Child Protection Crisis Response Officer

Background:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work today in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities. The IRC’s Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to gain stability and control of their future. RAI serves more than 50,000 individuals each year, through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at five core outcomes: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education and Power.

IRC’s safety and wellness programs help heal and rebuild communities that have been deeply affected by grief, loss, and displacement by providing mental health and psychosocial support, mental health and interpersonal violence screening, and referral as needed to more specialized supports. IRC launched the ImportaMí program in September 2021 to reach unaccompanied migrant and asylum-seeking children who are vulnerable to receiving in absentia removal orders (due to missing their hearing), or missed opportunities to secure lawful immigration status, as well as to exploitation, trafficking, or social exclusion. Since the start of ImportaMí, there have been changes in immigration policy, which have increased the likelihood of having more minors cross the US-Mexico border as unaccompanied children, particularly because of the continuation of Title 42. Since August 2021, there has also been an increase in unaccompanied children from Afghanistan and more recently, Ukraine. Children from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti, and other countries have unique legal options and may require additional support and resources.

Job Overview:

The Child Protection Crisis Response Officer provides a combination of responding to emergency and crisis cases, capacity building and supervision of complex cases to IRC’s unaccompanied minor programming, as well as provides support to other emergent issues related to child protection in the U.S. This role will help ensure that services and supports that are delivered to unaccompanied minors and other children enrolled in IRC services are done in alignment with trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally informed best practices. The position will also help ensure that staff have the training, coaching and consultation support they need to manage complex or urgent cases involving minors so that they are resolved with the safest possible outcomes. While the position is centered on the support of unaccompanied children including Unaccompanied Afghan Minors (UAMS) and other children, the Crisis Response Officer should also advance IRC’s family strengthening to help ensure the safety and stability of children within their home. The Crisis Response Officer is expected to advance guidance, training materials, manuals, and other resources in alignment with federal, state, local and donor requirements and IRC global guidelines.

This role will partner closely with multiple IRC program offices within the home study and post release services program, within the Intensive Case Management (ICM) program, and will collaborate and liaise with the ImportaMí team, including but not limited to Program Managers, Immigration Intake Specialists, and Digital Community Liaisons, Child Protection staff, as well as Headquarters staff.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide support to unaccompanied children with safety or protection concerns, where diverse urgent needs are expressed by either the child or sponsor. Response is provided via phone/WhatsApp based on established escalation protocols.

• Consult and collaborate with Home Study and Post Release Service staff if cases are urgent and need Post release services.

• Ensure children harmed or at risk of being harmed are identified and referred for appropriate support by ensuring standard tools and procedures are in place and adhered to.

• Coordinate with other child protection agencies on case management and emergency preparedness and response activities.

• Help coordinate trauma-informed and culturally responsive case management services for unaccompanied children from diverse countries, including Central and Latin America, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Many unaccompanied children may face issues related to: placement disruptions, housing or food insecurity, and potential human trafficking concerns.

• Provide staff consultation and coaching to increase the capacity of staff to deliver trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive services.

• Support Child Protection Coordinators and Level 3 case manager staff in liaising with complex systems (i.e., child welfare, law enforcement, mental health, etc.).

• Assist Child Protection Coordinators and Intensive Case Managers for minors’ staff as needed in appropriate internal and external crisis intervention resources.

• Consult on other cases of child protection concerns within RAI program offices.

• Create and facilitate Child Protection trainings for HQ and Child Protection staff related to Crisis Intervention along with the Child Protection Training Officer.

• Ensure that the IRC’s models align with established professional treatment standards and practices.

• Build the capacity of the RAI network to mainstream child protection considerations into ongoing services.

• Support staff in staying resilient by reinforcing positive work practices and self-care strategies, including facilitating connections to Duty of Care resources as appropriate.

• Provide direct input and support to local supervisors on the recruitment, onboarding, training and performance management of all Child Protection staff in collaboration with the Child Protection Technical Advisor and direct supervisors.

• Liaise regularly with direct supervisors of field-based UC staff on program progress.

• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Health, International Studies, Psychology/Sociology, or related field.

• 3+ years of experience providing psychosocial care and/or case management support for unaccompanied children, immigrant families or other vulnerable communities.

• Experience working cross-culturally with unaccompanied children, immigrants or lived experience with displacement or the immigration system.

• Utilize a strengths-based, client-centered, trauma-informed approach to assess clients’ psychosocial needs, capacities, priorities, and resources.

• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity, empathy, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills.

• Experience working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.

• Fluency in Spanish, Dari, Pashto or Ukrainian required.

• Demonstrated experience collaborating with staff, interns or volunteers.

• Demonstrated experience creating and facilitating trainings.

• Demonstrated experience in relationships within stakeholders (i.e. child protective services, law enforcement and other child protection stakeholders).

• Effective people and program management skills in acute emergency contexts: the ability to train, lead and manage staff productively under stressful circumstances.

• Strong understanding of child development, trauma-informed care, culturally responsive service delivery, and strength-based and client-centered services.

• Demonstrated experience in case management and helping vulnerable individuals and families navigate complex systems and connect to resources.

• Experienced with competently managing emergent, urgent and crisis situations with clients (i.e., child welfare, suicidal ideation, mental health concerns, etc.).

• Highly developed interpersonal skills including active listening, emotional de-escalation, patience, and compassion.

• Service-oriented leadership skills.

• Excellent project management and knowledge management skills.

• Strong analytic problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure.

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite.

• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

• Evenings as weekends may be frequent as on-call responsibilities are part of this role.

Working Environment:**

• Standard office work environment. Up to 20% travel required.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.