Founded in 1854, Hamline was the first university in Minnesota and among the first coeducational institutions in the nation. Hamline University provides a world-class education for undergraduate and graduate students. Our faculty, staff, and students cultivate an ethic of civic responsibility, social justice, and inclusive leadership and service.

Hamline University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Hamline University does not discriminate on the basis of race; color; religion; creed; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity; gender expression; national origin; marital status; familial status; status with regard to public assistance; membership or activity in a local human rights commission; disability; age; protected veteran status; or any other status protected by applicable law in its education or employment programs or activities. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

JOB SUMMARY

The Basic Needs Program and Case Manager is a full time (40 hours per week) position that will work to decrease barriers for low-income students’ ability to achieve positive academic performance and maintain persistence to obtain their degrees by enhancing their access to nutritious, culturally appropriate foods and other basic needs such as SNAP benefits and emergency grant funding. This position will work to establish a foundation for basic needs resources and a short-term case management system that will be institutionalized as a signature component of Hamline University campus life. Providing the necessary non-academic resources for low-income and underrepresented students, staff, and faculty will create an environment where they are more likely to succeed at Hamline University and move out of poverty. This position is housed in the department of the Wesley Center in the Student Affairs division. This position will office in the Food Resource Center and be the direct supervisor of the part-time Coordinator for the Food Resource Center, a Food For Thought pantry on campus. We seek a compassionate and organized individual (ideally with case management experience) who is highly committed to basic-needs and anti-poverty work and who exhibits an understanding of a diverse community and enjoys the collaborative environment of a small university.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Basic Needs Operations and Case Management

• Through educational programming and short-term case management work with Hamline community members to access safe and affordable housing, food stability options and other basic needs. Connect students to crisis resources and partner with the staff of the McVay Youth Partnership, a Wesley Center afterschool program, to facilitate basic-needs support of the families of McVay youths through deliveries from the Food Resource Center that promotes dignity, minimizes marginalization and stigmatization and closes the educational equity gap for a campus population, increasingly made up of first generation and ethnically and culturally diverse students, staff and faculty.

• Partner with the following offices to identify and provide case management for students who are struggling academically to facilitate student stability during unexpected crises, including mental, health, and family emergencies, housing instability, food instability and finite financial crisis situations:

• Dean of Students Office

• Student Affairs Division

• Financial Aid Office

• Early Alerts Committee

• Center for Academic Achievement and Success (CASA)

• Establish a hunger and basic-needs task force that meets a minimum of three times per academic year and includes a minimum of two currently enrolled students.

• Work with Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress (HUSC), Hamline administration, staff, students and faculty to determine what basic-needs resources are needed across Hamline’s campus and by the families whose youth participate in McVay Youth Partnership through collecting anecdotal evidence, conducting survey(s) and other forms of research.

• Establish functional partnerships with city and county agencies, community and faith-based organizations in order to effectively connect Hamline community members with outside organizations for partnerships, information and drop-in events held in the Food Resource Center space.

• Conduct educational workshops for incoming and first-year students about basic-needs-related topics, such as: navigating the housing market, budgeting, maintaining healthy food security, roommate conflicts, financial literacy, etc.

• Ensure that a culturally diverse lens is being used when completing basic-needs work and that campus programs, outreach materials and communications are sensitive and inclusive of housing, food and financial insecurity by connecting with multicultural student organizations, the Hedgeman Center, the Office of Inclusive Excellence and culturally diverse peers in this field.

• Work with the Wesley Center Communications Team to promote events/education/resources and to create handbooks/materials (online and in print) centered around basic needs and resources and how to navigate them, including governmental, on campus and off campus resources available to low-income individuals.

• Create, maintain and institutionalize a basic needs short-term and acute case management and referral system for Hamline Community members (students, faculty, and staff) and the families of youth who are members of the McVay Youth Partnership. This system should not be set up for long-term case management, but instead, be a system that provides emergency resources and referrals (to campus resources, government services, and trusted community-based partners) and connects those who need it to longer-term case management and care (ex. to social work, counseling, health, or other basic needs long-term services). Minimally, this system would include an intake, action plan, referral, follow up and a “warm” handoff process. In terms of record keeping responsibilities will include the development of an intake form, action plan, note taking on meetings and recommendations and maintenance of then follow up check-in notes.

• Through this new Basic Needs Case Management System, you will assess community members’ situations, help identify on-campus resources, work through problem solving, provide support, create an action plan, manage short-term and crisis interventions, including all student emergency grant funding, SNAP and MFIP applications, and referrals to long-term social and/or counseling services, and other basic needs support and provide follow-up.

