Crisis Case Manager, HSPRS

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 one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

This position is represented by the OPEIU union and is subject to the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement.

BACKGROUND:   

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work today in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities. The IRC’s Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration (RAI) department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to gain stability and control of their future. RAI serves more than 100,000 individuals each year, through a various portfolio of programs aimed at five core outcomes: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education and Power.   

SCOPE OF WORK:  

The IRC’s Home Study and Post-Release Services (HSPRS) for unaccompanied children in the U.S. is operating in more than 17 offices throughout the US. This is a national, multi-million-dollar project with ambitious delivery goals in a short time frame.  This is a short-term role with an anticipated end date of September 30, 2026, and is not eligible for benefits.

The goals of the Home-Study Post Release Services Program (HS/PRS) are to 1.Assess the safety and suitability of a sponsor before an unaccompanied child is released from custody into a sponsor’s care (Home Study), and 2. Provide case management support via remote and / or conducting in-home visits to ensure the continued safety and stability of children in sponsor’s homes and linking children to resources in the community (Post Release Services).

The Crisis Case Manager (Level 3) conducts Home Studies to determine a potential sponsor’s ability to meet an unaccompanied child’s needs upon release from ORR custody, and Post Release Services which help unaccompanied children and sponsors meet their presenting needs. The Crisis Case Manager (Level 3) focuses on children with specific challenges or circumstances and provides intensive services to ensure the safety and stability of the child and family. This includes developing service plans that address needs utilizing a range of financial, medical, social, vocational, and other services and resources based on client eligibility, and utilizing interventions tailored to the needs of the family and child.
 

Major Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Initial in-home assessment with child and sponsors followed by weekly in-person contacts for the first 45-60 calendar days, depending on the presenting needs of the released child and sponsor family. As needs stabilize, services can be conducted remotely with monthly in-person visits throughout the remainder of the case.
• Develop individualized service plan that guides the provision of high quality, trauma-informed case management services.
• Conduct a comprehensive assessment to provide a recommendation for the purpose of reunifying children with their potential sponsors, including conducting interviews with shelter case managers, clinicians, the minor, sponsor, and all household members. This includes completing an in-person home visit and documenting findings in a comprehensive report within 10 days of referral.
• Continually assess ongoing changes in behavior and general conditions that could impact the safety, wellbeing, and success of children 
• Provide crisis intervention support when necessary, including involving Child Protective Services, law enforcement and other local stakeholders.
• Serve in the lead role on a case if there are current suicidal attempts, safety concerns, or current trafficking concerns or play a supportive role to the Level 2 Case Manager when the minor is not in a crisis. 
• Provide referral and connection to: Legal services; Education and English language classes; Medical care and behavioral healthcare; Placement stability and safety services; Assistance with immigration proceedings; Assistance with guardianship proceedings; Family stabilization/counseling; Substance abuse treatment; Gang prevention services; Youth programming (such as youth mentoring, tutoring, afterschool and vocation programs, sports clubs, or other extracurricular clubs, etc.); Services related to various global environments and contexts; and Integration and independence support as appropriate.
• Provide timely documentation of all check-ins, in-home visits, referrals and referral outcomes, and progress and outcomes in case file.
• Build and maintain relationships with community services providers in relevant areas. 
• Maintain accurate records in electronic case files and required databases.
• Submit required reports and documentation in a timely manner.
• Use a child centered, developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed approach to address the needs and concerns of children and sponsors.   
• Maintain a strong understanding of trauma-informed principles and approaches, protection and safeguarding, and mandatory reporting.
• Ensure the confidentiality of children and their cases.

Job Requirements include but are not limited to:

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or other relevant behavioral science in which direct clinical experience is a program requirement.
• Written and verbal fluency in Spanish and English 
• Minimum of two years’ experience providing case management, including conducting intakes and assessments, developing service plans, and documenting services through case documentation. Minimum one year of professional experience working with children, family reunification/ preservation, kinship care, foster care, child welfare, conducting home studies, or related child protection work
• Proven ability to manage complex client situations centering client safety and child protection principles.
• Experience working with immigrant populations. Experience working with unaccompanied minors in the post-release services field is strongly preferred.           
• Knowledge of local community social services and navigating the social service system.
• Demonstrated success working effectively in various global environments and contexts.
• Ability to travel up to 80% of the time up to 500 miles. Often evenings and weekends to accommodate children’s and sponsors’ schedules.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook), Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other platforms. 
• Must be cleared and approved by Office of Refugee Resettlement and background check including FBI fingerprints and Child Abuse and Neglect checks required upon hire (initiated by IRC after acceptance of the position).

Compensation: ($28.97-$35.11). Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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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 $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.