AmeriCorps Immigrant Integration Spec

Company: CASA de Maryland Inc
Location: Lancaster
Posted on: January 8, 2021

Job Description:

Position Name: "Immigrant Integration Specialist AmeriCorps member"Number of individual AmeriCorps members serving in this position: The Program aims to recruit 16 (sixteen) full-time and 4 (four) half-time AmeriCorps members.Member Immediate Supervisor Name:The Site Supervisor will provide day-to-day supervision and evaluate the AmeriCorps member's performance according to the Program policies and procedures. Each Site will have different site supervisors. The member will report to each site supervisor depending on their service locationCASA's Pennsylvania Service Manager, Earvin Gonzalez, is the Program Manager. He can be reached at 717-219-7974 or by email eagonzalez@wearecasa.org.Position Start date:The Program launch will be on August 31st, 2020. If there are any position available after that day, members may start as agreed with the Program Supervisor. The real start date for each individual will be identified on the Service Agreement.Position End Date: August 10, 2021Days/ Hours of ServiceFull-time AmeriCorps members' will serve approximately 40 hours per week. Part-time AmeriCorps members' schedules will serve approximately 20 hours per week. Regular service time will occur Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. Some evening and weekend service is required.Individual schedule is agreed by the AmeriCorps member and the Program Supervisor at the beginning of the program. The schedule may be changed upon agreement, based on program- or member's need.Host Sites. Locations:Members will be placed at one of the following host sites for their full term of service.York Welcome Center, 225 E Princess St, York, PA 17403.York City Hall, 101 south George street, York pa 17401Lancaster Welcome Center .318 south duke street Lancaster PA 17602The main service location for each member will be identified on the Service Agreement.CASA's Mission and goals.CASA's Mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in low-income immigrant communities.CASA's Vision is a future with diverse and thriving communities living free from discrimination and fear, working together with mutual respect to achieve full human rights for all.Project Mission and Goals: The program is focused on providing immigrant integration services, with an emphasis on developing participant's financial capabilities, job readiness and supporting eligible Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) to apply for the US citizenship. The project is coordinated by CASA, funded in part by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and PennSERVE.The program aims to provide financial education services to 500 economically disadvantage people during the program year. Of them, at least 400 should show improvement in their skills, knowledge and confidence. The program utilizes surveys to track these goals. The program also aims to serve 400 economically disadvantage individuals on employment advancement training and 320 individuals receiving job placement services.Other goals related to naturalization efforts may be set at the beginning of the Service.Community Need:South central Pennsylvania has one of the fastest growing Latino populations in the state, including a mix of Puerto Rican, Mexican, and other Latino immigrants. Indeed, York County's Hispanic population has experienced a 155% increase from 2000 to 2014, and Lancaster County's Hispanic population has grown from 15,639 in 1990, to 26,742 in 2000, and is now at 52,299 (a 96% increase from 2000 to 2014). This population growth is largely due to secondary migration from nearby metropolitan areas (New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia), and from birth of second-generation immigrant children. The region is also expected to receive an influx of Puerto Ricans displaced by the recent hurricane. Many families are mixed-status families, and the overall population is younger than the average population in the area.The needs of Latino families in the south central Pennsylvania region are significant. A few years ago, when a wave of York area immigrant residents who commuted to Baltimore for work or to access services came to CASA's Baltimore Center, they spoke with CASA staff about the growing Latino community in York, and the high demand for an organization like CASA. We then began our more formal work in the region. CASA conducted a preliminary needs assessment of low-income immigrantresidents, doing a combination of door-to-door outreach and meeting with existing service providers and local government agencies to learn more. When asked to assess the obstacles they faced to improving their economic conditions, 69% of survey respondents cited linguistic and cultural barriers. Financial management, legal issues and lack of appropriate skills training for available jobs were also all reasons cited as obstacles by over 50% of the population surveyed. CASA identified an overwhelming need for legal services, as well as bilingual financial literacy and workforce development services. While some quality services were being provided, many were not linguistically and culturally accessible to the growing Latino population, and most survey respondents were unaware of them.The focus of CASA's AmeriCorps program will be on those immigrants who are Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) and are eligible to become citizens, as well as on Latinos who are already citizens, including both naturalized citizens and newly resettled Latinos from Puerto Rico. Based on initial research that correlates with research across the country, several key strategies will be critical to serving this population: financial education and coaching; supports in obtaining citizenship; and case management support to identify and secure employment or improve employment opportunities.Member Position Summary:AMERICORPS Immigrant Integration Specialist members serving with the Immigrant Workforce and Economic Empowerment AmeriCorps Program members provide a range of direct services to economically disadvantage individuals including one-on-one tutoring and workshops on financial education (household budget, banking, saving for a goal, credit score management, etc.) and job advancement (resume writing, work ethic, etc.) as well as support for eligible LPRs to apply for US citizenship. (Tutoring, teaching ESOL/Citizenship classes, N-400 assistance, Citizenship workshops, and coordinating volunteers).The member will conduct as well outreach activities to ensure the program target population register to participate in the program.Required training prior to Member Placement:CASA will provide a two-week orientation program at the beginning of the Service Year. The Training will include financial education and naturalization content, as well as best practices on outreach, record keeping, and other relevant issues.The training includes an overview of National Service, the role of CNCS and the Pennsylvania's PennSERVE, as well as training on prohibited activities as described by CNCS.In order to be able to provide free income tax preparation services, members will be required to obtain an IRS certification. CASA will provide a free training, usually in January, to facilitate members to be certified.Access to Vulnerable Populations:AmeriCorps member serving on this position has recurring access to vulnerable populations as described by CNCS.Member Impact:Members will be able to improve the quality of life and integration of immigrants to the broader Society by helping program participants to improve their financial skills and knowledge, prepare high-quality and accurate taxes and preparing the citizenship application for Lawful Permanent Residents.Members will be evaluated about outcomes such as number of people who receive financial education services and outputs such as how many of those participants showed actual improvement in their financial skills and confidence, as well as their soft-skills require in every job environment, such as learning will, teamwork, communication, and professionalism.Essential Functions of Position:Direct Services

