system) to promote and create awareness of the programs and services
  • Assist in the coordination and leading of Systems Integration Teams (SIT) meetings with HHCMs to ensure comprehensive and quality services and gather program feedback

Other

  • Assist with agency-wide activities as directed, including Annual Meeting, AIDS Run & Walk, and others
  • Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations
  • Protect organization's value and manage risk by keeping information confidential
  • Perform other duties as assigned

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in this class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assignment of duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION)
Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree and 1 or more years of Human Services experience OR 3 or more years Human Services experience

Preferred Qualifications

  • 2 or more years Case Management experience
  • 2 or more years Homeless Services experience
  • 2 or more years HIV-specific service experience
  • Spanish proficiency preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

  • Basic knowledge of HIV infection and related chronic diseases.  This includes an understanding of the most-impacted populations
  • The ability to assess client needs, create plans (i.e., care plans, service plans, treatment plans), facilitate referrals, and follow-up in order to address barriers and ensure service is continuous and comprehensive
  • The ability to provide excellent service to internal clients and external stakeholders
  • The ability to use computer and web-based systems (e.g., PC-based tools, Microsoft applications, Web-based applications)
  • Knowledge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs and program requirements, rules, and procedures
  • Prioritizing, coordinating, and organizing tasks to maximize productivity, and maintaining focus on short- and long- term goals

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
None.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands are representative of those found in a general office environment.  
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment is representative of that found in a general office environment.  Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 10 pounds).  Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Occupations

Social Service

URL

Salary

The salary range for this role is $40,000 to $47,000.

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