Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh
Refugee and Immigrant Youth Specialist
Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15201
Refugee And Immigrant Youth Specialist
The Refugee and Immigrant Youth Services Specialist will join the Youth Services Department to implement a range of programming designed to support refugee and immigrant youth and their families. This includes leading the 412 Futures career discovery initiative, the Learn & Earn Summer Program, and grant-funded activities under the Refugee School Impact program. The Specialist will work with youth in grades K
12 and their parents, delivering programming focused on career exploration, post-secondary planning, social emotional learning, and educational enrichment. Activities will take place in schools, online, in the office, and throughout the community, with a strong emphasis on orienting, mentoring, and inspiring youth success. The role also involves enhancing partner collaborations, ensuring compliance with grant requirements, and helping youth develop individualized career pathways and long-term goals. Evening and weekend hours are required to support after-school and family enrichment programming that extends the joy of learning beyond the classroom. Duties and Responsibilities: Direct Service: Provide in-person and virtual programming for youth and their families through groups, art, language acquisition, mentoring and fun activities. Develop individualized career pathway plans with youth clients. Maintain a caseload, maintain regular contact with students and their families at least once a month to coach and track progress. Create and deliver curriculum based on student ages and grade levels; career development for high school students, language acquisition and social emotional learning for K
8. Mentor youth for leadership development. Work with a highly engaging team for planning and the development of activities. Develop relationships and keep in regular communication with School District administrators and teachers. Must be available to work after school hours and some weekends and or evenings for special events. Accountability: Keeps accurate, timely records on youth progress, outcomes and milestone achievements. Regularly reviews program implementation and progress toward outcome achievement. Willing to make necessary changes to ensure contract and grant requirements are being met. Orient and supervise mentor interactions focused on youth safety, developmental understanding and cultural respect. Assist with program data entry, tracking, and outcome reporting to ensure compliance with all program funding requirements. Participates in maintaining positive collaborations with community organizations such as ARYSE, Hello Neighbor, and Casa San Jose as well as schools throughout the region. Other Duties: Maintain an attitude of enthusiasm, a strengths-based approach and a highly collaborative relationship with all individuals involved in JFCS programming, clients as well as staff. Practices cultural humility and responsiveness towards clients and colleagues. Participate in ongoing training for volunteer mentors as well as professional staff development. Support volunteers, mentors and interns involved with the program, as appropriate. Other duties as needed. Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree (preferred) in social service, education or related field. Two years of experience preferably in education or refugee or immigrant social services. Must love youth and have a high tolerance for kid chaos. Good English (spoken and written). Top level organizational and communication skills as well as ability to work under strict deadlines. Creativity and curiosity a necessity, as well as the ability to work as part of a team with case workers, school teachers and administrators, interpreters and others. Sensitive to cultural differences of clients and staff from diverse backgrounds. Functional vehicle required. Able to work flexible hours. Fluency in another language and/or lived experience as an immigrant is a plus. Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times
The Refugee and Immigrant Youth Services Specialist will join the Youth Services Department to implement a range of programming designed to support refugee and immigrant youth and their families. This includes leading the 412 Futures career discovery initiative, the Learn & Earn Summer Program, and grant-funded activities under the Refugee School Impact program. The Specialist will work with youth in grades K
12 and their parents, delivering programming focused on career exploration, post-secondary planning, social emotional learning, and educational enrichment. Activities will take place in schools, online, in the office, and throughout the community, with a strong emphasis on orienting, mentoring, and inspiring youth success. The role also involves enhancing partner collaborations, ensuring compliance with grant requirements, and helping youth develop individualized career pathways and long-term goals. Evening and weekend hours are required to support after-school and family enrichment programming that extends the joy of learning beyond the classroom. Duties and Responsibilities: Direct Service: Provide in-person and virtual programming for youth and their families through groups, art, language acquisition, mentoring and fun activities. Develop individualized career pathway plans with youth clients. Maintain a caseload, maintain regular contact with students and their families at least once a month to coach and track progress. Create and deliver curriculum based on student ages and grade levels; career development for high school students, language acquisition and social emotional learning for K
8. Mentor youth for leadership development. Work with a highly engaging team for planning and the development of activities. Develop relationships and keep in regular communication with School District administrators and teachers. Must be available to work after school hours and some weekends and or evenings for special events. Accountability: Keeps accurate, timely records on youth progress, outcomes and milestone achievements. Regularly reviews program implementation and progress toward outcome achievement. Willing to make necessary changes to ensure contract and grant requirements are being met. Orient and supervise mentor interactions focused on youth safety, developmental understanding and cultural respect. Assist with program data entry, tracking, and outcome reporting to ensure compliance with all program funding requirements. Participates in maintaining positive collaborations with community organizations such as ARYSE, Hello Neighbor, and Casa San Jose as well as schools throughout the region. Other Duties: Maintain an attitude of enthusiasm, a strengths-based approach and a highly collaborative relationship with all individuals involved in JFCS programming, clients as well as staff. Practices cultural humility and responsiveness towards clients and colleagues. Participate in ongoing training for volunteer mentors as well as professional staff development. Support volunteers, mentors and interns involved with the program, as appropriate. Other duties as needed. Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree (preferred) in social service, education or related field. Two years of experience preferably in education or refugee or immigrant social services. Must love youth and have a high tolerance for kid chaos. Good English (spoken and written). Top level organizational and communication skills as well as ability to work under strict deadlines. Creativity and curiosity a necessity, as well as the ability to work as part of a team with case workers, school teachers and administrators, interpreters and others. Sensitive to cultural differences of clients and staff from diverse backgrounds. Functional vehicle required. Able to work flexible hours. Fluency in another language and/or lived experience as an immigrant is a plus. Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times