Caseworker, Refugee Resettlement (full-time)

The Refugee Center is looking for a Caseworker to join our team to support refugees and other Office of Refugee Resettlement-eligible clients with resettlement and ongoing integration and orientation to the United States.

The Refugee Center, with an office in Champaign, IL, exists to provide services essential to refugee and immigrant resettlement in East Central Illinois, and to aid in the exchange and preservation of their respective cultures. Globally aware but locally focused, our professional, compassionate staff provide interpretation services and advocacy in court hearings, doctors' appointments, school conferences, and other settings. For 40 years, we’ve helped people find stability in their new homes through counseling, tutoring, community health programs, and support in completing paperwork for work, school, and government programs.

The Caseworker will be a core member of our Resettlement team, carrying out the requirements of several federal- and state-funded resettlement, case management, and employment programs created to support new arrivals in the United States. The Caseworker will manage a caseload of diverse clients to assess and support their individual or family resettlement needs.

The position is open for a Caseworker with more formal experience and/or education in social work, casework and/or refugee resettlement or candidates looking to enter this field.

The Caseworker will report to the Resettlement Manager and is a full-time role.

Duties:

• Welcome new refugee clients at the airport and orient them to their new housing.
• Conducts initial assessments of clients' situation to determine a realistic plan for self-sufficiency.
• Facilitates cultural orientation sessions on a variety of topics, including health, safety, transportation, finances, and more.
• Assists clients in accessing relevant public benefits and other community resources and services. s.
• If applicable, provides bilingual assistance for certain appointments, applications, and employment activities.
• Maintains detailed and timely case notes and financial logs, in compliance with The Refugee Center’s grant agreements.
• Provides transportation for clients to important appointments, meetings, and interviews during their initial resettlement period.
• Provides feedback to the Resettlement Manager and Assistant Director of Programs regarding trends and needs in client communities.
• Actively participates in ongoing training in order to stay up to date on best practices in refugee resettlement and in order to meet all certification standards and credentialing policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Experience and/or interest in social work or related field
• Knowledge of social services available in the community
• Empathy and understanding for refugees and immigrants
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to be flexible and accommodate client needs when possible
• Able to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and situations
• Excellent judgment and ability to proactively make decisions
• Ability to build strong, trusting relationships
• Ability to multitask and prioritize between competing needs
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field
• Working proficiency in languages in addition to English, especially Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, French, and Lingala
• Knowledge of and experience in refugee resettlement
• Experience working with people from different cultures
• Knowledge of trauma informed care

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary of $37,440/year for Caseworker role
• Option between participating in employer sponsored medical plan or a monthly healthcare stipend
• Mobile phone stipend

If interested, please apply to jobs@trc-cu.org with your resume. No phone calls please.

The Refugee Center is an equal opportunity employer.