• Write/manage grants and manage basic needs budgets.

Operations of Food Resource Center

• Oversee the Operations of the Food Resource Center.

• Work with the Coordinator of the Food Resource Center to supervise 10 - 20 student workers, interns, and volunteers. This includes: making schedules, interviewing and hiring, completing intern paperwork and meeting requirements and mentoring all workers at the Food Resource Center.

• Work with the Coordinator of the Food Resource Center, student workers and interns to hold or participate in one hunger awareness event per academic year.

• Collaborate with and maintain on campus and off campus relationships.

• Track data through Pantry Saver and stay in compliance with TEFAP and partner guidelines.

• Write grants and expand funding as applicable including applying for and maintaining Hunger Free Campus designation from The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE).

• 5-10 hours/week of direct service in the Food Resource Center and/or as needed, including working the front desk, putting away deliveries, cleaning and any other tasks as needed.

Wesley Center Responsibilities

• Weekly one-on-one supervision meetings.

• Monthly meetings of the executive committee of the McVay Advisory Board.

• Weekly staff meetings, staff retreats, student worker training and annual awards events.

• Share in development of learning outcomes, assessment and evaluation.

• Develop and maintain relationships with Wesley Center alumni tied to the Basic Needs and Food Resource Center and any other appropriate areas of campus involvement.

Students Affairs and Campus Responsibilities

• Participate in All-Staff, Diversity and Professional Development meetings.

• Participate in events such as Graduation and Honors Day (as available).

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• This position reports to the University Chaplain and Director of the Wesley Center.

• This position is the direct report for the Coordinator of the Food Resource Center.

BUDGET MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is responsible for the following budgets:

• Basic Needs Agency, Emergency Grant Gift Fund, Emergency Grant Fund, HUSC Food Resource Agency and the Food Resource Center Restricted Gift Fund

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND KEY COMPETENCIES

• Experienced understanding of poverty, food access and/or basic-needs work.

• Experience (personal or professional) and sensitivity working with people from diverse and intersectional backgrounds.

• Experience in case management and/or social work.

• Experience maintaining privacy and being judicious about sharing information only with collaborating professionals who need to know.

• Experience working in and building teams, mentoring/empowering students and collaborating with others from different offices and departments.

• Experience in crisis management, working with trauma and skills for connecting individuals to on- and off-campus mental health resources.

• Experience writing/managing grants and managing budgets.

• Willingness and desire to continually learn about poverty and the intersection of poverty and other identities.

• Outstanding ability to multi-task and adapt to changing priorities and tasks.

• Demonstrated strong attention to detail.

• Excellent presentation, written and verbal communication skills.

• Proven ability to work under stress and tight deadlines.

• Outstanding organizational and planning skills.

MINIMUM EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/EXPECTATIONS

• Master’s degree in social work, social service, public health, psychology or related field from an accredited university or college or 3-6 years of related experience.

• Working knowledge of Google Suite.

• Experience training and/or supervising staff and/or student workers and/or interns.

PREFERRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/EXPECTATIONS

• Masters in Social Work, Social Service, or other related fields.

• Experience working in higher education.

• Experience supervising staff and/or student workers/interns.

• Experience working or being in community with low-income populations.

• Experience working with families and youth around basic needs.

• Basic understanding of poverty, food access and basic needs work in higher education spaces.

• People with lived experience of poverty are highly encouraged to apply.

WORKING CONDITIONS / EQUIPMENT

Must perform the following essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• Must be able to work on a computer for extended periods of time.

• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This is a full time, 40-hour per week, 12-month, exempt (1.0 FTE) position.

• Given the nature of our work, hours may vary slightly on occasion. During peak time periods (beginning of semester, major events, etc.) hours may be longer but flexibility during slower times will be provided.

• Some local travel required for off campus events and collaborations with community partners and the McVay Youth Partnership.

• Occasional evening and weekend events required for programming and outreach events.

EEO/DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Hamline University does not discriminate on the basis of race; color; religion; creed; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity; gender expression; national origin; marital status; familial status; status with regard to public assistance; membership or activity in a local commission; disability; age; or protected veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.

All questions marked ‘Required’ need to be answered in order to submit the application. It is important that your application show all of the relevant education and experience you possess. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. If rejected, you must reapply for the position in order to be considered. A resume or curriculum vitae, a cover letter outlining your qualifications for and interest in the position, contact information for 3 current, professional references, as well as copies of transcripts (if required) must be uploaded with each application .