Afghan Youth and Family Specialist

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.  The San Jose IRC office serves approximately 700 refugees and asylees annually providing them a fresh start and opportunities to use their greatest resources—their motivation, their skills and their experiences—to become independent and self-sufficient new Americans. 

Job Summary:  The Afghan Youth and Family Specialist will oversee the implementation of the Afghan Refugee School Integration and Afghan Youth Mentoring programs, including meeting outcomes, providing outreach, developing and scheduling program activities, coordinating professional mentors, leading several cohorts of caregiver workshops, and providing case management for program participants.

Do you have a background working with youth or multi-cultural populations? Are you passionate about make a positive impact and seeing an improvement in the lives of the people we serve? Then join us.

Major Responsibilities:

• Support the integration of Afghan refugee youth, provide youth the opportunity to identify and prioritize goals that will support their integration while also developing positive and meaningful relationships with insightful and culturally responsive mentors.
• Provide allowable mentoring services and case management activities for eligible Afghan youth.
• Perform initial assessments of the needs and goals of the youth and develop a plan to meet those needs through educational, vocational, and social activities.
• Provide case management that includes documenting services provided and the progress of each youth toward meeting the youth’s service plan.
• Work with the Volunteer and Donations Coordinator to recruit and train mentors to support refugee youth.
• Verify that each youth participating in the BRIDGE program meet eligibility requirements and maintain eligibility documentation certifying each youth's eligibility.
• Collaborate with school districts, community colleges, America’s Job Center of California (AJCC), county welfare departments (CWD), and other service providers to refer eligible students in order to address service gaps.
• Facilitate cohorts of an evidence-based group intervention with parents and caregivers to address early childhood trauma, including but not limited to: attending training, facilitating group activities, and conducting individual interviews to support parents and caregivers in caring for their young children in developmentally appropriate ways to reduce the effects of trauma.
• Connect with community groups to understand resources available in the community and assist clients in accessing needed resources.
• Other tasks and duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Fluency in Dari/Farsi and Pashto required. English language fluency required.
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Education, or equivalent work experience preferred.
• Experience working with English language learners, particularly those with interrupted formal education.
• Experience working with youth and/or refugee populations.
• Strong interpersonal, and communication (verbal and written) skills.
• Cross-cultural or overseas experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft computer applications and internet research.
• Ability to take initiative and problem-solve effectively in high stress situations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Working Environment:

• Standard office work environment coupled with regular travel in and around the service delivery area.
• Reoccurring need to provide services outside of traditional work hours (evenings and weekends).

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions.  All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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 $120 per month, dental starting at $7 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. 

#LI-Onsite