If you are passionate about transforming communities with a mission-driven organization, then we have the opportunity for you!Since 1939, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) has offered welcome and hope to refugees. LIRS has transformed lives with the support and hard work of people like you, to welcome the most vulnerable to the United States from sea to shining sea.We help people seeking safety from persecution in their home countries and reunite families torn apart by conflict. We resettle refugees. We protect vulnerable children who arrive alone in the United States. We advocate for compassion and justice for all migrants. Widely recognized for our expertise in implementing federal programs on behalf of refugees and migrants in the United States, conducts policy advocacy, and advances the protection and rights of vulnerable migrants.Headquartered in the beautiful Inner Harbor of downtown Baltimore we provide services nationwide through a network of staff and affiliates. Attracting and retaining the best talent is vital to our continued growth and we are proud to offer an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision available the first day of employment, professional development, tuition reimbursement, generous paid time off including 20 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 12 paid holidays PLUS the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, 12 weeks of paid parental leave and up to 12 weeks of fully paid FMLA leave, company 403(b) contribution of 3%, an additional 4% match, Family Building benefits for reproductive procedures, adoption/foster care assistance, and an annual wellness benefit that can be customized to support your personal needs including funding enrichment classes, gym memberships, and healthy eating plans (to name a few) all in an inclusive and progressive environment!Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers.Program Description: Unaccompanied children (UC) have been arriving in the United States in increasing numbers over the past decade seeking protection from persecution, deteriorating social and economic conditions, and generalized violence in their home countries. LIRS’s therapeutic group home programs, located in various locations in the US, address the safety, well-being, and community integration needs of UC in need of specialized clinical services while they are in Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody. Since 2011, LIRS and its network of community-based partners have placed over 4,000 UC of all ages, genders, nationalities, sexual orientations, and religious affiliations in small group home and foster care placements. Position Summary: Reporting to the Senior Program Officer, the Therapeutic Services Intern will assist the Program Officers in providing technical assistance and oversight to LIRS’ partner agencies providing therapeutic services. This is a paid internship.DUTIES Assist Program Officers in the oversight and administration of Foster Care grants to therapeutic network partner agencies including child welfare best practice, program management, and compliance with the LIRS cooperative agreement and ORR policies and procedures. Assist Program Officers in the collaboration efforts with Foster Care partners engaged in service provision to unaccompanied children.
Special Position Requirements
Assist Program Officers in network coordination, communication, and peer learning throughout the network. Assist Program Officers in providing support and technical assistance to partners related to issues of service delivery, documentation, reporting, LIRS, and child welfare best practices, as well as federal obligations. Assist Program Officers in providing ongoing desk and on-site monitoring to Foster Care Partners to assess program functioning and compliance with state, federal, local standards, as well as to identify trends, service gaps, and evaluate service models. Assist Program Officers in assisting with identifying training needs, program challenges, development of materials, resources, and tools to enhance the delivery of program services in accordance with recognized child welfare standards, LIRS best practices, and Office of Refugee Resettlement policies and procedures implementation. Perform other job-related duties as assignedQUALIFICATIONS Prior experience working with and a strong commitment to the refugee or immigrant community preferred, but not necessary; Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel; Ability to multitask and work independently; Ability to engage stakeholders professionally; Strong writing and analytical skills and experience in internet research; Commitment to LIRS’s core mission and values and an ability to model those values in relationship with colleagues and partners; commitment to empowering refugees and migrants.
Bilingual in Spanish and English strongly preferred.
Must be at least 21 years of age. Must be willing and able to clear a criminal background check for the past 7 years. Must be willing and able to request and clear Child Abuse and Neglect background check in all states lived within previous 5 years, updated yearly. Must be willing and able to obtain FBI fingerprint chec
