Children & Youth Specialist
Job Summary
Job Description
The Children & Youth Specialist will help immigrant children and their families, with an emphasis on Ukrainian families, successfully integrate into the American school system and access community services. This position involves case management for children from birth through high school, including assistance with WIC enrollment, community referrals, school enrollment (preschool to K-12), parent engagement and education, and serving as a liaison between families and schools. The specialist will also participate in afterschool club services.
Must have:
- Direct-service experience with children and/or youth required
- Valid driver’s license, regular access to vehicle
- Fluency in Ukrainian
Good to have:
- Experience using MS Office Word and Excel
- BA/BS and background in education or social service field
- Knowledge of World Relief
- Cross-cultural experience
- Previous volunteer supervision
5 skills required
Job Details
Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?
If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.
At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.
If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today.
ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish.
Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy.
This position is contingent upon the successful acquisition of additional funding and may be subject to modification or termination based on the availability of resources.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The goal of the Children & Youth Specialist is to help immigrant children, and their families successfully adjust to the American school system and to access community services with an emphasis in Ukrainian families. This position provides case management for children birth through high school, assisting with WIC enrollment, providing community referrals, assisting with preschool and K-12 school enrollment, facilitating parent engagement and education, serving as a liaison between refugee and immigrant families and local elementary, middle, and high schools. They will also participate in providing afterschool club services to the refugee and immigrant community.
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Early Childhood Case Management
- Meet with families who have 0-5 year old children to determine areas of assistance needed
- Assist with initial WIC enrollment and provide ongoing WIC education
- Provide car seats and parent education on car seat safety laws and car seat installation
- Educate parents on developmental milestones and work towards achieving them
- Provide parents with an early childhood orientation and additional parent education
- Refer parents to community resources for their child’s needs including Early Intervention and Counseling Services as applicable
- Assist and/or provide information regarding preschool, birth-3 enrollments
- Collaborate with community partners and schools to build meaningful relationships
- Collaborate and communicate with Immigrant Family Services and other WRC staff
- Advocate for families
- School & Family Services
- Ensure enrollment in elementary, middle, and high school for refugee and other immigrant youth within 30 days of their arrival in the United States, or to the state of Illinois.
- Serve as a liaison between families and school staff to assist in problem solving, arrange parent meetings, and facilitate ongoing communication
- Provide initial and ongoing orientation regarding education systems, procedures, and expectations to the families World Relief serves
- Mediate and advocate for school-aged students within school settings
- Conduct periodic information sessions for families addressing a broad range of educational topics
- Refer families to services that will enhance their child’s education and success, such as other after school programs, social services, or medical referrals
- Youth Clubs Participation
- Ongoing participation with at least one after school youth club, with the Youth Clubs Specialist
- Assistance with planning and implementing summer youth clubs with the Youth Clubs Specialist.
- Manage volunteers, interns, and/or work-study students in the context of club
- Administer and record data for Social Emotional Assessments.
- Maintain data of client and volunteer records using databases; ensure that student attendance is taken each week and reported accurately
- Assist to identify newly arrived students and facilitate their club enrollment and participation
- Perform other duties as requested by the Children and Youth Services Manager Management and Administrative Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate reporting records, case-notes, and student files
- Actively participate in department meetings, staff development opportunities, program trainings, community activities, and organizational events
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
- Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
- Direct-service experience with children and/or youth required
- Valid driver’s license, regular access to vehicle, and ability/willingness to drive 15-passenger van required
- Fluency in Ukrainian
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Technical Skills
- Experience using MS Office Word and Excel preferred
- Initiative and Independent Work
- Manage Competing Priorities
- Highly self-motivated with strong follow-through and problem-solving skills
- Organizational Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Communication Skills (oral and written)
- Teamwork
- Confidentiality and Professionalism
- BA/BS and background in education or social service field
- Knowledge of World Relief
- Cross-cultural experience desired
- Previous volunteer supervision preferred
- Occasionally nights and weekends as necessary
$21 - $23 an hour
Compensation is commensurate with experience.
World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time and part-time employees.
World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.
***
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.
For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Similar Jobs
Looks like we're out of matches
Set up an alert and we'll send you similar jobs the moment they appear!
Similar Skill Jobs
Looks like we're out of matches
Set up an alert and we'll send you similar jobs the moment they appear!
Jobs in Carol Stream, Illinois, United States
Looks like we're out of matches
Set up an alert and we'll send you similar jobs the moment they appear!
Similar Category Jobs
Looks like we're out of matches
Set up an alert and we'll send you similar jobs the moment they appear!
