Program Director for Caminos® Bilingual in Spanish and English* Sign-On Bonus!

Here at the Presbyterian Home for Children, we’re not just filling a position; we’re finding the next hero in our mission to provide healing and hope to at-risk children and families. If you’re ready to be a part of something bigger, read on to see if this is your next great opportunity!

The Presbyterian Home for Children, a ministry of the Presbyterian Churches of Alabama, cares for boys and girls of all ages and their female caregivers who find themselves homeless because of poverty, abuse, or abandonment. The Home is accredited by EAGLE, the world’s only faith-based accrediting body for ministry to children. In 2024, the Presbyterian Home partnered with Everstand to start the Caminos® program in the State of Alabama. This position plays a key role in this program.

What is Caminos Nacional?

Caminos Nacional is a federal grant managed by Everstand to provide residential services for children who enter the United States without a guardian. This population is commonly referred to as recently migrated youth. The grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Delivering this service helps Everstand fulfill its purpose to enrich communities, one family at a time.

How We Serve Recently Migrated Youth

Recently migrated youth are at significant risk of exploitation, including human trafficking. ORR partners with residential providers like Everstand to deliver best practice and trauma informed child welfare services. Some of these services include temporary shelter, education, medical and mental health care, and, most importantly, vetting of a suitable sponsor or foster care placement for the child.

Recently migrated youth who arrive in the United States are often referred for home study and post releases services. They are, in essence, the most vulnerable youth within an already vulnerable population. Many of these children experience multiple spheres of marginality, including vulnerability to trafficking, abuse, forced labor, and exploitation. Recently migrated youth are commonly susceptible to becoming or are already victims of trafficking, child abuse, neglect, and/or have a diagnosed disability.

These vulnerabilities, coupled with the challenging task of having to unify with family in a new country and new community, present the critical need for quality home study assessments followed by comprehensive post-release services provided by organizations with strong child welfare experience and knowledge of trauma-responsive practices.

What Does HS/PRS Do?

• The benefits of Post Release Services are substantial. Comprehensive PRS programming can create a pathway for youth to successfully integrate into a new community, school, and family setting. By offering Post Release Services, Everstand ensures that the foundational needs of youth and families are being met in a way that addresses the lingering effects of past traumatic experiences and promotes healing and recovery.
• Everstand programs strive to provide services in a manner that recognizes the cultural needs of all youth and families. Many services are provided in Spanish, and our programs offer all youth access to communicate in their native language via the use of interpretation services.
• Everstand employs a team-based, collaborative planning case management model to develop and implement individualized care plans for youth and families. The goals of Post Release Services include:
• A child-centered approach that strives to address the needs prioritized by the youth and family.
• The improvement of skills and confidence for youth and families to connect to local support networks and access culturally appropriate community services.
• Developing and strengthening natural support systems for youth and families.
• Providing holistic care that integrates the efforts of available services and programs into one streamlined approach.
• Post-Release Services involve connecting recently migrated youth clients to critical community resources and components such as:
• Placement Stability and Safety
• Immigration Proceedings
• Guardianship (if applicable)
• Legal Service Referrals
• School Enrollment
• Connection to Educational Support & Mentoring Programs
• Medical Services
• Individual Mental Health Services
• Family Stabilization and Family Counseling
• Substance Abuse Treatment Resources
• Gang Prevention
• Trafficking Victim Assistance Programs
• Safety Planning
• Transportation
• Other Identified Needs of Youth (e.g., connections to extracurricular activities, hobbies, faith communities, etc.)

The ideal candidate for our program is:

• A committed and dedicated person who is professional and passionate about helping vulnerable children and families.
• A personable, energetic, and empathetic leader who can work along with staff, children, families, and multiple projects in a prioritized manner to meet the highest quality standards.
• Must have experience in trauma informed care, child welfare practices, and managing cases.
• A good listener, carefully and empathize when necessary, ask the right questions to find out about clients' needs, build trust with people demonstrating culture competence.
• Able to assess needs and circumstances, communicate clearly, both orally and in writing (Spanish and English), can gather, analyze and understand information, can work through conflict sensitively and come up with effective solutions, work well under pressure, can make difficult decisions at times and maintain a positive attitude when you are faced with difficulties.
• Must live in Alabama and able to commute to Birmingham and other counties.

