Lead Care Coordinator

Graceworks Lutheran Services; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in Milwaukee seeks a dedicated professional to support Care Coordinators in a trauma-informed care program for youth and young adults. Responsibilities include providing leadership, maintaining caseloads, and advocating for families. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree and mental health experience, particularly with children. The position offers full-time hours and requires strong interpersonal skills and adaptability.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year of experience providing mental health services.
• Experience must include working with children or adolescents in mental health.
• Lead Care Coordinators must have at least one year of Care Coordination experience.
• Lead Care Coordinators must be certified as a Care Coordinator by Wraparound Milwaukee.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and role modeling for Care Coordinators.
• Assist in development and training of care coordinators.
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 6 youth and families.
• Advocate for youth and families across various settings.
• Monitor quality of services provided to families.
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 6 youth and families.
• Contact enrolled youth within 48 hours and set up a first visit within 5 business days.
• Schedule and attend required face‑to‑face visits and facilitate Child and Family Team Meetings.
• Develop initial Plan of Care and 24‑hour Crisis Plan within 30 days.
• Monitor service quality and coordinate new services/resources as needed.

Skills

Mental Health/Human Development

Trauma-Informed Care

De-escalation Skills

Technological Aptitude

Time Management Skills

Multicultural Sensitivity

Communication

Problem-Solving Skills

Adaptability

Teamwork

Motivation

Professionalism

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant area of education or human services

Tools

Avatar EHR

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Code: 2025-SPECIALI-030

Location: Milwaukee

Department: Wraparound

FT/PT Status: Full Time

Job Responsibilities

Job Summary

Working under the Wraparound system of care, which includes a unique set of values that emphasizes individualized, strength-based, trauma-informed, family-driven, community-based, and culturally sensitive care, provide support for Care Coordinators in the REACH (Reaching, Engaging, and Assisting Children & Families) Crisis program, while also providing services and individualized care coordination for youth and young adults.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and role modeling of the Wraparound process for Care Coordinators.
• Assist Supervisors with development of care coordinators, including but not limited to: mentoring and training new care coordinators, engaging in problem‑solving and feedback to care coordinators, identifying informal and natural supports with care coordinators, training and approving documentation for care coordinators, as well as coaching care coordinators to follow best practices in adherence to specific program policies and procedures.
• Provide hands‑on training in the community with all new Care Coordinators for the first 6 months of employment.
• Attend Team/Plan of Care Meetings and Court Hearings to provide coaching for staff in the Wraparound Process, policies, and procedures, and maintain follow through on policies with existing staff.
• In conjunction with Supervisor, utilize reports and data provided by Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services to continuously improve the care provided to youth and families.
• Maintains a caseload of approximately 6 youth and families.
• Contact enrolled youth and families within 48 hours of enrollment and set up initial visit to occur within 5 business days of enrollment to introduce self and supports available.
• Schedule and attend required face‑to‑face visits as guided by program specific guidelines, and facilitate Child and Family Team Meetings to discuss treatment planning in accordance with program specific deadlines.
• Within the first 30 days, coordinates the initial meeting of the Child and Family Team and develops the initial individualized Plan of Care based on the identified strengths and needs, including a comprehensive 24‑hour Crisis Plan.
• Monitor the provision and quality of services provided to families through the Child and Family Team and is the liaison when new services/resources need to be sought or developed.
• Advocate for youth and families across a variety of settings, including home, educational, court, and community settings, as needed.
• Attend all scheduled court hearings as a representative of the REACH‑Crisis program to support youth and families, as well as care coordinators, throughout the court process and explain supports available/in place.
• Seek community resources with the assistance of the Team and modify the Plans of Care with youth and families in person and subsequently in Avatar whenever services or resources need to be added and/or deleted.
• Provide or arrange for transportation for youth/young adults to appointments, crisis/respite services, including assisting a youth and family with identifying natural supports and sustainable transportation plans, etc., if needed.
• Provide or secure support and crisis/emergency services for youths enrolled and/or their families. This may be done through face‑to‑face contact, phone contact/availability or an on‑call system.
• Completes all necessary paperwork in a strength‑based manner per Wraparound Milwaukee/Agency requirements, (i.e., court letters, Plans of Care, Discharge Summaries, change of placement forms, Provider Referrals, Provider Notes, evaluation instruments, consent forms, etc.).
• Maintain accurate information online, ensuring that family demographic information and Child and Family Team Member contact information is up to date in Avatar.
• Collaborate with other necessary individuals the youth and family may have contact with.
• Keep Wraparound Milwaukee informed of all emergencies or critical incidents (refer to Wraparound Policy #010 – DHHS Critical Incident Policy).

