TTA - Community Services Specialist

IRC Background:

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 at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. IRC reaches over 50,000 clients annually across the US through programs for resettled refugees, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied children, survivors of torture and trafficking, and individuals from local communities welcoming newcomers.

As part of Youth Services in the Education and Learning Department, the Refugee School Impact program supports refugee and immigrant students by providing tailored academic assistance, cultural orientation, and community engagement. The program helps students navigate the U.S. educational system through tutoring, mentoring, and individualized support, while also guiding families in understanding school expectations and accessing resources. Additionally, it connects families with essential services and advocates for their needs within the local school system to ensure a successful transition and academic achievement.

Scope of work:

The Refugee School Impact program is seeking a Youth Services Specialist to support refugee youth and their caregivers. This role will act as a primary contact for youth engagement in community-based activities and provide essential support services to foster academic growth, cultural adaptation, positive identity, and social development. The specialist will work in various settings—such as homes, virtual platforms, and community centers—to guide and empower students. Reporting to the Youth Program Supervisor, the specialist will assist with outreach, recruitment, enrollment, logistics for workshops and school and cultural orientations, manage a caseload of 2-5 high-needs clients, and coordinate community engagement and student advocacy efforts with school systems.

Major Responsibilities:

Outreach and Engagement

• Assist clients with school enrollments
• Build relationships with schools/school districts in DFW
• Conduct school orientations for clients
• Connect clients with academic services in the DFW area
• Coordinate with R&P to develop strategies to make school enrollment processes more forecastable in the future
• Assist caregivers with pre-school enrollment
• Assist caregivers with identifying daycare resources
• Identify community partners to leverage in order assist in program delivery needs
• Coordinate with refugee clinics, hospitals, and medical community to assist with immunizations required for school admission
• Identify childcare assistance organizations and/or providers and curate a resource bank for caregivers
• Support Youth Program Coordinator and Youth Intake Specialist with outreach, recruitment, and enrollment.
• Coordinate logistics for workshops and orientations for students and parents to enhance educational success.
• Guide newly arrived families in navigating the American public-school system.
• Coordinate and facilitate student advocacy efforts with school systems
• Organize community engagement activities monthly for youth clients.
• Build, expand, and maintain local partnerships in the Dallas community.

Client Management

• Manage a caseload of 2-5 high-needs clients with bi-weekly visits, offering mentoring, advocacy, and academic support.
• Conduct client assessments to establish growth baselines and service plans.
• Foster caregiver involvement in minor clients' education and well-being through case management via RSI services.
• Monitor academic progress, provide emotional support, and connect clients to relevant resources.

Compliance Documentation

• Ensure completion and updates of intake documents, assessments, and service plans.
• Maintain thorough case notes and files, updating plans as needed.
• Maintain and financial documentation of expenses needed to conduct RSI activities and assist the Youth Program Supervisor in reconciling those expenses within a timely manner.

Team/Office Participation

• Engage in program meetings, staff development, and other assigned tasks.
• Collaborate within a team to deliver comprehensive services to clients.
• Adhere to agency policies, prioritizing client confidentiality.
• Participate in RAI Education & Youth networking and learning events, such as the Youth Community of Practice and annual Virtual Summit

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Youth Program Supervisor

Position Directly Supervises: N/A 

Other Internal and/or External Contacts: Education and Learning Manager, Youth Program Supervisor, HQ Youth and Education Technical Adviser

Working Environment:

Professional office environment.

Regular travel to off-site home visits (including evenings and occasional Weekends)

Hybrid schedule

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:  IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate their ability to contribute to this goal.

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, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. The IRC and IRC employees must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits.  In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.