Afghan Placement & Assistance (APA) Youth Enrollment Specialist

Job Description

Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. One aspect of the IRC is to assist refugees resettling in the United States. The IRC opened a Denver office in 2016 to provide reception and placement services to newly arrived refugees. The office is slated to resettle approximately 500 refugees and more than 700 Afghan humanitarian parolees in the current federal fiscal year. Wraparound program services and holistic supports aim to realize positive impact in clients’ safety, health, education, economic wellbeing, and power. Some services are limited to refugees and other Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible populations, while others are open to a broader population of refugees, immigrants, and forcibly displaced people.

The IRC in Denver’s approach is client-centered, empowerment-focused, trauma-informed, and multigenerational. Advancing racial equity and narrowing the gender gap are priorities for the IRC in Denver. The team’s efforts in this space are ongoing and evolving. Current work is focused on participating in learning and dialogue to deepen understanding and awareness of systemic inequities and systems of oppression; building an internal organizational culture that reflects a commitment to antiracism and gender equality for clients as well as staff, volunteers, and the broader community; engaging clients more deeply in making decisions that affect them, whether at the individual, household, program, or organizational level; using our power and influence to advocate for rules, policies, and laws that address inequities experienced by the people we serve and seek systemic change for the benefit of all who are impacted by these inequities; undertaking intentional efforts to shift dynamics and promote power sharing between leadership and the broader team as well as between staff and clients; and examining and changing practices in recruitment, recognition, and other areas of employee engagement and talent development to prioritize access to opportunity and work toward full inclusion and belonging for clients, staff, and volunteers who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQI, as well as those with disabilities and those who have lived experience as refugees and immigrants.

JOB OVERVIEW The vision of the IRC in Denver Youth Program is that refugee youth will have the skills and resources necessary to pursue a future of opportunity. IRC in Denver is currently serving a substantial number of Afghans who have been granted parole and are eligible to receive services under the Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Program operated under a Cooperative Agreement with the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), the Reach Program operated under contract with the Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP), and/or the Matching Grant (MG) Program operated under a Cooperative Agreement with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Approximately half of this population consists of children and youth, many of whom require support with school enrollment and navigation.

The APA Youth Enrollment Specialist will coordinate initiatives to increase newcomer Afghan families access to children’s education, help those families better understand, connect and engage with local school systems, increase access to school information and resources, and lead family outreach and referral initiatives. The Specialist supports the enrollment of school-aged APA youth in local schools and IRC in Denver’s Youth programs.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES - Receive and respond to referrals from Resettlement caseworkers and other staff to support families who need additional assistance connecting to school or navigating instructional changes. - Using interpretation services as needed, conduct outreach to families and provide systems navigation and support to improve their connection to school and student(s) engagement in school. Make referrals for additional wrap-around services as needed. - Help gather information and design an expanded School Orientation training for newcomer APA families. - Support the school enrollment of all school-aged APA youth resettled by IRC in Denver. - Connect with school districts to identify contact people, confirm and clarify enrollment processes, and gather feedback from school districts to improve IRC’s partnership with school districts and enrollment process. - Support planning and implementation of IRC in Denver’s summer youth program as needed. Support program enrollment, facilitate large group and 1:1 instruction and enrichment activities, and implement curriculum and lesson plans to create engaging and interactive learning environment. - Assist with data collection and tracking to meet funder requirements and for internal program monitoring and evaluation. Help complete necessary program reporting documentation. - Meet weekly with IRC in Denver’s Youth Education Program Manager to discuss work assignments and to receive support and feedback. - Build supportive relationships with refugee youth and families utilizing a trauma-informed approach in order to support student’s academic and long-term personal and professional goals. - 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: Youth Education Program Manager, IRC in Denver Position directly supervises: N/A, but may help to guide and coordinate the work of volunteers and interns supporting school enrollment and other youth program activities

JOB REQUIREMENTS - Experience working with youth with refugee and/or immigrant backgrounds; cross-cultural or overseas experience. - Experience working in a multi-cultural non-profit and/or international setting with diverse client base. - Experience working with English Language Learners preferred. - Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations; cross-cultural or overseas experience. - Experience teaching English Language Learners. - Demonstrated ability to use a variety of instructional strategies appropriate for individual student needs. - Experience teaching/tutoring virtually preferred. Knowledge of virtual learning platforms and strong technology skills to utilize platforms such as Zoom or Google Classroom, navigate common tech problems and support digital literacy. - Flexible and adaptable – able to quickly problem solve and change plans and activities according to student need or unexpected circumstances. - Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to work well with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. - Ability to work well independently and as part of a team. Ability to work remotely and responsibly self-manage time and tasks. - Ability to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in the context of a diverse, fast-paced work environment. - Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is required. Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto is strongly preferred. - Must have the ability to travel within the local community to deliver services in clients’ homes, at schools, and in other community settings. This requirement may be met with a willingness and ability to use public transportation or a valid driver’s license with access to a reliable, insured personal vehicle.

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 candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to be considered.

WORK ENVIRONMENT - At present, the IRC in Denver office is in the process of re-opening. Hybrid remote/in-person work modifications have been in place to ensure staff and client safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. - Staff are provided with IRC laptops and cell phones and must have access to a location with secure internet service where remote work can be performed as needed and according to the schedule negotiated with their supervisor. - All staff are required to adhere to IRC’s COVID risk mitigation policies, which may include but are not limited to masking, physical distancing, enhanced hygiene practices, symptom screening, and isolation and quarantine when needed. In some cases, these policies may be stricter than those imposed at the federal, state, or local level. - The IRC in Denver strives to offer a positive working environment, with intentional efforts to ensure that it is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible for all. Staff are required to adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates under policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation. - This role entails periodic travel in and around the Denver metro area to attend meetings, carry out the responsibilities outlined above, and represent the IRC with donors, partners, and vendors. - Hours outside of typical office hours, including weekends and evenings, are occasionally required.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS This position is a full-time, short-term position scheduled at 37.5 hours per week for 6 months. It is classified as non-exempt and eligible for overtime under state and federal law. Compensation starts at $21.00 per hour. Given the short-term nature of the position, the APA Youth Enrollment Specialist does not qualify for benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on 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 at [email protected] to request an accommodation.

Qualifications