This role requires Spanish fluency.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The IRC’s Home Study and Post-Release Services (HSPRS) for unaccompanied children in the U.S. is growing from six current IRC offices to more than 17 offices throughout the US. This is a national, multi-million-dollar project with ambitious delivery goals in a short time frame. This position is part of an anticipated 36-month contract.

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The goals of the Home-Study Post Release Services Program (HS/PRS) are to:

• Assess the safety and suitability of a sponsor before an unaccompanied child is released from custody into a sponsor’s care (Home Study)
• Provide case management support via remote and / or conducting in-home visits to ensure the continued safety and stability of children in sponsor’s homes and linking children to resources in the community (Post Release Services).

The Crisis Case Manager (Level 3) conducts Home Studies to determine a potential sponsor’s ability to meet an unaccompanied child’s needs upon release from ORR custody, and Post Release Services which help unaccompanied children and sponsors meet their presenting needs. The Crisis Case Manager (Level 3) focuses on children with specific challenges or circumstances and provides intensive services to ensure the safety and stability of the child and family. This includes developing service plans that address needs utilizing a range of financial, medical, social, vocational, and other services and resources based on client eligibility, and utilizing interventions tailored to the needs of the family and child.

Major Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Initial in-home assessment with child and sponsors followed by weekly in-person contacts for the first 45-60 calendar days, depending on the presenting need(s) of the released child and sponsor family. As needs stabilize, services can be conducted remotely with monthly in-person visits throughout the remainder of the case.
• Develop individualized service plan that guides the provision of high quality, trauma-informed case management services.
• Conduct a comprehensive assessment to provide a recommendation for the purpose of reunifying children with their potential sponsors, including conducting interviews with shelter case managers, clinicians, the minor, sponsor, and all household members. This includes completing an in-person home visit and documenting findings in a comprehensive report within 10 days of referral.
• Continually assess ongoing changes in behavior and general conditions that could impact the safety, wellbeing, and success of children
• Provide crisis intervention support when necessary, including involving Child Protective Services, law enforcement and other local stakeholders.
• Serve in the lead role on a case if there are current suicidal attempts, safety concerns, or current trafficking concerns or play a supportive role to the Level 2 Case Manager when the minor is not in a crisis.
• Provide referral and connection to: Legal services; Education and English language classes; Medical care and behavioral healthcare; Placement stability and safety services; Assistance with immigration proceedings; Assistance with guardianship proceedings; Family stabilization/counseling; Substance abuse treatment; Gang prevention services; Youth programming (such as youth mentoring, tutoring, afterschool and vocation programs, sports clubs, or other extracurricular clubs, etc.); Services related to cultural heritage and other traditions; and Integration and independence support as appropriate.
• Provide timely documentation of all check-ins, in-home visits, referrals and referral outcomes, and progress and outcomes in case file.
• Build and maintain relationships with community services providers in relevant areas.
• Maintain accurate records in electronic case files and required databases.
• Submit required reports and documentation in a timely manner.
• Use a child centered, developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed approach to address the needs and concerns of children and sponsors.
• Maintain a strong understanding of trauma-informed principles and approaches, protection and safeguarding, and mandatory reporting.
• Ensure the confidentiality of children and their cases.

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Job Requirements include but are not limited to:

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or other relevant behavioral science in which direct clinical experience is a program requirement.
• Written and verbal fluency in Spanish and English
• Minimum of two years’ experience providing case management, including conducting intakes and assessments, developing service plans, and documenting services through case documentation. Minimum one year of professional experience working with children, family reunification/ preservation, kinship care, foster care, child welfare, conducting home studies, or related child protection work
• Proven ability to manage complex client situations centering client safety and child protection principles.
• Experience working with immigrant populations. Experience working with unaccompanied minors in the post release services field is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of local community social services and navigating the social service system.
• Demonstrated success working effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the ability to prioritize duties and manage time effectively.
• Ability to travel up to 70% of the time up to 200 miles. Often nights and weekends. May need to do a rotation of being “on call” at a regular interval.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook), Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other platforms
• Must be cleared and approved by Office of Refugee Resettlement and background check including FBI fingerprints and Child Abuse and Neglect checks required upon hire (initiated by IRC after acceptance of the position).

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24