Public Benefits Coordinator - Fitchburg

Job Description

SHERIFF'S OFFICE OF WORCESTER COUNTY

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION: PUBLIC BENEFITS COORDINATOR (M-F) Fitchburg Community Justice Support Center

BARGAINING UNIT: CONFIDENTIAL

SALARY: $53,560

1. GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Public Benefits Coordinator (PBC) will be part of the multi-disciplinary team at the Community Justice Support Center (Support Center). Support Centers provide treatment, education, career counseling, and case management support to people that are justice-involved as an alternative to jail and prison. The PBC will be the Support Center subject matter expert on accessing public benefits such as Mass Health, SNAP, emergency and short-term housing, SSI or SSDI, and all other state or federal benefits for which Support Center clients may be eligible. By ensuring that clients are engaged with appropriate public benefits to address emerging needs the PBC will help clients become more responsive to treatment, education, and employment services delivered by Support Center staff as part of a treatment plan.

II. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:[1]

1. Conduct intake interviews with Support Center clients to ascertain essential needs such as housing, food, healthcare, and personal finance.

2. Receive information from staff and actuarial risk/needs assessment tools to assist in determining client essential needs.

3. Within a Counselor Designated Organization (CDO), (By example, the CDO is Baystate Community Services Inc or Old Colony YMCA) be a Certified Application Coordinator to submit electronic benefits applications to MassHealth.

4. Under the auspices of the vendor organization, access DTA Connect to submit electronic benefits applications to SNAP for the client.

5. Have a mastery of eligibility requirements for SSI and SSDI and support eligible clients in their application for SSI or SSDI benefits.

6. Have a mastery of eligibility requirements for veterans benefits and support eligible clients in their application for such benefits.

7. Engage in continuing outreach to develop the latest information about benefits programs.

8. Engage in community outreach, as needed, to develop leads on benefit programs, whether public or private, to address unmet essential needs of clients.

9. Cross-train in actuarial assessment tools for risk/need, treatment planning, and contingency management protocols as needed.

[1] The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Qualifications

III. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

Education and Experience :

1. Education: Bachelor's degree

2. Experience: 1 year of experience engaging in case management activities such as enrolling customers in public benefits programs.

3. Skills: Mastery of basic technology including MS Office: Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.

B. Special Requirements :

None.

D. Physical Qualification s :

• Minimal physical effort demanded when performing functions under typical clinical setting.
• Frequently required to sit, talk and hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

IV. JOB ENVIRONMENT :

Clinical office setting within the community and jail/prison setting.

V. SUPERVISION RECEIVED :

Direct supervision by Program Monitor of the Fitchburg CJSC.

VI. SUPERVISION EXERCISED :

None.