Youth School Age Specialist

IRC Organizational Background: 

The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors and local volunteers to help refugees, asylees and those with Special Immigrant Visas translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities. In Denver and other offices across the country, the IRC helps refugees and asylees to rebuild their lives through services and programs that assist with initial resettlement through longer-term integration. Presently, these services are case management, employment services, psychosocial support, family stabilization, health coordination, health insurance literacy, family reunification and programs for children and youth. The Denver office also has a legal services program to provide pro bono legal representation to survivors of torture, as well as direct legal services for family-based immigration.

Job Overview: This position is responsible for providing direct service support for initial school enrollment, re-enrollment or registration support through one-on-one support for ORR eligible clients. This position will maintain and create school partnerships with district and school personnel involved in school enrollment and navigation, as well as in-school academic or integration support services. This During the initial enrollment, this position will facilitate school orientation sessions at the IRC or at client homes providing family and caregiver information sessions to better prepare students and families for school is USA expectations. During the summer breaks, the position will support with school-aged summer school enrollment, IRC Youth Summer programs, and Back to School events.

Major Responsibilities: Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Educational Access & Family Engagement Casework

• Receive and respond to referrals from IRC staff and school partners for families interested in the IRC in Denver youth program. 
• Conduct intake and assessment of family and student support needs as well as School Orientations.
• Engage parents in parent and family events put on by the schools or districts.
• Advocate and collaborate with school staff to meet the best interests and needs of clients’ family and students, as well as meeting parental rights to language justice.  
• Support navigation and services for Special Education services, and McKinney Vento.
• Using interpretation services, conduct family outreach and provide systems navigation and support to improve families’ connections to the community. 
• Support enrollment of students into summer school opportunities, and afterschool program opportunities.

Youth Program Support

• Support the implementation of IRC’s youth programming during summer and school breaks.
• Co-Facilitate parent engagement programs to encourage parent and caregiver integration in school and community.
• Help complete necessary reporting on program activities and accomplishments. 
• Supervise volunteers and interns within IRC in Denver’s youth programs as needed.
• Participate in all youth program meetings and staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the IRC team.
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the agency.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 1 year of related professional experience such as youth case management, family engagement, school systems, or youth development preferred.
• Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations; cross-cultural or overseas experience.
• Experience engaging with English Language Learners preferred.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

• Superb organizational, planning, time and task management, and logistical skills.
• Strong decision-making capabilities, with solid judgement and ethics consistent with the IRC Way. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), interpretation applications, and client files and Casenote database.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to work well with people of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, with varying literacy and English proficiency levels.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team. 
• Ability to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in the context of a diverse, fast-paced work environment.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in language(s) of current refugee populations a plus but not required (Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Ukrainian, Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Rohingya, Sudanese Arabic etc.).
• Willingness to obtain First Aid & CPR.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and current auto insurance that meets the IRC requirements for drivers on staff.
• Must be comfortable driving clients in personal vehicle or 12 passenger van.

Working Environment: 

• The majority of time in community-based locations and client homes to perform the above responsibilities in the service area.
• Approximately 37.5 hours per week.

Compensation: 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.