TITLE:

TITLE:

Program Director of Caminos

REPORTS TO:

CEO/President

POSITIONS SUPERVISED:

Lead Case Manager

I. JOB SUMMARY

The Program Director acts as the primary liaison with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) as it pertains to operations and oversight of the Home Study / Post Release Service (HS/PRS) Program. The Program Director ensures the creation of strong systems and methods of performance excellence to conduct Home Studies that assess for safety and suitability of placement and provide Post Release Services that promote the successful integration of youth and support family reunification efforts. Responsibilities include providing adaptive leadership through supportive coaching and mentoring to the Lead Case Manager, and Case Managers to inspire and encourage the workforce, promoting integrity and professional resilience.

II. DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide oversight and coordination for all aspects of the Home Study and Post Release Services within the Unaccompanied Minors Program, including the delivery of high-quality services following regulatory timeframes to ensure that youth are safely transitioned out of ORR care and successfully integrated into their sponsor family and local community.
• Work in and with the local communities served by the program, fostering collaboration and partnerships with community resources and support networks in the effort to establish a comprehensive network of local support available to youth and their sponsor families.
• Engage in creative and innovative advocacy efforts aimed to ensure that youth and sponsors have access to services identified as critical to their success and well-being.
• Responsible for timely completion of quarterly and annual program performance reports.
• Provides oversight to ensure accurate and timely completion of documentation as required by state and federal regulations, including significant incident reporting, and ensuring that all services provided to youth and sponsors are documented in the client record and required databases following state and federal regulations.
• Provides effective communication across departments and programs to ensure consistency of expectations, as well as works effectively as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and familiarity with the Office of Refugee Resettlement Policy (O.R.R.) and Procedures relating to the care and supervision of Unaccompanied Children. This includes knowledge of legal background and authority governing the practice as related to working with Unaccompanied Children. Past experience with O.R.R. preferred.
• To effectively provide oversight in the development/implementation of policies, procedures, and reports to assure effective department functioning and documentation of activity and performance outcomes.
• Assist in the provision and facilitation of department and agency-wide training opportunities.

III. BASIC COMPETENCIES

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in a human behavioral science such as Social Work (MSW) or a related discipline where 25% of the course credits earned toward the degree are in human behavior sciences.
• OR A bachelor’s degree in human behavioral sciences such as Social Work (BSW) with five (5) years’ experience.
• Must meet the Alabama Code of Ethics for their specific discipline.
• Experience with a mental health or behavioral health agency.

Knowledge Requirements:

• Computer and software applications (Windows, MS Office, Outlook, Internet applications, etc.) necessary to perform the duties of the position.
• The behavior patterns of youth and methods of modifying behavior.
• Principles and practices of social work, including the NASW Code of Ethics.
• Alabama Department of Human Resources policies and procedures.
• Family, child, and group dynamics.

Skills and Abilities Needed:

• Demonstrate leadership.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work; identify the best people for the job.
• Manage time and multiple priorities; meet deadlines.
• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
• Relate to youth and gain their respect and confidence.
• Perform behavior management techniques to control aggressive behavior.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.
• Exercise professional judgment in making decisions.
• Handle sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.
• Attend and conduct agency training and maintain necessary certifications and licenses.
• Maintain an Alabama driver’s license and driving record that allows the operation of an agency or personal vehicle for agency business or to transport clients as needed.
• Must be bilingual in Spanish and English.

IV. JOB SETTING

The work environment described here is representative of that which an employee will typically encounter during a normal shift. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

V. PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

Due to federal requirements of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and Presbyterian Home for Children, and the nature of this position the Employee must be able to:

· Pass a criminal background check that includes history of conviction of child and sexual abuse.

· Pass Federal, state, and local background checks which include:

o FBI fingerprinting,

o Child Abuse & Neglect (CA/N) check,

o DHR background check both prior to employment and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter,

o Driving Clearance both prior to employment and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter.

· Pass a drug screen via urinalysis both prior to employment and randomly thereafter.

Upon employment, the Employee is required to review and sign the following required PHFC policy agreements:

· PHFC Staff Code of Conduct

· Confidentiality Policy

· Zero Tolerance

· Social Media

· Grievances

VI. OTHER INFORMATION

PHFC is an equal opportunity employer where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected characteristics as established by law. This policy extends to all policies and procedures related to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Furthermore, this description is a summary of the responsibilities, duties, skills, experience abilities, and qualifications associated with this position. It is not an exhaustive list and may be changed at any time at the discretion of the CEO. Employment is still considered at-will in which PHFC, or the employee may with or without notice, with or without reason terminate employment. PHFC reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time.

Tipo de puesto: Tiempo completo

Sueldo: $70,000.00 al año

Experiencia:

• ORR: 1 año (Obligatorio)

Idioma:

• Bilingual (Obligatorio)
• Spanish (Obligatorio)

Lugar de trabajo: Híbrido en Talladega, AL 35160

Salary : $70,000