SOAR SPECIALIST, CCMTP

The SOAR Specialist is a member of the Transition Team under the Comprehensive Class Member Transition Program (CCMTP) as a part of the Illinois Williams and Colbert Consent Decrees. The SOAR specialist reports to the CCMTP Team Leader.

The CCMTP Transition Team works with Williams and Colbert Class Members to support safe transitions from institutional settings, such as nursing facilities and Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Facilities (SMHRFs), to living in the community in less restrictive environments with Thresholds support services in place. The Transition Team collaborates with the CCMTP interdisciplinary team to identify strategies to support Class Members in identifying personal goals to live in a more independent setting in the community. The Transition Team provides strong advocacy for Class Members and support linkage to needed community services and housing resources. The Transition Team provides class member ‐centered, strengths‐based, and trauma‐informed services to Class Members with mental illness, co‐occurring substance use disorders and physical health concerns, utilizing a harm reduction approach. 

The SOAR specialist is a critical part of the CCMTP Program and Transition Team with the primary focus being supporting class members to secure Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) through the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) program. The SOAR specialist gathers relevant data and facilitates, navigates and supports class members in the process of securing SSI/SSDI to ensure financial resources are in place to support a safe transition into the community. The SOAR Specialist will provide assertive outreach, obtain class member medical records, manage communication with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Determination Services (DDS), provide a detailed narrative, and obtain a co‐signature from medical providers. The SOAR Specialist will be SOAR trained and work with Williams and Colbert Class Members to obtain benefits to support transition from institutional living to a less restrictive community setting while building a therapeutic relationship and remaining on top of documentation, reporting and deadlines.

ESSTENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Complete online training for SOAR and successfully receive their SOAR certification within 40 days of hires.
Serves as the primary contact with collateral resources, funders, stakeholders, agencies, bureaucracies and families to assist with the members’ SOAR goals and needs.
Conducts assessments with referred class member s to determine eligibility for SOAR and initiate paperwork with class member s by filing initial documentation of representation with Social Security Administration office.
Assesses class member’s personal, medical, emotional, social, and environmental situation through facility, community, and office visits.
Completes interviews with participants to gather information to complete SSI/SSDI applications
Conceptualizes a class member’s case to advocate for disability benefits and remain organized and timely during the filing process.
Coordinates case management services with partners and help with providing case management services to participants when needed
Gathers medical records and other information to complete SSI/SSDI applications using the SOAR method.
Writes SOAR Medical Summary Reports for consumer applications.
Coordinates visits to SSA, medical doctors, psychiatrists, and other specialists to obtain evidence for case and accompany class member to these appointments to advocate and provide basic supports.
Advocates and assists with problem solving/resolution in navigating the SSA system
Provides community support, engagement activities, transition linkage, case management and other services as need to support Class Members in addressing transition needs.
Provides brief interventions using evidence based psychosocial treatments, (CBT, MI) as clinically indicated..
Attends all transition related meetings, agency‐wide meetings, CCMTP team meetings, treatment team and other meetings as assigned.
Completes IM+CANS training and certification within 90 days of hire and complete needed annual re‐certifications to maintain valid certification.
Completes accurate and detailed mental health assessments/other documentation based on timelines (i.e. IM CANS, Level of Care Utilization System or LOCUS) as required.
Maintains the quality, validity and confidentiality of personal health information and individual case records according to HIPAA, privacy practices and Thresholds standards.  Completes Medicaid compliant service notes.
Meets required productivity targets and completes all documentation within assigned time frames.
Perform other related duties and/or projects as assigned

MARGINAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provides back up to all transition related services and activities being conducted by the Transition Team.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree required to meet rule 132 requirements for a Mental Health Professional (MHP).

EXPERIENCE:

Experience at working both independently and in a team‐oriented, collaborative environment.
Demonstrated proficiency in the use of e‐mail, data reporting, record keeping and MS Office applications.

SKILLS / CERTIFCATIONS:

Current and valid Driver’s License required.
Daily access to a personal vehicle is required for the program.
Must obtain and maintain $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 liability insurance coverage. Subject to validation every 6 months. Must be 23 years of age and must meet all insurance carrier’s requirements. Subject to annual Department of Motor Vehicles license verification.
The SOAR Specialist must complete online training for SOAR and successfully receive their SOAR certification within 40 days of hire.

WHAT WE OFFER:

Competitive Pay: $22.75 - $27.16 per hour / $47,320 - $56,500 annually
Generous PTO (9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, 15-22 days personal and vacation)
Dental insurance, vision insurance, choice of 4 medical insurance plans
403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match 
Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
Mileage reimbursement 
Cell phone reimbursement (up to $50/month)
Public service loan forgiveness 
Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC) 
Reimbursement for professional licensure and license renewal

Thresholds jobs

SOAR Specialist, CCMTP