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Youth Program Specialist
Dallas, TX
Job Description
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees delivers lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Scope of work:
The Youth Program Specialist will serve as the central point of contact for youth and provide support services including access to tools and opportunities youth need to grow in their academics, regulate emotions, maintain positive cultural identity, and expand their social circles. The Youth Program Specialist will visit refugee youth in their homes (including during evening hours three times a week throughout the academic school year) to guide youth and empower them to thrive in their new setting. Under the direction of the Youth Program Supervisor, the Youth Program Specialist will carry out intake assessments, service planning, ongoing case management, and advocacy. The Education and Learning Department serves between 300-400 youth annually.
Major Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to
- Visit a caseload of 12-15 clients regularly in their homes (between 5:00-7:30 PM during the academic year for clients in high school and during regular business hours in the summer) to provide mentoring, advocacy and case management services as necessary.
- Assist the Youth Program Specialist with client outreach, recruitment, and enrollment.
Client Services
- Conduct client assessments in order to set a baseline for growth and a starting point for service provision.
- Establish an individualized service plan with each client on caseload; provide mentoring, guidance, and psychosocial support to aid clients in reaching goals in their service plans.
- Facilitate caregiver involvement in minor clients' education through phone calls, home visits, and other mechanisms, including teaching caregivers how to access their parent portals, attending Parent/Teacher conferences.
- Screen clients for emotional distress and mental health; submit referrals to the Mental Health Department.
- Facilitate activities with clients to teach positive coping mechanisms.
- Track grades and attendance, advocate for and connect high school clients to relevant resources such as counselors, coaches, tutoring programs and extra-curricular activities.
- Collaborate with external organizations and internal departments to connect families to additional resources as necessary (food security, extended case management, immigration, etc) through referrals.
- Occasionally provide homework assistance or English tutoring to help clients succeed with their schoolwork.
- Secure interpretation to provide services and information in the client's language; Work with interpreters during client appointments.
- Drive clients to occasional appointments and program activities as necessary.
Compliance Documentation
- Monitor and track clients' progress from one grade level to the next as well as immigration status and age.
- Ensure required intake documents, assessments and service plans are fully completed and updated as appropriate.
- Maintain comprehensive case notes, update case files, and regularly update service plans to respond to clients' needs.
- Team/Office Participation
- Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and other duties as assigned.
- Work as part of a team to provide comprehensive strength-based services to IRC clients through coordination of cases and effective communication between team members and departments.
- Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the agency, placing importance on client confidentiality.
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Youth Program Coordinator
Position directly supervises: N/A
Other Internal and/or external contacts: Dallas Education and Learning Manager, Youth Program Supervisor, HQ Youth and Education Technical Adviser
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in social work, education, or related field of study is preferred, or related job experience.
- Well organized self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills and the proven ability to prioritize duties and manage time effectively.
- Strong written and oral and interpersonal communication skills: the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and partners in a cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment.
- Fluent in English, both spoken and written; Bilingual in a client language (Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Spanish, Swahili) is a plus but not required.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook);
- Valid driver's license, access to reliable vehicle with current insurance, and the ability to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area (home visits, service provider visits, etc).
Working Environment:
- Professional office environment;
- Regular travel to off-site home visits (including evenings and occasional Saturdays);
Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12-month time period.
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Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.
Job Summary
Company
Start Date
As soon as possible
Employment Term and Type
Regular, Full Time
Required Education
High School or Equivalent
Required Experience
Open
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