Refugee Resettlement Case Manager, HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia

Posted by on October 26, 2009

HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia
Refugee Resettlement Program

MISSION

HIAS and Council Migration Services of Philadelphia (“HIAS and Council”) was founded in 1882 to provide services to Jewish immigrants and refugees fleeing persecution and seeking opportunity by migration to America.  Based on the tradition of “welcoming the stranger,” HIAS and Council works to resettle, reunite and represent Jewish and all immigrants and refugees of limited means residing in Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley.  The agency seeks the fair treatment and integration into American society of immigrants from all backgrounds.

HIAS and Council provides the following programs:
•    Representation and legal counseling before immigration agencies and the courts
•    Resettlement and other support services to assist refugees, immigrants and those granted asylum
•    Citizenship services

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:        Refugee Resettlement Case Manager
Supervisor:         Marina Merlin, Preferred Communities Coordinator
Salary Range:        $28 – 30 K

Summary of Responsibilities:

1.    Social service case management of refugee clients, including those enrolled in the federal Matching Grant and Reception and Placement programs.
This includes:
•    Coordination of pre-arrival services.
•    Greet refugees upon arrival at airport.
•    Conduct initial intake, comprehensive cultural orientation and review entry documents for new refugee arrivals.
•    Develop comprehensive self-sufficiency plan, resettlement plan and individualized family budget.
•    Facilitate service and public benefits appointments and referrals as required including social security, food stamps and Medicaid.
•    Accompany refugees to medical, social services and other appointments. Provide or secure interpretation services as necessary.
•    Orientation of new families.
•    Tracking process and needs of clients and their families.
•    Communicating with third parties, such as employers, anchor relatives, school officials, welfare staff, etc. on behalf of the clients, and assisting in the transportation of clients to doctors’ appointments, social security offices, etc.
•    Maintaining accurate, timely and orderly case and database records and preparing reports in a timely and accurate manner.
•    Advocating on behalf of the clients and those similarly situated within NSC and throughout the boarder community.

2.    Actively participate in weekly case meetings and other department, agency, community and provider meetings, as needed.

3.    Conduct outreach to clients through participation in outside events and distribution of material within the community including ethnic and community affairs, ethnic churches and other sites frequented by immigrants and refugees.

4.    Attend regular conferences.

5.    Prepare reports as needed.

6.    Other duties as assigned by supervisor and resettlement director.
Additional Qualifications:
•    College degree or comparable work experience required.
•    Bilingual skills are required (with preference given to: Arabic, Burmese, and Nepali languages).
•    Ability to exercise sound judgment in decision making practices.
•    Some case management experience is preferred.
•    Strong preference will be given to a candidate who has had experience with the Matching Grant and/or Resettlement and Placement programs.
•    Ability to identify challenges and provide recommendations for solutions.
•    Ability to work with multicultural caseload and ethnically diverse staff.
•    Knowledge of issues within the immigrant and refugee community is required.
•    Strong organizational, time management and communication skills. Patience required.
•    Strong computer skills are required and accuracy in data entry skills.
•    Must be able to work under pressure and prescribed timelines.
•    Valid Pennsylvania driver’s license and fully insured vehicle.

If you are interested this position, please send your resume via email to Loy Omphommasack at loy@hiaspa.org by October 28, 2009.