Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA)

Date: June 4, 2022

FULL TIME and NON-EXEMPT

Reports to:  Crisis Support Services Manager

Indirect Reporting to Mental Health Services Manager and Housing and Advocacy Manager

Schedule of Hours:  37.5 hours per week

Mandated Reporter: No

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), is the only agency in San Mateo County providing crisis intervention and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence and their children, seeks an Intake Specialist to support clients who contact our Crisis Support Services Hotline with accessing the range of CORA services. 

POSITION SUMMARY

This is a new position designed to help CORA manage the pathway for clients from contact to engagement with services.  Clients reach out to our CSS hotline for a variety of reasons.  They may be seeking mental health services, legal assistance, housing or other resource navigation.  Our Hotline staff are expert at assessing immediate danger, working intensively with callers to address any immediate issues of safety and of providing point of call referrals.  However, there are callers that require a longer assessment, might be appropriate for our legal line services, may need mental health services, and require a less rushed and more in-depth assessment and referral conversation.  Additionally, once it is determined that a client meets eligibility to access CORA services, we need a staff Point of Contact that follows that client until the warm hand off to the appropriate program can be made.  This is the integral role of the Intake Specialist.  This position is key to ensuring that CORA’s services are provided to clients in a manner that is trauma-informed, effective and quickly responsive.  The idea candidate is someone with a case management background, and potentially hotline experience, who enjoys meeting a wide array of clients and helping them to access the full range of CORA services as well as connect with community resources.   

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

ASSESSMENTS AND CLIENT RESOURCE NAVIGATION

• Provide assessment and referrals to CSS callers on a call back basis connecting clients to community CORA resources
• As appropriate, provide in depth assessment to clients for referral to legal line services, to Mental Health services and to Housing & Advocacy services following the protocols established by each department
• Conduct Safehouse eligibility assessment
• Conduct single session case management/ advocacy support for clients, assisting them in following through with CSS provided resources or engaging with additional resources.  This is not meant to develop into an ongoing case management caseload, but is in follow-up to the initial crisis call or to alleviate client need while in a pending status awaiting referral to additional CORA services.

DEPARTMENT REFERRALS

• Keep track of Mental Health intake availability and assign clients based on availability, language needs and risk assessment
• Work with Mental Health team to remove referrals completed or who drop out
• Remind clients of upcoming intake appointments
• Manage crisis when they arise before client is engaged with mental health services, including triaging with advocates/ case management staff and with clinical supervisor/ Manager
• Support clients who are waitlisted for services
• Support client in assembling needed documentation for housing or other programming eligibility
• Connect with program staff to ensure clients are provided a warm hand off to services as appropriate
• Support clients who have a program grievance in reporting their grievance and being connected to the appropriate staff member to address this
• Keep in contact with clients pending completion of referral

RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATION REQUESTS

• Write attendance letters for former clients
• Review and determine appropriate response to records requests in partnership with appropriate program staff
• Obtain and file any necessary releases from clients for internal or external referral

DOCUMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION

• Document all interactions with clients in Apricot Database
• Communicate regularly with program staff to ensure they are aware of and have input on client referral pipelines
• Meet regularly with program staff in order to keep abreast of program changes and needs

OTHER DUTIES

• Meet with clients to de-escalate/ safety plan when direct program staff are not available
• Other Duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• AA or BA in Education, social work or related field, and/or experience in providing child related social services work required. A minimum of 2 years of work experience in the field necessary.
• Experience working under a county, state or federal funded grant preferred.
• Experience working with child survivors of trauma, specifically with those exposed to relationship violence in the home preferred.
• Completion of 40-hour domestic violence training. Candidates who have not completed the training will be required to do so.
• Familiarity with community-based services in San Mateo County preferred.
• Bilingual and English/ Spanish strongly preferred.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

WORK   ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Valid CA driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and insurance preferred.
• Background check, including fingerprinting clearance from the Department Justice; Demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States.

MANDATED REPORTER STATUS

This position is not a mandated reporter. 

CORA History and Overview

CORA has provided services to survivors of intimate partner abuse since 1977. Our programs include Crisis Intervention Services, including a 24-hour hotline, collaboration with law enforcement, emergency shelter options, and supportive counseling. Family Support Services provides mental health therapy, supportive/transitional housing, and a children’s program. CORA has robust legal services for survivors of domestic violence and provides educational workshops about the dynamics of domestic violence and healthy relationship skills.

CORA is strengths-based, collaborative, accessible, and client-centered. CORA believes that everyone deserves to be treated with respect in their intimate relationships.  We provide safety, support and healing to individuals who experience abuse in an intimate relationship and educate the community to break the cycle of domestic violence. Regardless of a survivor’s race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or culture, we save lives and provide an opportunity to begin again.

CORA inspires work of the highest caliber by fostering staff engagement through transparency and inclusion in agency decisions wherever possible. We strive to ensure our policies and communications reflect an appreciation of the impact of social inequities, historical and current, and actively promote healthy relationships amongst staff by demonstrating mutual respect in all our communications.

CORA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We seek diversity with respect to race, color, age, sex, (including breastfeeding and medical conditions related to breastfeeding), religion (including religious dress or grooming practices), national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic characteristics and information, ancestry, marital status, family status, political belief, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), medical condition, military, or veteran status or any other category or status protected by Federal, State or other applicable laws.

All applicants are welcome. Individuals who are bilingual, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community and/or survivors of domestic violence are strongly encouraged to apply.  The position will remain open until filled.