What are the responsibilities and job description for the Americorps Workforce Development Specialist position at CASA de Maryland Inc?
Position Name : " AmeriCorps Member-Workforce Development "
Number of individual AmeriCorps members serving in this position : The Program aims to recruit 3(three) full-time and 4 (four) part-time AmeriCorps members, 2 (two)Three Quarter time and 1 (one) Reduce time to focus on community economic development.
Member Immediate Supervisor Name :
The Site Supervisor will provide day-to-day supervision and evaluate the AmeriCorps member's performance according to the Program policies and procedures. The immediate site supervisor will be the Pennsylvania Workforce and Education Manager Monica Luna 717-3018060 mluna@wearecasa.org
CASA's Pennsylvania Immigration Integration Manager Sara Salazar is the AmeriCorps's grant manager, she can be reached at 717-2197678 or by email ssalazar@wearecasa.org
Position Start Date :
The Program launch will be on Monday, September 3th 2024. If there is any position available after that day, members may start as agreed with the AmeriCorps's grant Manager and Site Supervisors. The real start date for each individual will be identified on the individual Service Agreement.
Position End Date : August 15th, 2025
Days / Hours of Service
Full-time 1700 hours : AmeriCorps members will serve at least 40 hours per week.
Three-Quarter 1200 hours : AmeriCorps members will serve at least 25 per week.
Part-time 900 hours : AmeriCorps members will serve 20 hours per week.
Reduce Halftime 675 hours : AmeriCorps members will serve 15 hours per week.
Regular service time will occur Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Some evening and weekend service is required.
Individual schedules are agreed upon by the AmeriCorps member, the AmeriCorps's Grant Manager and Site Supervisor at the beginning of the program. The schedule may be changed upon agreement, based on the program or member's need
Host Sites. Locations :
Members may be asked to serve at any of the following locations : CASA York : 225 E Princess St York, PA 17403
CASA Lancaster Welcome Center : 315 W James St Lancaster, PA 17603 CASA York Welcome Center : 907 Roosevelt Ave York, PA 17404
The main service location for each member will be identified on the individual Service Agreement.
If due to COVID-19 CASA should close its offices, members will be allowed to continue service on virtual mode for the time of the closure.
CASA's Mission and goals.
CASA's Mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in low-income immigrant communities.
CASA's Vision is a future with diverse and thriving communities living free from discrimination and fear, working together with mutual respect to achieve full human rights for all.
Project Mission and Goals : The program is focused on providing immigrant integration services, with an emphasis on developing participants' financial capabilities, job readiness and youth education and supporting eligible Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) to apply for US citizenship. The project is coordinated by CASA and funded in part by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and PennSERVE.
The program aims to provide financial education services to 500 economically disadvantaged people during the program year. Of them, at least 400 should show improvement in their skills, knowledge, and confidence. The program utilizes surveys to track these goals. The program also aims to serve 400 economically disadvantaged individuals on employment advancement training and 320 individuals receiving job placement services.
Other goals related to naturalization efforts may be set at the beginning of the Service.
Community Need :
South central Pennsylvania has one of the fastest growing Latino populations in the state, including a mix of Puerto Rican, Mexican, and other Latino immigrants. Indeed, York County's Hispanic population has experienced a 155% increase from 2000 to 2014, and Lancaster County's Hispanic population has grown from 15,639 in 1990, to 26,742 in 2000, and is now at 52,299 (a 96% increase from 2000 to 2014). This population growth is largely due to secondary migration from nearby metropolitan areas (New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia), and from the birth of second-generation immigrant children. The region is also expected to receive an influx of Puerto Ricans displaced by the recent hurricane. Many families are mixed-status families, and the overall population is younger than the average population in the area.
The needs of Latino families in the south central Pennsylvania region are significant. A few years ago, when a wave of York area immigrant residents who commuted to Baltimore for work or to access services came to CASA's Baltimore Center, they spoke with CASA staff about the growing Latino community in York, and the high demand for an organization like CASA. We then began our more formal work in the region. CASA conducted a preliminary needs assessment of low-income immigrant residents, doing a combination of door-to-door outreach and meeting with existing service providers and local government agencies to learn more. When asked to assess the obstacles they faced to improving their economic conditions, 69% of survey respondents cited linguistic and cultural barriers. Financial management, legal issues and lack of appropriate skills training for available jobs were also all reasons cited as obstacles by over 50% of the population surveyed. CASA identified an overwhelming need for legal services, as well as bilingual financial literacy and workforce development services. While some quality services were being provided, many were not linguistically and culturally accessible to the growing Latino population, and most survey respondents were unaware of them.
The focus of CASA's AmeriCorps program will be on those immigrants who are Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) and are eligible to become citizens, as well as on Latinos who are already citizens, including both naturalized citizens and newly resettled Latinos from Puerto Rico. Based on initial research that correlates with research across the country, several key strategies will be critical to serving this population : financial education and coaching; support in obtaining citizenship; and case management support to identify and secure employment or improve employment opportunities.
Member Position Summary :
AMERICORPS members serving with the Immigrant Workforce and Economic Empowerment AmeriCorps Program provide a range of direct services to economically disadvantaged individuals including one-on-one tutoring and workshops on financial education (household budget, banking, saving for a goal, credit score management, etc.) and job advancement (resume writing, work ethic, etc.) The members will conduct outreach activities to facilitate the program target population register to participate in the program.
