Options Counselor and Enrollment Specialist

Typical starting pay: $24-$25/hr

About the role

The Options Counselor and Enrollment Specialist serves as a central source of reliable and objective information about a broad range of programs and services for older adults or people with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities. This role helps individuals understand and evaluate their options, find community resources, and make informed decisions about long-term care to maintain self-sufficiency and delay or prevent costly care needs. The position also provides assessment and enrollment counseling for publicly funded long-term care programs, including Family Care and IRIS.

Responsibilities

• Provide information and assistance by listening to consumers, assessing their needs, and connecting them with service providers or relevant information.
• Assist consumers in-person (at home or the ADRC office), over the phone, via email, or through written correspondence.
• Maintain knowledge of community services, including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, SSI, SSI-E, SSDI, FoodShare, public health services, and Older Americans Act services.
• Identify preventable causes of disability and institutionalization, recognize risk factors, and refer individuals to appropriate prevention and early intervention services.
• Understand and apply the Department of Health Services Dementia Care Guiding Principles in ADRC services.
• Use resource and client tracking databases to search for services, retrieve information, and document customer contacts.
• Provide follow-up as required by policy and document follow-up contacts and activities.
• Counsel individuals on long-term care options and factors to consider in decision-making.
• Maintain certification to administer the Long-Term Care Functional Screen and provide Option Counselor services.
• Inform consumers about their rights and the complaint, grievance, and appeal processes.
• Provide short-term case coordination as outlined in ADRC policy.
• Assist residents wishing to relocate from nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or other care settings.
• Ensure consumers requesting long-term care and potentially eligible for publicly funded services are informed and assisted in accessing these services.
• Complete all other assigned duties and responsibilities.

Requirements

• A Bachelor of Arts or Science degree (preferably in a health or human services-related field) or a Wisconsin license to practice as a registered nurse.
• At least one year of full-time equivalent experience in a health or human service field working with elderly individuals or adults with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities. Qualifying experience may include paid or unpaid work, internships, field placements, or volunteer work.
• Valid Wisconsin driver’s license.
• Prompt and regular attendance.

Skills

• Knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to deliver concise oral and written reports.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with other agencies.
• Knowledge of Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and Marketplace benefits.
• Core cultural competencies.

Pay

$24-$25/hr (starting range). Placement within the range depends on education, experience, internal equity, and market demands. Certain roles may be eligible for an incentive plan, though participation does not guarantee payment.

Benefits

The position offers a competitive benefits package, which may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Paid time off (PTO).

Specific benefits vary based on factors such as full-time or part-time status, contract type, and job category.