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Full Job Description
Introduction: Founded in 1946, Church World Service (CWS) is a non-profit and faith-based global humanitarian organization that provides sustainable self-help, development, disaster relief, and refugee and immigrant assistance around the world and in the United States (U.S.). CWS has assisted over 865,000 refugees and immigrants from across all faiths and backgrounds to start new lives in the U.S. and to integrate into their communities. Join us in this life changing work.
Through funding from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), CWS provides services to unaccompanied children (UC) through the Home Study (HS) and Post Release Service (PRS) program. UC are recently arrived to the US and released from federal custody to a sponsor, typically a family member or friend, and may require additional support once in the community to access resources and ensure stability of the placement and their safety. CWS also provides home study services to those children in ORR care when assessment of the proposed placement is warranted to ensure the sponsor can provide a safe and stable home and ensure the UC’s well-being. CWS provides HSPRS nationally through CWS local offices and affiliate partners.
Primary Purpose:
The Home Study and Post Release Services Caseworker (HS and PRS Caseworker) Level 2 will provide collaborative home study services to unaccompanied children and their sponsors to support the safe and timely release from federal care. In addition, the HSPRS Caseworker will provide therapeutic, strengths-based and culturally and linguistically appropriate case management services to children upon reunification and in the community where their sponsor resides to ensure their safety and stabilization, and access to needed resources. Caseworkers will conduct outreach and education to community service providers to supplement existing services that do not adequately address unique needs of immigrant children.
Essential Duties
Home Study
Conduct in-person home visits to interview, assess and provide psychoeducation to Sponsors.
Complete home study recommendation within 10 days of referral.
Post Release Services
Conduct in-person home visits, approximately 5 home visits per week, with children released from federal care to their sponsor to promote safety and stabilization and assess risk and protective factors
Conduct child centered needs assessments.
Assess the need for higher level of care (Level 3, intensive in-home) and work collaboratively with other caseworkers across the CWS network when a transfer or transition to Level 3 is required.
Develop individualized strength-based goal-oriented service plans.
Coordinate referrals and address barriers in relevant service need areas such as legal, education, medical, mental health; Support unaccompanied children and sponsor with enrollment and access to services in community.
Coordinate access to youth programming, services/activities that promote a connection to their culture and traditions.
Provide psychoeducation to children and sponsor on relevant topics.
Support children and sponsor to cope with family reunification stressors.
Monitor progress of goal completion.
Monitor the safety and well-being of children including but not limited to indications of trafficking, abuse, and neglect. Create and revise safety plans as needed.
Serve as a mandated reporter and work with state child welfare as needed.
Network and develop partnerships within to educate providers on children’s needs and to reinforce/increase partnerships in relevant areas.
Write case notes; enter data; complete reports in a time sensitive manner.
Participate in Supervision, Team meetings and trainings as assigned.
Other duties as assigned.
- The Level 2 Caseworker holds a caseload of approximately 30, where PRS cases = 1 and Home Study cases = 5. Example: 25 PRS + 1 HS = 30. Based on need and availability of Level 2 referrals, the Level 2 Caseworker may also serve Level 1 (virtual services) and Level 3 referrals (intensive in-home case management).
Qualifications
Experience:
At least 1 year of experience working with children and youth, family reunification/preservation, and or foster care/child welfare and previous work experience and interest working with foreign born populations is required.
Ability to provide trauma-informed psychosocial education and case management is required.
Experience using technology to support client's engagement in services required.
Experience providing virtual services strongly preferred.
Prior experience identifying community social services and other resources.
Prior experience providing case management required.
Skills:
Ability to engage clients using a client-centered, strengths-based framework
Ability to identify trauma responsive practices and strategies to support the client’s wellness, consent and choice
Ability to read and write in Spanish and English
Ability to establish trust and rapport with clients
Ability to maintain calm and use sound judgment in high stress situations
Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment required
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willingness to support CWS’ Platform on Racial Justice as a CWS employee required
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals
Ability to meet with clients and sponsors to conduct home study to interview, assess and provide psychoeducation to sponsors.
Education:
Minimum education of a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) or an equivalent degree in education, psychology, sociology, or other behavioral science required. MSW Preferred.
Special Requirements:
CWS’ U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Policy requires all new staff to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination as soon as reasonable, no longer than 60 days of employment. Any employee who is pregnant, who is nursing, who has a disability, or who has a medical condition that prevents them from safe vaccination, or who rejects vaccination because of sincerely held religious beliefs, may contact the CWS Benefits Administrator to request reasonable accommodation as defined by the Equal
Fluency in English and Spanish required
Valid driver's license and insurance.
Personal vehicle.
Must be able to travel frequently and independently throughout relevant region, often to unfamiliar areas and with limited notice.
Must be comfortable conducting home visits in the community in diverse areas of socio-economic backgrounds.
Must be able to work evenings and weekends as assigned.
Must be able to sit at a computer for extended periods of time.
Successfully pass an PREA, FBI background check and a Child Abuse/Neglect check
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
CWS offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- 403 (b) Retirement Plan
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Life Insurance and AD&D
- Long Term and Short-Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Commuter Benefits
$250 professional development stipend (also can be applied to relevant professional licensure)