Case Manager, Children’s Program

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition is now Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (“Amica Center” for short). Click here to learn more about our new name. Since our founding in 1999, we have grown significantly and added new services to support immigrants in detention. Recently, CAIR Coalition has outgrown our name, expanding beyond our initial services and geographic boundaries.

“Amica” is the Latin word for “friend,” and that echoes the way we approach what we do. Just as friends stand with one another, Amica Center stands with our clients to achieve the safety, stability, and opportunity we all deserve.

The Children’s Program (DUCs) provides legal orientation and screening to detained migrant children in the Maryland and Virginia region. We also offer free legal services to children released from Office of Refugee Resettlement custody to the greater Washington/DC Baltimore region.

DUCs is a highly collaborative work environment. We are committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed legal and social services and a culture of professional growth and support for staff. Although aspects of our work are completed in smaller teams, we work towards integrated and client-focused services across the program by embracing interconnectivity. We strive to create systems that provide structure while fostering innovation and adaptability. Supervisors in our program share a commitment to teaching, mentorship, and work life balance.

The Social Services Case Manager will work in partnership with Amica Center’s legal and social services staff to assist unaccompanied children in their removal defense cases and to provide critical social services for clients. This position engages with clients on a case-by-case, as needed basis, addressing and advocating for the client’s non-legal needs. This position will also support social services staff with administrative functions.

• Assist Amica Center staff attorneys and pro bono attorneys to assess the physical and mental health needs of their clients and work to assure that these needs are met.
• Identify and create relationships with service providers in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore metropolitan areas who can assist with medical, housing, education, social services, mental health services, reunification, and substance abuse counseling for children and their families after being released from detention.
• Maintain supportive client relationships, working with children and their families to identify social services needs and make appropriate referrals.
• Work with Amica Center legal staff and pro bono attorneys to develop post-release plans for clients in detention, as needed.
• Ensure the timely and accurate entry of case information, including case notes, into shared databases.
• Work with program leadership to accurately track spending and develop systems to equitably distribute resources.
• Assist social services staff in identifying and/or conducting staff-wide trainings.
• Create, revise, and ensure accuracy of social services guidance materials.
• Interface with social services staff from other programs within Amica Center to ensure cross-collaboration.
• Assist with maintaining social services closet and social services office supplies by keeping track of inventory and organization.
• Support social services team with administrative tasks, as needed.
• Participate in shelter visits during high-work/low-bandwidth periods.

Position Type

Full-time

Reports To

Social Services Coordinator

Supervisory Responsibility

TBD

Hiring Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Salary [2]

$50,000-$53,000, A higher salary may be offered to candidates with 3+ years of directly relevant experience.

[2] In 2018 Amica Center implemented a compensation framework to be more straightforward, transparent, and provide assurance of internal equity. The compensation model we use is based on an individual’s position and years of relevant work experience to avoid salary discrepancies and to reduce the risk of racial, gender, or other forms of bias affecting a candidate’s salary.

Location and/or Travel Requirements

This position will be based at the Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, M.D. Office. Due to business related travel expectations, it is recommended candidates live within 30-miles of their assigned primary office.

Telework

Amica Center operates a hybrid work environment. Most staff are required to work at least one day per week in-office; however, given the client-facing and partnership building nature of this position, this role will often require more in-person attendance. The Case Manager is expected to participate in client meetings, manage social services inventory, and to attend external networking events.

COVID-19 Vaccination: 

All employees are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. To be fully vaccinated means having completed the full dosages required for the type of vaccine obtained as designated by the CDC. If boosters are subsequently recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then employees will be required to receive the booster within thirty (30) days of their eligibility to access the boosters.

Amica Center’s benefits package includes:

• Free gym access located in Washington, D.C or Baltimore, MD (dependent on employee’s primary office)
• Flexible working hours after successful completion of trainings and with approval of supervisor
• Pre-tax commuter benefits for those living in the DMV
• Subsidized health, dental insurance, and vision insurance (Amica Center pays a very high rate of the insurance package, for which we can provide additional information)
• Eligibility for data reimbursement payments totaling: $300 on an annual basis
• Life Insurance valued at $50,000, as well as long- and short-term disability
• The option to set up a Flexible Spending Account
• High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a one-time employer contribution of $350 to the Health Savings Account (HSA)
• The option to set up a 403(b) account (the equivalent of a 401(k) account for non-profits) which the organization has the option, for all employees on an annual basis, to match at a certain percentage after one year of continuous employment

Paid time off includes:

• 23 personal days per calendar year
• Up to 20 days of sick time per calendar year
• 7 hours of volunteer time off
• Federal holidays
• Paid winter break closure
• 12 weeks of parental leave

Substantive Proficiency 

The Case Manager utilizes a growing expertise in social services, immigration services, and understanding of client needs to effectively provide services to clients with moderate supervision. The Case Manager clearly and skillfully employs social services skills in written and oral capacities with limited supervision and input from supervisors. The Case Manager contributes substantively to client case discussions, is innovative, and develops creative ideas to increase client services. The Case Manager interacts with internal and external stakeholders in a professional and effective manner.

Programmatic Proficiency

The Case Manager carries out client-facing duties and various other social services tasks in collaboration with other DUCS team members. The Case Manager, in consultation with the DUCs social services team and leadership, helps ensure that legal staff are educated on using social services best practices.

Administrative

The Case Manager ensures that all administrative aspects of their position are carried out without managerial intervention, including timekeeping, file upkeep, database maintenance, etc.

• Written and oral Spanish fluency required.
• Demonstrated interest in immigrants’ rights.
• 1 year of professional experience, strongly preferred.
• Experience working with children and teenagers, ideally in a professional setting.
• Knowledge of immigration systems preferred, but not required.
• Knowledge of local community organizations and resources serving immigrants preferred.
• Ability to work well independently.
• Willingness to train on and consistently utilize case management software.
• It is expected that the candidate will need to travel for work-related business. As a result, the candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and be comfortable operating a vehicle upon hiring. This role requires travel, but qualified individuals with disabilities may be accommodated in a reasonable manner under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Favorable results on background check including driving record, Child Protection Registry, and state and federal criminal records.