Refugee And Immigrant Youth Services Specialist

Why you should apply

Every month refugee children arrive in Pittsburgh with their families looking for a safe new start. All refugee parents want their children to have access to educational opportunities that lead them to learn English, make friends, and succeed academically. Refugee children are excited to go to school and explore new social relationships. The Refugee and Immigrant Youth Services Specialist is key in helping parents and children achieve these goals.

Position Summary:

The Refugee and Immigrant Youth Services Specialist will implement grant activities for Refugee School Impact funding. The Specialist will lead programs and activities focused on welcoming, orienting, mentoring and inspiring youth success. This includes running after school youth programs at local schools, online and in the community. This individual will also support families with education and enrichment activities to extend the joy of learning to the whole family. This position will work primarily with school aged youth and their parents. This position will require evening and weekend hours to lead enrichment activities for youth.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree (preferred) in social service, education or related field.
• Two years of experience preferably in education or refugee or immigrant social services.
• Must love youth and have a high tolerance for kid chaos.
• Excellent English (spoken and written).
• Top level organizational and communication skills as well as ability to work under strict deadlines.
• Creativity and curiosity a necessity, as well as the ability to work as part of a team with case workers, school teachers and administrators, interpreters and others.
• Sensitive to cultural differences of clients and staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Functional vehicle required.
• Able to work flexible hours.
• Fluency in another language is a plus.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Direct Service:

• Provide in-person and virtual programming for youth and their families through groups, art, language acquisition, mentoring and fun activities.

• Mentor youth for leadership development.

• Work with a team

• Maintain a caseload and follow up with children and their families at least once a month to coach and track progress.

• Develop relationships and keep constant communication with School District administrators and teachers.

• Assist newly arrived families with school enrollments for their children.

• Must be available to work after school hours and some weekends and or evenings for special events.

Accountability:

• Keeps accurate, timely records on youth progress, outcomes and milestone achievements.
• Employs continuous quality improvement analysis to program processes and activities.
• Orient and supervise mentor interactions focused on youth safety, developmental understanding and cultural respect.
• Participates in maintaining positive collaborations with community organizations such as ARYSE, Hello Neighbor, and Casa San Jose as well as schools throughout the region.

Other Duties:

• Maintain an attitude of enthusiasm, a strengths-based approach and a highly collaborative relationship with all individuals involved in JFCS programming, clients as well as staff.
• Participate in ongoing training for volunteer mentors as well as professional staff development..
• Support volunteers, mentors and interns involved with the program, as appropriate.

Other duties as needed.