EZRA’s Multi Service Center is a community-based service center that provides emergency services to Chicago’s Edgewater, Uptown and Lakeview communities and is home to the JUF Uptown Cafe, Chicago’s first kosher anti-hunger program, which feeds people who are hungry while nourishing their spirits. Meals are served in a restaurant-like atmosphere by volunteer wait-staff from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago’s TOV (Tikkun Olam Volunteer) Network. The JUF Uptown Cafe Case Manager is responsible for client support for the JUF Uptown Cafe.

 

What you’ll be doing:

Staffing JUF Uptown Cafe

• Welcome, orient, and debrief Cafe volunteers regarding meal procedures, the mission and goals of the program and the collaboration with EZRA and JUF.
• Enforce House rules with a calm and consistent demeanor.
• Implement behavioral plans and disciplinary time-outs with respect and dignity.
• Visit with Cafe guests during meals with attention paid to client hygiene, grooming, and interpersonal interactions.
• Foster and support positive behavioral change, focusing on social function, while providing crisis intervention as necessary.
• Obtain and maintain food service certificate.

 

Client Services

• Serve as the primary case management contact for clients in the cafe program, when needs arise.

• Work with clients in crisis to determine need for rental, utility, and other financial assistance.
• Conduct benefits assessments and link clients with public benefits and resources they are eligible for.
• Assist clients in navigating the health insurance marketplace to obtain affordable health insurance.
• Provide advocacy surrounding a variety of issues, including benefits maintenance and financial assistance with other agencies and through Financial Assistance Committee.
• Conduct Cafe intakes.
• Follow-up with Cafe guests who have absented themselves from participation.
• Enter case notes accurately and on a timely basis.
• Maintain statistics.

 

 

 

What you need to succeed:

• Associate’s degree
• 3-5 years’ experience in the social service field, preferably doing case management.
• Desire to work for an agency with an urban Jewish social agenda
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Access, Outlook, Excel) and capable of learning other systems as needed
• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work in a calm and collected manner.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required
• Sensitivity in working with low-income populations including seniors, people with mental illness, people with disabilities, people living with chronic illness, parents and children, and people who are homeless. Ability to connect to people of all racial and religious backgrounds as well as socioeconomic classes.
• Strong leadership skills, ability to manage challenging group dynamics, and advise others in a caring and compassionate way.
• Ability to encourage and motivate people to join in, try something new, and grow personally.
• Passion for social justice, accepting and embracing diversity.
• Ability to network with volunteers, congregations, community organizations, and other Jewish entities.
• Strong understanding of Jewish dietary law.
• Must have the ability and willingness to work some secular holidays (Thanksgiving and Memorial Day).
• Requires confidentiality.

 

Schedule, all in person: 

Monday 10am-7:30pm

Tuesday 9am-7:30pm

Wednesday 9am-5pm

Thursday 9am-6pm

Friday 10am-12:30pm

*There is some flexibility on this schedule.

 

What you’ll love about us:

At JUF, you can be part of one of the largest non-profit social welfare institutions in Illinois. We provide food, refuge, healthcare, education, emergency assistance, and essential services to 500,000 Chicagoans of all faiths and millions of Jews around the world. We take pride in our mission and in having a work culture that fosters a sense of belonging and feels rewarding, supportive, and inclusive. We offer generous benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) match, professional training, tuition reimbursement, paid family leave, up to 22 days of paid time off (starting with 15), up to 11 sick days (starting with 7), and up to 21 paid holidays. 

 

Salary range: $53,000-$55,000

Job Category: Union Eligible