• Facilitate and/or coordinate workshops and individualized coaching sessions focused on naturalization, financial literacy and economic development, and access to public benefits
• Teach and/or coordinate citizenship preparation courses
• Assist Legal Permanent Residents to complete the Citizenship application form (N-400)
• Conducting workforce training and resume building for community members
• Assist in applying for new employment and job skills
• Conduct outreach activities to identify potential program participants.
• Prepare taxes for program participants during the February/April tax season.Information Gathering
  • Strengthen and develop
  • Conduct needs assessments and provide community education within immigrant community
  • Update organizational databases based on activities conducted.Community involvement/Leadership Development/Volunteer Management
    • Develop volunteer opportunities related to immigrant integration and U.S. citizenship
    • 6Train and coordinate volunteers to participate in immigrant integration workshops or Citizenship mentoring
    • Reach out other community organizations to offer program's services to their constituents.Note: The AmeriCorps member will not be allowed to perform duties that violate the AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities or fall outside of the program goals.Required Knowledge, Skills, and abilities:
      • Experience performing duties on multicultural environments.
      • Excellent English writing and language skills (bilingual in Spanish, French, Korean, Mandarin, Thai, or Hindi preferred).
      • Highly organized and efficient, "can-do" attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative.
      • Access to personal transportation preferred.
      • Fast learner.
      • Some knowledge of popular education, financial education, tax preparation and citizenship are a plus.Required Academic and Experience Qualifications:
        • A high school diploma or GED or agree to obtain one during the service year.
        • Having a Bachelor degree on social sciences is a plus.Other required qualifications:
          • Ability to perform all of the duties outlined above.
          • U.S. Citizen or U.S. Legal Permanent Resident (recently naturalized citizens are encouraged to apply).
          • At least 17 years old.
          • Pass a national service criminal history check of the national sex-offender registry, state repository check (Pennsylvania and state of residence), and FBI fingerprint check, before starting national service.
          • Express commitment to complete one year of National Service.Prohibited Activities:Read attached list of prohibited activities for AmeriCorps members. They are also listed on the Member Service Agreement.Placement Type:The position is not a reassignment from a previous Host Site/Agency.Benefits:Full-time commitment (1700 hour/year):Living allowance of $ 549 bi-weekly, health care coverage. Member may apply for child-care allowance. Member will be entitled to a $6,195 education award upon program completion.Half-Time commitment (900 hours/year):Living allowance of $275 bi-weekly. Member will be entitled to a $3,097.50 education award upon program completion.Living allowance will be paid bi-weekly by direct.Individuals may be eligible to have the repayment of their qualified students loans postponed while serving. This postponement is called forbearance. While interest may continue to accrue during your service, if you successfully complete the term of service the National Service Trust will pay all or a portion of the qualified loan's interest that accrued during your service. Most federally-guaranteed student loans are eligible for forbearance.CASA offers a variety of free-, high quality- training courses on Financial Education, Taxes and Citizenship.Selection Process:To be considered for the AmeriCorps Immigrant Workforce and Economic Empowerment Program interested individuals must submit a current resume and cover letter in the CASA website (https://wearecasa.org/join-us/).. Staff will review the application, request an interview and application (if appropriate), conduct three reference checks, and match a potential applicant with a host site. After the applicant has met with the site supervisor at the host site, the applicant will be responsible for getting a three part criminal history check. Individuals will not be allowed to start orientation or be enrolled in the program until all appropriate background check and paperwork is received by CASA.Contact:For more information and to apply, contact: For more information about AmeriCorps, visit: Earvin Gonzalez www.americorps.govPennsylvania Service ManagerCASA For more information about CASA, visit:eagonzalez@wearecasa.org www.wearecasa.org

Keywords: CASA de Maryland Inc, Lancaster , AmeriCorps Immigrant Integration Spec, Accounting, Auditing , Lancaster, Pennsylvania