Our History
In 1879, Father Bernard Donnelly established Mount St. Bernard’s Orphanage in Kansas City. With that one act of faith, hope and charity, many lives — and a community — were transformed.
And, from that humble beginning a strong tradition of compassionate care and social service took root, thrived, and grew to become Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
Catholic Charities empowers at risk people to create a pathway out of poverty by alleviating their immediate crises to create stability; then providing robust support to lift them to dignity and self-reliance.
Today, millions of lives have been transformed, in the communities we serve. We have office locations in the Kansas City metro-area, St. Joseph, Missouri, a Food Pantry in Kansas City Missouri, while serving a 27-county region.
Our Culture/Mission Characteristics
While performing job duties, staff will:
- Follow the Catholic Social Teachings in all aspects while performing job duties.
- Work collaboratively to achieve goals and resolve conflict to achieve the greater good.
- Respect the diversity of talents and gifts of others and believe in cultivating those to promote personal and professional development.
- Demonstrate compassion and commitment for helping others improve their own lives.
- Adheres to our values of Hope/Faith, Trust, Commitment, Collaboration.
Mission
Helping people move to a better life through hope-filled care, services, and advocacy; calling all those of goodwill to join us.
Vision
By lifting people in need to the dignity of self-reliance, and encouraging others to help, our communities will become one human family.
Values
Hope/Faith, Trust, Commitment, Collaboration
Benefits
This position is eligible for a comprehensive employee benefits program, including medical, dental and vision plans, STD/LTD fully paid by the employer, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match of employer contributions up to 5% of their annual pay, paid time off including vacation/sick leave accrual, 10 holidays each year, and much more! Our office hours are Monday - Thursday, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm and our offices are closed on Friday - giving you a three-day weekend in most situations!
Position Objective
The Resource Specialist will provide advice, support, financial assistance, and internal/external resources to households in our service area. The Resource Specialist will utilize the Client Centric Service Model to address the needs and barriers of clients, and to encourage self-sufficiency.
Responsibilities
- Acquire and maintain in-depth knowledge of area community resources specific to housing, transportation, rent and utility assistance, mental health, physical health, food, employment, and substance abuse needs, in addition to various client needs which may arise.
- Acquire and maintain in-depth knowledge of internal programming and resources, including eligibility criteria for each program.
- Build relationships with local business partners for emergency assistance resources.
- Develop comprehensive resource list for individual and agency use.
- Develop partnerships with other community agencies and organizations to maximize available resources in meeting the emergency assistance needs in the community.
- Maintain and update resource list on a monthly basis.
- Provide short term, same day service coordination for individuals seeking support from Catholic Charities.
- Maintain budget and track expenditures.
- Track data and complete reports as required.
- Attend program meetings weekly regarding agency policies, services, and updates.
- Provide short term, immediate needs assistance for individuals currently engaged in Catholic Charities programming who have encountered a need the program cannot properly address.
- Develop ongoing professional relationships with current and potential agency referral sources.
- Assist in the training of new staff and volunteers regarding Resource Solutions.
- Represent and interpret the mission and the work of the agency to the community.
- In conjunction with other staff members, identify and implement actions to improve processes to ensure quality services are offered.
- Assist with Catholic Charities Marketing department opportunities for media to promote success stories.
- Meet with community agencies and organizations on a pre-determined basis to determine emergency assistance needs.
- Represents the work of the Agency in a positive manner to community partners.
- Provide assistance with disaster case management.
- Greet each person who comes to the agency in a professional manner.
- Provide quality experience for everyone served.
- Receive service inquiries from the community by phone, email, or walk-ins.
- Conduct screening and assessment of needs for individuals/families that contact Catholic Charities.
- Return telephone calls and emails within 24-48 hours of receipt.
- Facilitate client connections to Catholic Charities programs and provide information and referrals to community resources.
- Connect clients to volunteer mentors where appropriate and possible.
- Participates in annual Second Collection initiative.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or human service-related field from an accredited institution or program required. Candidates with no degree may be considered if they have 5 or more years of relevant experience.
• A minimum of two years’ experience in direct services or case management and/or substantial knowledge of area social services resources.
I understand that as an employee of Catholic Charities I am expected to perform job duties in alignment with the items listed below:
- Follows the Catholic Social Teachings in all aspects while performing job duties.
- Works collaboratively to achieve goals and resolves conflict to achieve the greater good.
- Respect for the diversity of talents and gifts of others and belief in cultivating those to promote personal and professional development.
- Demonstrate compassion and commitment for helping others improve their lives.
- Adheres to our values of Hope/Faith, Trust, Commitment, Collaboration.
