Youth Support Specialist, Unaccompanied Children Program (Spanish-speaking

Job Title:

Youth Support Specialist, Unaccompanied Children Program(Spanish-speaking)

Department:
Refugee Services

Reports to:

Anti-Trafficking Program Manager

FLSA Status:
Full-time, exempt

Salary Range: $53,000-$58,000 (depending on experience)

The International Institute of Minnesota is a dynamic organization that provides services to maximize the talents and opportunities New Americans bring to our state. The Institute assists low-income New Americans in their transition to a new homeland by providing comprehensive services for successful integration. The Institute serves more than 4,000 New Americans annually with new arrival social services to employment placement and advancement through to U.S. Citizenship attainment.

Programs are divided into three primary areas:
Refugee Services, Education and Employment Training Services, and Immigration Services. The Institute also provides advocacy for policy reforms and supports systems change that improve opportunities for New Americans to move their lives forward.

The Youth Support Specialist will provide post-release services to youth clients of the Unaccompanied Children (UC) Program. The UC program serves foreign-born youth under the age of 18 who are being released from Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody into the care of family members or friends that have agreed to sponsor them. The Youth Support Specialist will assess sponsor homes for safety and fitness and will provide direct services to the youth after they have reunited with the sponsor to assist with the transition into the community.

The Youth Support Specialist will support youth and their sponsors by referring them to community resources, advocating for them, and providing education.

• Provide trauma-informed direct services to Unaccompanied Children (UCs) that have experienced trafficking, migration trauma, community violence, detention, and other trauma. These services include assessment, safety planning, resource coordination, transportation, and providing informal emotional support.
• Facilitate referrals for youth and their sponsors/families to resources such as housing, legal services, food banks, medical and dental clinics, and mental health services.
• Provide education to UCs and their families around topics such as substance use, gangs, human trafficking, and sexual health. As needed, assist with education support groups for youth in these topic areas.
• Complete home studies to assess the safety and fitness of potential sponsors for unaccompanied children.
• Travel throughout Minnesota to meet with unaccompanied children and their sponsors.
• Maintain program compliance by writing detailed reports and case notes, updating client files, database records, and documentation, and following this federal program’s strict deadlines.
• Participate in the maintenance and development of the programs through regular coordinator calls, service calls, monthly reports, training, and community outreach
• Participate in bimonthly team meetings, monthly department meetings, and quarterly all staff meetings
• Follow all Institute privacy and safety protocols.

• Commitment to the human rights and general welfare of refugees and immigrants
• Bilingual in Spanish and English
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, behavioral science, youth work, human services, or related field
• Strong organizational skills and initiative; ability to keep track of and follow program deadlines independently and to maintain up-to-date, accurate, case files
• 2+ years experience providing direct services to children, particularly teenage youth (i.e. case management, advocacy, or youth after school programming)
• Experience working with youth from diverse, cultural backgrounds and/or youth that have experienced trauma
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple responsibilities
• Strong problem-solving and crisis management skills
• Knowledge of the dynamics of trauma and trauma-informed care
• Knowledge and familiarity with systems impacting immigrant youth, including child welfare, immigration, healthcare, educational, and criminal…