Unification Specialist - Houston PRN (IN-COMMUNITY)

Urban Strategies; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization is seeking In-Community Case Managers to coordinate family reunification services for unaccompanied children in Texas. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree in Social Work or a related field, have at least two years of relevant experience, and be ready to work flexible hours. Responsibilities include assessing the needs of children and ensuring proper documentation of services. Travel may be required, necessitating a valid driver's license and successful completion of a background check.

Qualifications

• 2 or more years of related experience; ORR experience preferred.
• Available flexible schedule including nights and weekends.
• Able to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate family reunification services for unaccompanied children.
• Assess needs of each child and develop individual service plans.
• Maintain documentation in accordance with program regulations.

Skills

Communication

Critical Thinking

Trauma informed care

Leadership

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or equivalent degree

Job description

Location

Houston, TX

Job Id

819

# of Openings

20

Job Description

Job Title

Category

NON-EXEMPT (PRN)

Program

URBAN STRATEGIES – REFUGIO UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN

Work Schedule

FIVE DAYS PER WEEK, 40 HOURS PER WEEK; 12 MONTHS PER YEAR

Reports To

UNIFICATION SPECIALIST MANAGER, REFUGIO

Organizational Overview

Urban Strategies exists to equip, resource, and connect faith- and community-based organizations that are engaged in community transformation to help families reach their fullest potential. We work with trusted faith- and community-based organizations and focus on the Latino community to engage and come alongside the whole family. Our vision is that all children and families reach their full potential.

Our work is informed by our three core values: Authentic Relationships, Servant Leadership, and Intentional Compassion.

• Authentic Relationships are foundational to our work and move beyond a transactional nature to truly know people. They serve as opportunities for mutual development and growth and are based on the belief that all people have inherent dignity and worth.
• Servant Leadership is rooted in an other-centric mindset that informs the way one leads and builds up individuals, families, and communities.
• Intentional Compassion describes a deliberate commitment to understand, formulate strategic responses, and activate others to reach their full potential.

Our organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Our team works across the United States and Puerto Rico with direct service centers located in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, New York, and Puerto Rico.

Program Overview

The Refugio Unaccompanied Children Shelter and Foster Care Program is a 24-hour program that serves young persons in immigration custody who are awaiting release to their sponsors.

Position Overview

In-Community Case Managers are responsible for coordinating family reunification services and assessing the needs of each unaccompanied child (UC) in care.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Utilize trauma theory and brief therapeutic techniques to work with unaccompanied children entering the United States during a typical shelter stay of 30-35 days.
• Complete an intake interview upon admission and promptly identify needed services.
• Assess family, education, history of trauma, personal goals, and potential experience with human exploitation/trafficking.
• Develop interventions and an individual service plan consistent with each child's psycho-social needs.
• Maintain direct contact with each UC and, to the extent possible, with the UCs family and potential sponsors.
• Maintain appropriate documentation according to program regulations.
• Carry up to eight cases.
• Upon request, this role may be required to travel with UC, 14 and under, to locations in the United States.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Confirm the minor are receiving all required services, meeting regularly with the minor to ensure their wellbeing.
• Attend all case staffing, trainings, and other meetings as part of the minor’s care team, providing status updates and collaborating with other stakeholders.
• Initiate, coordinate, and maintain direct contact with each minor and the minor’s family while the minor is in ORR care in order to efficiently advance the minor’s family reunification and safe release from the facility.
• Facilitate the timely release or discharge of minors to identified family members or authorized caregiver/custodian and document the provision of services in each minor’s case file.

Physical Demands

Ability to see at normal distance, hear normal conversations and sounds and use hands and fingers to fill out required forms. Physically able to perform therapeutic physical restraints.

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 as long as the staff disability does not create an undue risk of injury to any children.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or an equivalent degree in Psychology, Sociology, or other relevant Behavioral Science.
• Experience: 2 or more years of related experience; ORR experience preferred.
• Available to work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends.
• Available to travel, as required.
• Professional: Diversity, Communication, Ethical.
• Technical: Trauma, Report, Advocate, Critical Thinking, Case Analysis.
• Organizational: Leadership, Teamwork, Community Approach.
• Knowledge: Child Welfare.
• Other: Licensure; Driver’s License.

Special Considerations

Other employment requirements include the following:

• Background check.
• TB Test.
• Must pass bilingual proficiency test.

Important Notice to Prospective Candidates

This is a sub-contractor position. Employment is conditional pending satisfactory results of all required tests and background checks mentioned above and a final interview with contractor. Periodic physical examinations and TB clearances will be required if hired. Please note the process for this position depending on your State of residence can take from one to four months after offer letter is received. Urban Strategies does not have final say on hiring or dismissal.