Reports to: Head of ECM Operations
Location: Santa Barbara, CA (Hybrid: Courthouse-based + Remote)
Compensation: Hourly $25-30/hr Based on Experience
About the Opportunity
Sunlight Health is building a team of deeply passionate individuals ready to transform care delivery for families who need it most. We are looking for a highly motivated full-time Lead Care Manager who is willing to think creatively and empathically to help our team change the way families involved in the child welfare system access healthcare.
We seek a full-time Lead Care Manager to play a critical role in our whole-person, family-centered, interdisciplinary care model. You will be responsible for directly outreaching and engaging with families involved in the child welfare and justice systems — including youth in foster care, parents working toward reunification, caregivers, and family members navigating complex health and social needs. We believe in the power of trust and relationships to successfully engage those who may have never received the kind of whole-family care that Sunlight Health can provide.
This position requires regular in-person presence at courthouse locations to meet with families face-to-face, especially during initial referrals and comprehensive assessments. Building trust with families involved in the child welfare system happens through consistent, in-person engagement at critical touchpoints. You can expect to be at courthouse locations multiple times per week, with additional remote work for care coordination, documentation, and follow-up. This is a hybrid role with significant courthouse-based responsibilities.
We strongly value lived experience with the child welfare or foster care system. If you have personal experience navigating these systems — whether as a youth in care, a parent involved with DCFS, a kinship caregiver, or a family member supporting someone through dependency court — we want to hear from you, even if you don't meet every qualification listed below. Your perspective and insights are invaluable to our mission.
What You'll Do
- Maintain ongoing caseload of families through the utilization of evidence-based approaches to promote engagement and achievement of health goals
- Use relationship-based and trauma-informed strategies to support families with healthcare navigation, social support coordination, and addressing barriers — understanding that many families involved in child welfare have lived experiences causing them to be initially hesitant or distrusting of systems
- Conduct periodic telephonic and SMS outreach to ensure timely follow-up with family members
- Work with families to identify health and wellness goals, incorporating them into family-centered Care Plans aligned with CalAIM ECM requirements
- Support clinical team members (nurse care managers, behavioral health specialists, medical providers) with care coordination and delegated tasks
- Collaborate on care issues with Enhanced Care Management team by participating in systematic case reviews and consulting with supervising clinical staff before taking clinical actions
- Consistently meet monthly encounter and documentation metrics to ensure compliance with health plan regulations (LA Care, HealthNet, Molina)
- Identify and break down barriers ensuring families' continuation with the program and successful navigation of child welfare proceedings
- Assist families in securing connections to community supports by scheduling appointments, managing referrals, and ensuring timely follow-ups across physical health, behavioral health, substance use treatment, housing, and family stabilization services
- Coordinate care management appointments through collaboration with external and internal providers, child welfare social workers, legal advocates, and court personnel
- Utilize care management platform and internal collaboration tools to document encounters, track care plans, and coordinate with team members
- Conduct face-to-face meetings with families at courthouse locations, particularly for initial referrals and comprehensive assessments, to establish trust and rapport
- Meet families in courthouse, community, and home settings throughout the care journey
What You'll Need
- 2+ years of case management or care coordination experience (experience with child welfare, justice-involved populations, or family-serving programs strongly preferred)
- You are physically located in Santa Barbara, California
- Reliable transportation for regular engagement at courthouse, community-based organization, and partner locations multiple times per week
- A quiet, HIPAA-compliant and internet-connected home workspace for remote work
- High degree of empathy and cultural humility
- Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to remain patient and professional when faced with adversity or complex family dynamics
- Strong technical skills and comfort with technology innovation, including experience with CRM databases, care management platforms, basic Excel, Word, email, and video conferencing
- A valid California driver's license and auto liability insurance
Preferred Qualifications
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) — highly valued given the population we serve
- Professional experience working closely with families involved in child welfare, foster care, dependency court, or justice systems
- Experience with Enhanced Care Management (ECM) or CalAIM programs
- Experience with motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care approaches, or family systems theory
- Knowledge of medical terminology and behavioral health conditions
- Understanding of child welfare system processes (DCFS, dependency court, reunification services)
- Detail-oriented and organized self-starter who excels at multitasking
- Reliable and comfortable in an ever-changing startup environment
- Zest for problem-solving, seeking answers, and thinking outside the box
Because We Value You
- Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance
- 401(k)
- Mileage reimbursements for your on-site engagement days
- Flexible vacation policy — take the time you need to recharge
- We provide all of the equipment needed for the role
- Opportunity for rapid career progression with plenty of room for personal growth in a fast-scaling organization
- Work directly with families at critical moments in their lives, making a measurable impact on reunification and health outcomes