Case Manager

Primary Purpose:
The Refugee Advocate offers support and services to refugees to help them successfully make a new home in the United States. Core services include airport reception, initial housing, orientation to the community, and assistance with application for public benefits, children’s school enrollment, adult English as a Second Language (ESL) enrollment, and obtaining employment.
Essential Duties:
• Welcome and orient refugees to the community.
• Empower refugees to formulate realistic yet ambitious resettlement plans.
• Assist refugees to implement their resettlement plans.
• Advocate on behalf of refugees, and refugee-serving voluntary agencies.
• Work with colleagues, co-sponsors, volunteers and key stakeholders in the local community to ensure that refugees are offered all core services in a timely manner.
• Offer interpretation and translation services to refugee clients, as well as transportation to interviews and appointments as necessary. (Compensation is paid by CWS for mileage when using personal vehicle.)
• Work with clients to remove barriers to employment and realize the goal of family self-sufficiency. Connect clients to in-house support and make referrals to external service providers. Identify support services that may assist clients in becoming self-sufficient, such as ESL, transportation, immigration services, and child care.
• Document all contacts and services in client case files and maintain case note logs. In addition to documenting all core services, record clients’ employment-related progress in case file, including compliance, job offers, all placements, job retention, public assistance usage, follow-up on placements, and possibilities of upgrades. Complete all required reports.
• Provide individualized job development and job placement services to program participants. Develop plan of action and counsel clients in areas such as job interview skills, expected behavior on the job, and proper hygiene.
Qualifications:
Education: B.A. or 2 years experience in refugee resettlement or related field.
Experience: Previous work experience and interest in refugee resettlement or other direct social services is desired. Cultural sensitivity is essential.
Other Skills:
Fluency in a refugee language is strongly desired. (Preferred languages are Karen, Burmese, Arabic or Nepali, although other languages will be considered.) Superior written and verbal communication skills are required. The successful candidate must be computer literate, with proficiency in MS Office (Excel and Word) and internet applications required.