Required training prior to Member Placement :
CASA will provide a two-week orientation program at the beginning of the Service Year. The Training will include CASA organization overview, financial education and workforce development processes, as well as best practices on outreach, record keeping, and other relevant issues.
The training includes an overview of National Service, the role of CNCS and Pennsylvania's PennSERVE, as well as training on prohibited activities as described by CNCS.
Access to Vulnerable Populations :
AmeriCorps members serving in this position don't have recurring access to vulnerable populations as described by CNCS.
Member Impact :
Members will be able to improve the quality of life and integration of immigrants to the broader Society by helping program participants to improve their financial skills and knowledge, Job Placement , Vocational Education (Computer classes, English), Resume Building, Mock Interview preparation, Assistance with Employment applications, etc.
Members will be evaluated about outcomes such as number of people who receive financial education services and outputs such as how many of those participants showed actual improvement in their financial skills and confidence, as well as their soft-skills required in every job environment, such as learning will, teamwork, communication, and professionalism.
Essential Functions of Position :
Direct Services
- Facilitate and / or coordinate workshops and individualized coaching sessions focus on the program.
- Conduct outreach activities to identify potential program participants.
- Provide direct services to low-income families, immigrants, and Latinx job seekers.
- Create resumes and cover letters, apply for jobs, prepare for interviews.
- Provide group and individual trainings aimed at workforce integration
- With CASA's workforce development coordinator, develop employer partnerships through research and targeted outreach
- Maintain organized program files and spreadsheets
- With CASA's workforce development coordinator develop employment campaigns and special events
- Supporting curriculum vocational training
- Vocational students' outreach
- Facilitate and / or coordinate workshops and individualized coaching sessions
- Conduct outreach activities to identify potential program participants.
- Assist community members with financial credit checks
- Coach participants so they can complete these tasks independently in the future
- Provide group and individual training aimed at workforce integration
- With CASA's workforce development coordinator develop employment campaigns and special events
- Conduct outreach activities to identify potential program participants.
- Attend the PennSERVE AmeriCorps Week Event in March to be held in a different location / city
Information Gathering
Community involvement / Leadership Development / Volunteer Management
Note : The AmeriCorps member will not be allowed to perform duties that violate the AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities or fall outside of the program goals.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and abilities :
Required Academic and Experience Qualifications :
Other required qualifications :
Prohibited Activities :
Read the attached list of prohibited activities for AmeriCorps members. They are also listed on the Member Service Agreement.
Citations :
While charging time to the AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or CNCS, staff and members may not engage in the following activities :
A business organized for profit;
AmeriCorps members may not engage in the above activities directly or indirectly by recruiting, training, or managing others for the primary purpose of engaging in one of the activities listed above. Individuals may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the activities listed above on their initiative, on non-AmeriCorps time, and using non- CNCS funds. Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps logo while doing so.
Placement Type :
The position is not a reassignment from a previous Host Site / Agency.
Benefits :
Full-time commitment (1700 hour / year) : $26,350
Biweekly living allowance of $1,054, health care coverage. Members may apply for the child-care allowance.
Member will be entitled to a $7,395.00 education award upon program completion.
Three Quarters commitment (1200 hours / year) : $18,600
Biweekly living allowance of $744
Member will be entitled to a $5,176.50 education award upon program completion.
Half-Time commitment (900 hours / year) : $13,950.00
Biweekly living allowance of $558
Member will be entitled to a $3,697.50 education award upon program completion.
Reduce Time commitment (675 hours / year) : $10,462.50
Biweekly living allowance of $418.50
Member will be entitled to a $2,817.14 education award upon program completion.
A living allowance will be paid bi-weekly directly.
Individuals may be eligible to have the repayment of their qualified student loans postponed while serving. This postponement is called forbearance. While interest may continue to accrue during your service if you successfully complete the term of service the National Service Trust will pay all or a portion of the qualified loan's interest that accrued during your service. Most federally-guaranteed student loans are eligible for forbearance.
CASA offers a variety of free-, high-quality- training courses on Financial Education, workforce development and more.
To be considered for the AmeriCorps Immigrant Workforce and Economic Empowerment Program interested individuals must submit a current resume and cover letter in the CASA website (). Staff will review the application, request an interview and application (if appropriate), conduct three reference checks, and match a potential applicant with a host site. After the applicant has met with the site supervisor at the host site, the applicant will be responsible for getting a three part criminal history check. Individuals will not be allowed to start orientation or be enrolled in the program until all appropriate background checks and paperwork is received by CASA. Position is contingent to CASA receiving the grant Award before Aug 31, 2023
In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability (mental or physical), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, pregnancy, genetic information (including family medical history), military service, or their submission of a compliant"
Selection Process :
To be considered for the AmeriCorps Immigrant Workforce and Economic Empowerment Program interested individuals must submit a current resume and cover letter in the CASA website (). Staff will review the application application, in case of .Staff will review the application, request an interview and application (if appropriate), conduct three reference checks, and match a potential applicant with a host site. After the applicant has met with the site supervisor at the host site, the applicant will be responsible for getting a three-part criminal history check. Individuals will not be allowed to start orientation or be enrolled in the program until all appropriate background checks and paperwork is received by CASA.
Contact :
For more information and to apply, contact : Monica Luna, Pennsylvania Workforce and Education Manager, CASA mluna@wearecasa.org
For more information about AmeriCorps, visit : www.americorps.gov
For more information about CASA, visit : www.wearecasa.org
Salary : $744