Lead Care Manager

Sunlight Group; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Retirement contribution

Job summary

Sunlight Group in Santa Maria, CA, seeks a Lead Care Manager to coordinate whole-person care for youth and families within child welfare contexts. You will engage with caregivers, clinics, schools, and courts to build care plans and ensure continuous Medi-Cal coverage and transportation arrangements.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field or substantial relevant experience, bilingual English/Spanish, strong documentation, and field readiness across Santa Barbara County.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work/public health/psychology or related field.
• Or two+ years of relevant experience with youth/families in child welfare.
• 1+ years as Lead Care Manager or with youth in child welfare.
• Bilingual English/Spanish (highly valued).
• Strong communication, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Located in Santa Barbara County with CA driver's license and reliable transport.
• CPR certification (or willingness to obtain) and ability to pass background check.

Responsibilities

• Reach and engage eligible youth and caregivers with team support.
• Meet youth where they are: homes, placements, schools, court.
• Complete whole-person assessments and build youth care plans.
• Coordinate care across doctors, behavioral health providers, social workers, probation, attorneys, schools, and caregivers.
• Support youth through transitions like hospital discharge or placement changes.
• Help youth keep Medi-Cal coverage active and arrange transportation.
• Join meetings and attend court hearings as needed.
• Maintain records within 72 hours and meet monthly health plan requirements.
• Carry a caseload up to 50 youth.

Skills

Communication skills

Documentation

Relationship-building

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work/public health/psychology

High school diploma or GED with 3+ years community-based experience

Tools

CPR certification

Job description

Lead Care Manager

Sunlight Group Santa Maria, California, United States

About this position

About Sunlight Health

Sunlight Health is reimagining Enhanced Care Management for families involved in the child welfare and justice systems. We partner with organizations like Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers (LADL), CASA programs, and legal services providers to deliver tech-enabled, family-centric ECM services that address both healthcare and social determinants of health.

We serve families at their most critical moments — when reunification, stability, and health outcomes hang in the balance. Our model recognizes that healthcare navigation is central to family preservation and reunification, and we meet families where they are: in courthouses, in communities, and in their lives.

This role is in Santa Maria, CA, you need to be able to serve individuals in Santa Maria.

What you'll do

• Reach and engage eligible youth and their caregivers, working closely with Child Advocacy Specialists, CASA volunteers and Advocate Supervisors on each case, depending on their assigned status, or you may work with children and youth who are on our waiting list.
• Meet youth where they are, including homes, placements, schools, juvenile hall, and the courthouse
• Complete whole-person assessments and build care plans with youth, written in their own words
• Coordinate care across doctors, behavioral health providers, social workers, probation, attorneys, schools, and caregivers
• Support youth through big transitions, such as hospital discharge, placement changes, or release from custody
• Help youth keep their Medi-Cal and health plan coverage active, and arrange transportation and appointments
• Join Child and Family Team, IEP and 504 meetings, and attend court hearings as needed
• Keep clear, timely records, documenting visits within 72 hours and meeting monthly contact and health plan requirements
• Carry a caseload of up to 50 youth

What we're looking for

• A bachelor's degree in social work, public health, psychology, human services, or a related field, or two or more years of relevant experience (a high school diploma or GED plus three or more years of community-based and lived experience also considered)
• 1+ years of experience working as a Lead Care Manager or working with youth or families involved in child welfare, foster care, probation, or juvenile justice
• Bilingual English/Spanish (highly valued)
• Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills, and comfort with detailed documentation and emotionally sensitive casework
• The ability to stay calm, diplomatic, and confident with judges, attorneys, social workers, caregivers, and youth
• Located in Santa Barbara County, with reliable transportation, a valid California driver's license, and auto insurance
• CPR certification (or willingness to get it) and the ability to pass a background check

Lived experience matters here. If you've navigated the child welfare, foster care, or justice system yourself, as a youth in care, a parent, a kinship caregiver, or a family member, we want to hear from you, even if you don't meet every qualification. We've found that the right person, with a passion for this work, can learn the role and thrive.

Nice to have

• Experience with CASA, as a Community Health Worker or Peer Support Specialist, or in ECM/CalAIM programs
• Training in motivational interviewing, harm reduction, or trauma-informed care
• Familiarity with dependency court, AB 12 extended foster care, or the Independent Living Program

Work environment and schedule

• Flexible 40-hour workweek, primarily Monday through Friday, with occasional evenings or weekends, with scheduling accommodations for the families on your caseload
• Based in Santa Maria, with regular field work across Santa Barbara County
• Training is provided for this position
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs, sit or stand for extended periods, and drive to field visits

Pay Rate $27.50 – $30.50 per hour

Benefits including medical, dental, vision, and retirement contribution