Refugee Case Worker

POSITION SUMMARY:
This position has responsibility for providing case management to newly arriving refugee families, including providing initial resettlement services, ongoing cultural adjustment support, orientations, referrals, and mediation services. The Refugee Case Manager will work closely with community organizations, churches, landlords, and service providers to successful community integration. This position is based in Chicago and requires visits to refugee families primarily in northern Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Coordinate services, staff, volunteers, and vehicles to pick up new refugee families upon arrival at the airport

Receive new refugee arrivals at the airport and assist their adjustment to their new home

Ensure provision of timely and appropriate services to newly arriving refugee families during their first 30-90 days post-arrival in accordance with program guidelines. Service provision includes:

Secure and prepare housing for refugee clients prior to their arrival in the U.S.

Provide initial and on-going orientations to life in the United States as well as assist in creating an initial budget pre- and post-employment

Ensure that clients promptly receive health screenings, enroll in public aid benefits, receive necessary documentation, and are enrolled in English classes

Conduct home visits and assessments with refugee families

Conduct additional screenings and follow-up evaluations for cases with minors traveling alone

Conduct comprehensive assessment with each refugee, develop individual service plans, and facilitate connections to appropriate services

Provide mediation services between refugees and outside entities (i.e., neighbors, landlords, volunteers, service providers, etc.)

Maintain timely and accurate client files, case notes, and reporting recordsManage details and arrangements necessary for newly arrived refugee cases to ensure proper resettlement

Actively participate in department meetings, staff development opportunities, program trainings, community activities, and organizational events

Provide supervision and accountability for department interns

Collaborate with volunteers and Volunteer Services staff to support the work of volunteers engaging with clients to meet the goals of the client’s service plan

Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
Highly self-motivated with strong follow-through and ability to work independently

Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment

Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain detailed, accurate records

Strong mediation and problem-solving skills

Cross-cultural experience and/or knowledge of the refugee/immigrant experience

Direct-service experience with vulnerable populations preferred

Excellent communication skills with people of varying English levels

Fluency in Arabic, Swahili, French, Spanish, Dari, Pashto, or Rohingya is desired

Understanding of social service provision in Illinois and Chicago

Ability to work a flexible schedule including occasional early mornings, evenings, and/or weekends

Comfortable working in a team environment

REQUIREMENTS:
Personal Christian faith and a heart for service to vulnerable people

Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief

Bachelor’s degree required

MS Office skills required

Valid driver’s license, regular access to a vehicle, and ability/willingness to drive 15-passenger van required

Ability to work occasional early mornings, evenings or weekends

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations

The ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-15 pounds

Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read application information

The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
General office setting

Great lengths of time working on computer, reading from computer screen, entering information, standing at copier or fax machine, and some time on the phone or in skype meetings may be required

Year-end archiving activities involve repeated lifting and bending

Physical, emotional and intellectual demands

Equipment used: Employee computer (desktop or laptop), printer, and copier

All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation. This position description is not all-inclusive and is always under review.

Benefits Offered to US Employees working 25 or more hours per week:

World Relief contributes to monthly premiums:
Medical

Vision

Dental

Additional Benefits:
FSA Medical & Dependent Care

Commuter Funding

Supplemental Life Insurance (employee, spouse, and children)

Offer 16 Paid Holidays

Free Coffee

World Relief pays 100% for eligible employees:
Group Term Life (employee, spouse, and children)

Long term disability

Short-term disability

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)

Travel Insurance

World Relief – Retirement:
401K & Roth through Fidelity

WR matches up to 4%, then an additional quarter percent up to 10%

Eligibility: Full Time is eligible after 3 months of employment. Part time is eligible after 1000 hours in a year

Automatically enrolled at 4%

World Relief offers Discounts (Immediately Eligible)

Verizon

Pet Insurance

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Legal Background in the United States

World Relief is both an equal opportunity employer and a faith-based religious organization. This means that we conduct hiring without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, marital status, parental status, membership in any labor organization, political ideology, or disability of an otherwise qualified individual. The status of World Relief as an equal opportunity employer does not prevent the organization from hiring staff based on their religious beliefs, so that all staff share the same religious commitment.

Pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 702 (42 U.S.C. 2000e 1(a) World Relief has the right to, and does, hire only candidates who agree with World Relief’s Statement of Faith.