Youth Outreach Case Manager

Company: Night Ministry
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 14, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Description: Join The Night Ministry as an Outreach Case Manager – Youth Outreach Team Build relationships, offer stability, and support young people navigating homelessness. Position Summary: Provide outreach, engagement, and ongoing support to youth and young adults served by The Crib and the Youth Outreach Team. Deliver strengths-based case management and referrals to supportive services as needed. Develop, maintain, and strengthen collaborative referral relationships with community-based and social service agencies to support positive youth outcomes. General Purpose: Assist youth and young adults ages 14–24 experiencing or at risk of homelessness by providing outreach, relationship-based engagement, and case management to promote safety, housing stability, and self-sufficiency. The Outreach Case Manager represents The Night Ministry professionally and collaborates with internal teams and external partners to engage and support youth with high needs. Role Qualifications: Meet all applicable government, agency, and grantor requirements for the position. Demonstrate the ability and willingness to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team. Work closely and cooperatively with Youth Programs staff, other Night Ministry staff, volunteers, interns, and collaborating agencies and organizations. Demonstrate trauma-informed, LGBTQIA-affirming, and street culture–competent practices, with the ability to work effectively with diverse populations and adopt a harm reduction approach in service delivery. Be detail-oriented and self-directed, with strong interpersonal skills and a clear understanding of professional boundaries. Respond calmly, appropriately, and in accordance with The Night Ministry’s policies and procedures during emergencies or crisis situations. Position Responsibilities: Outreach & Engagement Establish and maintain a consistent, visible presence with youth through outreach and relationship-based engagement and case management. Outreach activities may include street outreach, collaboration with and presence at partner organizations, school-based outreach, social media engagement, and other methods of identifying and engaging youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Develop, implement, and refine new outreach strategies, venues, and engagement methods in response to community and youth needs. Assess safety concerns and provide crisis intervention, de-escalation, and safety planning for program participants; make appropriate referrals and linkages for additional interventions as needed. Participate in periodic community and individual needs assessments, including identifying youth strengths and service gaps; distribute supplies and provide referrals to supportive services as appropriate. Build and sustain relationships with youth by working at The Crib during evening and early-morning hours and accompanying the Youth Outreach Team during daytime and/or nighttime outreach shifts, including van-based and foot outreach. Conduct intake with youth interested in The Night Ministry’s programs; assess eligibility, provide program information, and coordinate referrals while collaborating with program staff to ensure smooth transitions into services. Develop and maintain strong referral relationships with community resources in Lakeview, Bucktown, and other neighborhoods frequented by program participants, including but not limited to spiritual care, emergency and transitional housing, healthcare, mental health services, and substance use treatment providers. Case Management Provide ongoing, strengths-based case management services by assisting program participants with follow-up on referrals and meeting with youth at The Crib, drop-in centers, and in community settings. Develop, implement, and regularly review individualized case plans; monitor progress toward goals and adjust plans as needed. Case plans must be culturally responsive and tailored to each participant’s age, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, and cultural background. Maintain accurate and complete case files for assigned caseloads in accordance with governmental, grant, and agency requirements. Complete timely, accurate documentation, including case notes and data entry, within electronic databases and reporting systems. Administrative, Data & Team Responsibilities Maintain working knowledge of issues impacting youth experiencing homelessness, including current research, available resources, and street dynamics; support positive youth development through both individual engagement and team-based programming. Complete accurate and timely data entry in HMIS and ETO, maintaining a strong understanding of HMIS data standards and compliance requirements. In collaboration with the Youth Supportive Services team, develop and maintain an electronic referral resource database and contribute to a staff-friendly resource directory that can be easily updated and accessed in the field. Uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct, including confidentiality, professional boundaries, and avoidance of dual relationships. Attend and actively participate in team, agency, and inter-agency meetings, including case consultations, monthly training for The Crib and Youth Outreach Team, case management meetings, and required external training (e.g., AllChicago and RHYTTAC). Assist in representing the program and agency at community events, congregations, public relations efforts, and fundraising activities, as assigned. Meet regularly with supervisor for supervision, case review, and information sharing. Contribute as a collaborative team member by staffing individual cases and groups and participating in program planning and goal development. In accordance with The Night Ministry’s policies, carry a cell phone while in the field; this position is eligible for either partial reimbursement of a personal cell phone or an agency-issued device. Perform other duties as assigned. This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications required for this position. It is not an exhaustive list, and duties may change as business needs evolve. Reporting to this position: No direct reports. Physical Demands, Work Environment, & Reasonable Accommodation: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The Night Ministry is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job or to participate in the application or hiring process, please contact the People & Culture team. Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; climb stairs; crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally drive an automobile; and lift and/or move 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may vary at the different locations required in this job. This role may require additional hours, sometimes weekends, during certain busy seasons. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement The Night Ministry is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply. At-Will Employment Disclaimer This job description is not intended to be an employment contract. Employment with The Night Ministry is at will and may be terminated by the employee or the organization at any time, with or without cause or notice. Requirements: Essential Skills & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in social services or a related field from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of relevant work and/or lived experience. One to two years of experience working with young people at risk, including outreach, residential services, and/or case management. Ability to meet DCFS requirements, including health clearance and criminal background check. Valid driver’s license, proof of insurability, and ability to operate a 15-foot outreach van. Ability to work outdoors and remain mobile for extended periods (up to six consecutive hours), including nighttime hours and varied Chicago weather conditions; flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends as required. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with excellent organizational, interpersonal, and attention-to-detail skills.

Keywords: Night Ministry, South Bend , Youth Outreach Case Manager, Social Services , Chicago, Indiana