Case Worker – Emergency Assistance @ Southland

The Salvation Army North & Central Illinois Division; Grandview (MO); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Salvation Army North & Central Illinois Division is seeking an emergency assistance caseworker to interview, evaluate, and administer aid to clients in need. The role involves screening, eligibility determinations, and coordinating referrals to partner agencies.

You will maintain records of funds, assist with EFSP and USDA-related tasks, and support the Pathway Of Hope (POH) program through collaboration with the POH case manager.

Qualifications

• High School diploma required; two years of college in Human Services preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or related field preferred.
• Caseworker Certification Program must be completed within 90 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Interview and evaluate clients for emergency assistance.
• Screen potential clients for immediate emergency needs.
• Pre-qualify requests and determine eligibility through interviews and documentation.
• Refer clients to other agencies following TSA guidelines.
• Assist with applications for emergency assistance and USDA programs.
• Maintain and document funds usage in spreadsheets and MAAC Link.
• Prepare EFSP files and submit monthly reports.
• Build relationships with community agencies and POH case manager.
• Coordinate seasonal outreach and assist with file purging and storage.

Skills

Interpersonal relations

Communication skills

Independent work

Office equipment operation

Education

High School diploma

Two years college in Human Services

Bachelor's degree preferred

Caseworker Certification Program within 90 days

Tools

None

Job description

Job Objective

Responsible for interviewing, evaluating and administering aide to clients seeking assistance with emergency needs.

Essential Functions

• Receive calls and visitors to The Salvation Army
• Screen potential clients for immediate emergency assistance needs
• Pre-qualify requests for emergency assistance needs of individuals and families including a determination of their eligibility through scheduled appointments, interviews, contacting third-party sources, and evaluating and verifying all information
• Make referrals to other agencies by following the guidelines and procedures of The Salvation Army
• Assist clients in completing an application for emergency assistance, USDA program, Christmas sign-ups, etc.
• Track all monies spent in their respective spreadsheets, i.e., EFSP, grants, Salvation Army designated fund, etc.
• Maintain an accounting of all funds received and distributed from the emergency assistance account via spreadsheets, back up documentation, and input into MAAC Link.
• Assist the Corps Officer in preparing all EFSP files for submission annually, keeping extra copies of all documentation
• Submit a monthly statistical report of all emergency assistance transactions to the Corps Officer for entering into TSA Statistical System
• Establish and cultivate professional community agency relationships with other helping agencies in the community
• Work closely with the Pathway Of Hope (POH) case manager and refer clients to POH
• Coordinate and assist in seasonal outreach with officers, staff and other agencies
• Purge and store files annually
• Refer clients to the Corps Officer in times of spiritual need
• Complete other assignments as directed by the Corps Officer as necessary to the goal of assisting clients on the road to self-sufficiency

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: High School diploma. A minimum of two years of college work in Human Services, with a bachelor’s degree preferred. A combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to the knowledge base achieved by the above standard is acceptable at The Salvation Army’s discretion
• Experience: Two years’ experience working with low income and minority populations
• Certifications/Licenses: Must complete The Salvation Army’s Caseworker Certification Program within 90 days of hire

Skills/Abilities

• Must have positive interpersonal relations skills
• Must have the capacity to relate to people with dignity and respect in a non-judgmental manner
• Must possess and demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, orally, and in writing
• Must have the ability to work independently and with other staff members
• Ability to operate essential office equipment including telephone, personal computer, copier, fax and scanning equipment

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Physical Requirements

Include speaking, hearing and vision ability; manual dexterity; lifting, pulling and pushing materials up to 25 pounds; bending, squatting, and walking; sitting up to five hours per day; standing up to two hours per day. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions of this job.

Travel

Travel to meetings and conferences as required by the Corps Officer; occasional out of town travel to meetings and conferences; overnight stay may be required

Driving

Must possess a valid driver's license from the state in which you reside. Must be approved through The Salvation Army Fleet Safety Program to drive either a Salvation Army or personal vehicle on Salvation Army business.

Working Conditions

Work performed in a typical office environment.

All employees recognize that The Salvation Army is a church and agree that they will do nothing as an employee of The Salvation Army to undermine its religious mission.

The Salvation Army Mission

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Salvation Army is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates who are back-to-work, US Veterans, people with disabilities, people who have been impacted by the justice system, and/or people without a college degree are encouraged to apply.