Youth Program Services Member WSC

IRC Background:The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help 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 has a presence in over 40 countries and 27 offices in the United States; the IRC leads the way from harm to home. IRC opened an office in Seattle in 1976 and provides a continuum of services including intensive case management, employment and economic empowerment services, immigration assistance, health and wellness programming, and education support to refugee and immigrant families in Washington State. IRC Seattle is committed to providing trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible services and maintaining and evolving a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace.

Job Overview: The vision of the IRC Seattle Youth Program is that youth from refugee and immigrant backgrounds will have the skills and resources necessary to pursue a future of opportunity. The Youth Program Team works towards this vision by providing educational and enrichment opportunities to help school-aged and young adult youth from refugee and immigrant backgrounds catch up on their education, accelerate English proficiency, plan and prepare for post-secondary education and career, and build positive relationships in the school and community. The Youth Program Services member is a Washington Service Corps position, 10.5 month term (see below for details). This position will directly assist newcomer families to promote a successful start and ongoing connection with school including school enrollment and orientation, ongoing systems navigation, and academic support.

As the IRC WSC Youth Program Services Member you will have the unique opportunity to partner with newcomer parents and their children as they embark in this important chapter in their new lives.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Design and Implementation

• Support newcomer families with a successful start to school by providing assistance in school enrollment, school orientation, arranging and providing transportation for initial meetings with school administration and teachers, locating bus routes, and connecting to academic support programs.
• Provide ongoing systems navigation for newcomer families including following up with families after school enrollment and receiving referrals from IRC staff and school districts for families having challenges effectively connecting with school.
• Build supportive relationships with families from refugee and immigrant backgrounds utilizing a trauma informed and culturally responsive approach
• Assist with data collection and tracking for internal program monitoring and evaluation.
• Support and participate in family engagement events.
• Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the IRC team.

Resource Development

• Support the Family Engagement Specialist in creating and updating the IRC Education Resource guide with information and contacts for education programs from early learning, K-12, alternative high school completion programs, college and career, and adult ESL and education programs.

General

• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocol.
• Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the IRC team.
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the agency.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Education Access and Family Engagement Specialist
Position directly supervises: N/A

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Resettlement, Volunteer and Development Team, Youth Program, New Roots Program, Health Empowerment Program, Survivor Services Program, Economic Empowerment Program, Immigration Program, and other IRC departments

External: families, School Districts (Teachers, Admin, etc.), Community Based Organizations