Youth and Family Advocate (SEEC)

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Find out more at www.irco.org.

POSITION: Youth and Family Advocate (SEEC)

JOB CLASS/GRADE: Specialist 1/ Grade 8

WAGE: $23.07 per hour

FLSA; EEO; WC: Non-Exempt; Professional; 8864

LOCATIONS: SEEC Office 555 SE 99th AVE, Portland, OR 97216 and school location within Multnomah County (locations to be determined) In-person

FTE; FT/PT; STATUS: Temporary position until June 30th, 2025. On call without benefits. Up to 40 hours per week

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: (1)

APPLY AT: www.irco.org

STATUS: Oncall/ Casual without Benefits

PROGRAM(S): SEEC IRSSP

SECTOR: SEEC

REQUIREMENTS:

Bilingual/trilingual in English and Ukrainian, Russian languages. Must have a car, driver license and insurance. Work performed in person at schools or other assigned work locations. Must pass school background check.

This job announcement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. This is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Program Summary
The Immigrant/Refugee Student Success Plan programs and services will assist students to develop a range of knowledge, skills, abilities, and dispositions that will lead to successful student outcomes in educational achievement; address issues such as attendance, chronic absenteeism, and early childhood to elementary, middle to high school, and high school to post-secondary transitions; and to include a variety of supports including the involvement of parents and communities across the state.

Position Summary
The Youth and Family Advocate will provide services focused on helping students to work on academic success, create welcoming atmosphere in schools by embracing culture, identity and languages, provide skill building activities to motivate leadership development, coordinate support services for students and their families, expose students and families to learning tools and promote change through learning experiences, organize and facilitate engagement family activities to support student success and strengthen partnership with families.

Essential Functions

• Connect with SEE immigrant and refugee’s students in schools within Multnomah County
• Provide Cultural orientation and Educational Workshops
• Address the disproportional rare of disciplinary incidents
• Increase parental engagement in the education
• Organize and facilitate educational activities before and after regular school hours
• Improve literacy and numeracy level
• Increase early childhood education and kindergarten readiness for students
• Support transition to middle and high schools
• Support the development of culturally responsive curricula
• Increase attendance of students in community colleges and professional certification programs
• Provide support services for students

Secondary Functions

• Ability to meet multiple, including conflicting deadlines
• Ability to deal with distressed and demanding students, school staff, program partners or work colleagues in an effective manner
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Ability to communicate with a variety of personality types and levels of the organization as well as with people outside of the organization
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet the availability of students and parents
• Attend staff meeting, partner meeting, internal and external committee meetings as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned as needed by supervisor.

Education & Experience

MINIMUM JOB SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Some college coursework in education or social services, or equivalent combination of training and experience
• Minimum 1 year working with families to support resource navigation work and understanding U.S. school systems
• Experience serving Slavic and Eastern European immigrant and refugee students and their families in culturally specific academic support programs
• Ability to communicate clearly about sensitive information and explain school systems in both English and a second language spoken by program participants
• Knowledge of emergency, social, and human services, and referral systems to access such services
• Bilingual in English and fluent in one of the following languages required: Ukrainian and Russian (with the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing) ability to translate written and verbal information into concepts that are understandable for community members

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s degree or equivalent in social services, or related field
• Knowledge of the principles and applying Trauma Informed Care in case management work for children and youth in school settings
• Experience creating lesson plans or curriculum for youth afterschool/out-of-school time groups that promote Positive Youth Development
• Strong communication skills in a multilingual, multicultural organization
• Strong ability to work with multi-cultural staff in a team setting
• Ability to courteously meet and deal effectively with school staff, program participants, other employees, agency representatives, vendors, contractors, the public, and others
• Ability to function in a positive manner in a demanding work environment, to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility, to respond to priorities and schedules that change frequently, and to meet commitments

Physical, Mental, & Environmental Requirements

• Work is performed in person, at schools or other assigned locations like SEEC. Not a remote or hybrid work position
• There is minimal variation in tasks. The job holder is free to determine in which order tasks are completed, but cannot choose to not complete a task
• Position requires little physical effort such as lifting, carrying, or constant movement, but does allow for movement needed to complete work tasks
• This level has a work environment that is well protected, with virtually no hazards or obstacles. There is very little element of personal risk or hazard. Job conditions are stable, usually well managed, and very comfortable
• The work schedule is mostly stable and does not fluctuate without prior notice

Supervisory Responsibilities
Positions at this level are not responsible for any supervisory functions, or responsibilities, but may occasionally be asked to orient and/or train new employees or volunteers.

What We Offer

IRCO is a very employee-friendly workplace and offers great benefit package to our staff:

• Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
• Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
• Work that helps your community
• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting
• 3% match for student loans or college savings
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Flexible spending account

Required Engagement

Engage fully in recommended professional development, as well as other assigned or required training activities. This engagement can also include participation in optional activities that embrace IRCO’s mission, vision, and values-based initiatives.

How To Apply

• Complete the IRCO application in our Careers Portal: IRCO Application for Employment.
• Upload your resume and cover letter addressing your qualifications for this position IRCO Careers.
• For questions about this position, please email jobs@irco.org

Please note that physical applications are accessible from IRCO’s main office, 10301 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97220. Due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to contact applicants or return calls regarding applications. Complete applications should include a cover letter, resume, and IRCO application.

IRCO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any characteristics protected by law. We will make reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws.