Health Empowerment Casework Assistant

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 Health Empowerment Casework Assistant will support intensive case management services to address barriers to safety and wellness for especially vulnerable refugees, asylees, and other US Office for Refugee Resettlement (ORR) eligible populations. The Casework Assistant will be expected to support in the case management of program participants including single-headed refugee households; survivors of domestic violence and gender-based violence; older adults; youth and young adults without parents or permanent guardians; refugees experiencing mental health or psychological difficulties; refugees with physical disabilities or medical conditions; unanticipated refugee arrivals and secondary migrants; and refugees who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ).

Major Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assist IRC’s Health Empowerment program to provide trauma-informed, strengths-based, person-centered services in the ongoing case management of active Preferred Communities/Intensive Case Management (ICM) program participants.
• Assist in enrolling program participants and determining eligibility at intake; if someone is found to be ineligible for services, the casework assistant will provide relevant referrals.
• Assist in the development of self-sufficiency plans for especially vulnerable participants, with oversight from Senior Case Manager and Health Empowerment Program Coordinator.
• Assist in evaluating participant progress every six months during the program to determine the participant’s progress towards goals, with oversight from Senior Case Manager and Health Empowerment Program Coordinator.
• Assist participants in navigating healthcare and social service systems, which may include helping participants apply for benefits, attend appointments, and schedule appointments.
• Assist in mapping out community resources and making participant referrals to community partners.
• Provide participants with extended orientation on a variety of topics such as women’s health, navigating transportation systems, and navigating healthcare systems at the local level.
• Conduct community outreach to service providers to ensure participant needs are met.
• Support Health Empowerment and other IRC Seattle teams in response to participant crises.
• Assist participants and Health Empowerment team members in requesting financial assistance when applicable and track the received financial assistance in participant case files.
• Maintain up to date documentation in participant case files to ensure services are properly documented throughout the service period; document all services provided in IRC’s database, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO).
• Attend ongoing trainings and meetings at both the local and national level that are relevant to the position.
• Attend regular team and all staff meetings and engage as a member of the IRC Seattle team, the Health Empowerment team and national ICM network.
• Other duties as assigned.