URM Social Service Specialist

$25.43- $31.79 HR/DOE

Join our Team! We offer an excellent benefits package!
3 weeks vacation * 12 days sick leave * 13 holidays* medical * dental* vision* life insurance * LTD * AD&D * pension * 403b * catastrophic & accident ins *

The International Foster Care Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Program provides long-term care to unaccompanied refugee minors, asylees, trafficking survivors and immigrant youth from around the world. Position requires you to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team with case management responsibilities for youth, as well as help provide independent living services for youth placed at the Vancouver site. Consultation, training, and advocacy are important components of this program. Experience in working with a variety of immigrant populations is very desirable. Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evening and weekends. Training for this position will occur in Vancouver and the Tacoma office.

General Job Functions:

1) Identify and coordinate support services for unaccompanied refugee youth placed in foster care.

2) Develop and implement comprehensive individual service/safety plan for the Unaccompanied Refugee minors which:

a) Consider the individual’s personal goals, strengths/weaknesses, cultural, religious and ethnic background

b) Promote wellbeing, safety and self sufficiency

c) Provides sufficient information to the courts regarding service plan, delivery and URM youth progress

3) Assist in planning cultural preservation activities for all youth in our care and acculturation supports to URM youth.

4) Develop a working knowledge of immigration related issues and continual coordination with immigration service providers.

5) Implement Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) contract requirements for youth placed in Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) foster care program.

6) Consult with agency dependency attorney and prepare required legal documents for court, placement, and service delivery.

7) Maintain appropriate documentation and case records in accordance with the Office of Refugee Resettlement contract, agency policy and Children’s Administration Child Placing Agency contract requirements and as needed for program reviews and evaluation.

8) Arrange for appropriate educational programs including English language learners and bilingual programs.

9) Prepare youth for:

A. Court hearings

B. Family reunification; if possible

C. Extended Foster Care

D. Independence and self-sufficiency

10) Monitor the adjustment of youth in foster care and provide guidance, support services to URM youth and the foster family.

11) Represent CCS regularly in dependency court hearings.

12) Continually monitor URM youth’s eligibility for Extended Foster Care, provide additional supports and services when needed to maintain eligibility and update the courts as appropriate.

13) Participate in at least 30 hours of related trainings annually

14) Attend weekly staff meetings and assist with foster family gatherings and other program related events.

15) Responsible for providing approval as the agency dependency guardian representative regarding URM client travel, supervision level needed, education plan and medical care and procedures.

16) Help support the provision of independent living services to youth at Vancouver site

which includes conducting assessments, developing IL goals and strategies, facilitating monthly IL trainings and activities, monitoring support funds, maintaining documentation and writing outcomes reports

17) Collaborate with Independent Living Facilitator to ensure independent living programming meets youth needs and identified goals.

18) Other duties as may be reasonably delegated by the supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA/BS degree in social work or related field
• Experience working with refugee/immigrant youth in a child welfare setting
• Experience in case management; preferably with ethnic minorities and/or refugee populations
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Intermediate computer skills

F. Ability to maintain accurate case files and other necessary client records

• Applicant must successfully pass required background checks prior to an offer of employment

H. Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, automobile insurance and provide current auto registration

I. Must have an acceptable driving record per CCS’ driving policy, with no prior DUI convictions (required to provide current driving abstract)

• Proof of negative TB test upon hire or proof of test within past 12 months
• First/Aid CPR certified or the ability to become certified within the 1 month of employment

L. Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multi-cultural situations

M. Support and uphold the mission, beliefs and values of Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services

N. Support and contribute to a creative, collaborative and respectful environment that promotes teamwork

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

A. Three plus years in case management experience with strong organizational skills

B. Fluency in a refugee language

C. Good knowledge of the child welfare system including emotional aspects of refugees and immigrants

D. MSW or related field