Job Qualifications

• Must possess at minimum a bachelor's degree in a relevant area of education or human services.
• Minimum of one year of experience providing mental health services. One (1) year of experience must be working with children or adolescents in mental health OR 20 hours of training within 3 months of hire, in addition to the training requirements of DHS 34.
• Lead Care Coordinators must have at least one year of Care Coordination experience with Wraparound Milwaukee. Care Coordinators being promoted to a Lead position must be approved by Wraparound Milwaukee Program Manager (or designee) in writing prior to a promotion occurring.
• Lead Care Coordinators must be certified as a Care Coordinator by Wraparound Milwaukee prior to being eligible.

Required Qualifications

• Must possess at minimum a bachelor's degree in a relevant area of education or human services.
• Minimum of one year of experience providing mental health services. One (1) year of experience must be working with children or adolescents in mental health OR 20 hours of training within 3 months of hire, in addition to the training requirements of DHS 34.
• Lead Care Coordinators must have at least one year of Care Coordination experience with Wraparound Milwaukee. Care Coordinators being promoted to a Lead position must be approved by Wraparound Milwaukee Program Manager (or designee) in writing prior to a promotion occurring.
• Lead Care Coordinators must be certified as a Care Coordinator by Wraparound Milwaukee prior to being eligible.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Mental Health/Human Development - Working knowledge of mental health needs and positive child/youth development.
• Trauma‑Informed Care - Patience and understanding of traumatic life situations.
• De‑escalation Skills - interact with escalating youth and/or parents in a calm and professional manner and respond appropriately in crisis situations.
• Technological Aptitude - Must be comfortable with navigating electronic health records, including in Avatar and utilizing Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. to meet programmatic needs.
• Time Management Skills - Ability to maintain schedules, meet deadlines and multi‑task.
• Multicultural Sensitivity - The role involves working in the community and interacting directly with diverse populations, including clients, partners, and service providers. As such, the employee must demonstrate professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and strong interpersonal skills while representing the organization in a variety of settings.
• Communication - Ability to follow oral and written instructions. Ability to provide information effectively with a diverse population - the people we serve, supervisor, colleagues, and program partners in writing and oral communications.
• Problem‑Solving Skills - Ability to think critically and be solution‑oriented in a fast‑paced environment and adapt to program changes and challenges.
• Adaptability - Ability to manage change, deal with situations as they arise and work independently or as part of a team.
• Teamwork - Ability to work as a team participate productively while also managing independent contributing duties and responsibilities.
• Motivation - Possess a commitment to the assigned job, mission and core values of the organization while also supporting a respectful and harmonious work setting.
• Professionalism - Ability to conduct oneself with a high level of integrity, ethics and boundaries.

Other Job Information (if applicable)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Duties require possible activity while monitoring or interacting with youth in the program. Staff may be required to use physical intervention in extreme situations. Driving required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed primarily in a busy office environment managing caseloads of youth, young adults, and families. Some of the work is done sitting at desk using a computer; requires outreach in the community and families’ homes; much of the outreach is done in urban neighborhoods and several hours per day may be spent driving; hours average 40 per week; flexible work schedule include some hours outside the normal work schedule on evenings and weekends.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.