Bilingual Case Manager - Worcester, United States - Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success

Description

About ORIS:

The Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success (ORIS) is an ethnic community-based nonprofit organization with the mission to aid in the resettlement of refugees and immigrants in Massachusetts and New Hampshire by providing training, assistance, resources, and opportunities that promote self-sufficiency.

ORIS's Board of Directors and staff are majority new Americans, representing 14 countries and fluent in 28 languages. The power of ORIS lies in its cultural understanding, linguistic expertise and first-hand knowledge of the immigrant experience.

We offer a wide range of programs to support new Americans in our communities, including Reception and Placement, bridging case management, services for survivors of domestic violence, employment services, farmer training, food access, and youth enrichment.

Job Summary:

The Case Manager will join ORIS's team in Worcester, MA, and work predominantly in ORIS's Permanent Housing Placement Services (Shelter Exit) program.

The Case Manager will provide support to refugee and immigrant newcomers in the MA shelter system to locate, and transition into long-term housing.

The Case Manager will also partner with clients to achieve their goals for wellbeing and self-sufficiency, helping them navigate barriers, and access services, including ensuring that clients have sustainable employment to support their housing placements.

The Case Manager will provide newcomers with basic needs support and core social services in collaboration with Emergency Assistance shelter staff.

The Case Manager will be responsible for providing appropriate direct services, advocating on behalf of clients to guarantee that they receive benefits and equitable care, and facilitating appropriate referrals to community partners.

The Case Manager will also be responsible for coordinating and collaborating with ORIS's Employment and Housing Specialists, as well as representatives from HomeBase and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), as necessary, to ensure that all aspects of clients' cases are coordinated.

The Case Manager should have significant professional or life experience working with diverse communities (especially the Haitian community) including those with limited English proficiency, and responding to clients facing trauma.

This position will report to the Shelter and Overlap Services Manager.


Responsibilities

• Provide culturallyappropriate direct assistance and support to clients who have recently resettled in the Worcester area, and/or have experienced trauma, in their primary language.
• Deliver bridging case management to address the client's individual needs and facilitate sustainable employment and long term housing. The Case Manager will provide appropriate referrals to adult education, public benefit assistance, mental health services, and legal resources, among others.
• Conduct bilingual/bicultural message development, outreach, and public education with organizations and ethnic community leaders and elders.
• Coordinate and collaborate with ORIS's Employment and Housing Specialists, representatives of HomeBase, and EOHLC, as needed, to ensure that clients complete the necessary steps to ensuring sustainability and longterm housing.
• Maintain and develop knowledge and skills in best practices, safety planning, consent and confidentiality, traumainformed care, and provider selfcare, among other topics, by participating in training and staying informed about new trends in the field.
• Carry out services in accordance with best practices around consent, confidentiality, and data management.
• Consistently maintain records of services provided in ORIS's/EOHLC's confidential client database and through regular written reports.
• Participate in regular case review with the Shelter and Overlap Services Team, ORIS staff meetings, and other events as scheduled.
• Perform other duties as requested, and contribute to allstaff activities as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience working across multiple languages and cultures, particularly with refugees or immigrant populations with diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• 12 years of experience in the human services sector, with a minimum of 1 year of professional experience in direct service for diverse communities; direct experience with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or trauma preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate effectively and respectfully with clients with varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently document and report on activities; excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to be selfdirected, motivated and an independent problem solver.
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record and reliable private vehicle. Travel around the Worcester, MA area is essenti