ESL/Cultural Orientation/Education Navigator
Church World Service, Inc.

Job Info

---

About CWS

Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.

Purpose

The Cultural Orientation Liasion coordinates community-based ESL classes to assist newly arriving refugees, Afghan and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees, and other ORR-eligible populations; teaches cultural orientation classes for newly arriving individuals/families from various countries through the Refugee Resettlement Program; assists newly arrived refugees with school aged children to enroll in and navigate the local education system.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties:

ESL

• Connects incoming clients with community-based ESL classes
• Recruit and train ESL volunteers to assist clients with pre-ESL enrollment, one-on-one tutoring, and small group activities
• Researches and implements new curriculum based on the needs of attending adults
• Refers clients with accelerated skills to advanced ESL opportunities in the community
• Acts as a resource for adult students, providing resources and information to help them thrive in their new communities
• Maintains confidentiality of class records and personal information at all times
• Refers eligible clients to other career pathways and digital literacy programs
• Research and documents new and emerging ESL classes/resources in the community and online options

Cultural Orientation

• Revises curriculum and materials for C.O. classes to adhere to changing program requirements, including linguistic requirements, and community information
• Plans and implements logistics for C.O. classes including: locating appropriate classroom space, scheduling class times, securing appropriate interpretation support, booking guest speakers, and notifying clients of upcoming classes
• Leads C/O class instruction and adjusts format to reflect client needs (i.e. in person, virtual, over the phone)
• Ensures all required topics in CORE curriculum are properly covered in classes, including: Role of the Local Resettlement Agency; Community Services and Public Assistance; Housing; Transportation; Employment; Safety, English & Education; Health and Hygiene; Budgeting and Personal Finance; Cultural Adjustment; U.S. Laws & Refugee Status
• Maintains class attendance and case notes client progress in class sessions, C/O topics covered, completing of classes, assessment, and follow ups, if needed
• Performs assessments on all clients attending the classes to ensure that the necessary information is communicated clearly, learned, and implemented. Adjusts curriculum as deemed necessary
• Enters assessment scores and tracks client progress in IRIS (CWS database)
• Provides follow-up and additional individual instruction to clients whose assessment scores show poor understanding of the subject matter or as case managers deem it appropriate based on client needs and observations
• Tailors and conducts C/O sessions in-home to accommodate clients with severed health issues or who live outside of Harrisburg, as needed
• Assists the Housing and Transportation specialist with navigating local transportation, including the bus.
• Provides training support and assigns daily tasks to program interns

Education Navigator

• Provide personalized support to refugee families in enrolling their children in appropriate local schools.
• Offer comprehensive orientation sessions to families, explaining the fundamental structure and procedures of the US education system. This includes clarifying academic levels, grading systems, and curricular options.
• Assist families in understanding bus routes and transportation options available to their children, making sure they can commute safely to and from school.
• Help families procure school uniforms and necessary supplies for their children, ensuring they meet the school's dress code and are prepared for a successful start.
• Guide families in understanding school schedules and timetables, ensuring students are aware of their classes and extracurricular activities.
• Provide language support, including translation and interpretation, to help families effectively communicate with school personnel and understand important documents.
• Act as a liaison between refugee families and local schools, collaborating with teachers, counselors, and administrators to address any challenges or concerns that may arise.
• Offer cultural orientation sessions to help families adapt to the US education system and understand the cultural nuances within educational settings.
• Connect families with relevant community resources and support services, assisting them in accessing additional educational, social, and health resources.

Common Duties:

• Advocates on behalf of refugees and immigrants and voluntary agencies serving those clients
• Keeps informed about refugee and immigrant issues, and available services to clients, using current information to better identify and serve refugee clients
• Represents the program at meetings and speaking engagements relevant to the responsibilities of the position
• Undertakes other duties as assigned (i.e., provide support with airport arrivals, transport clients to appointments, go grocery shopping with clients, etc.)

Qualifications

Education: Associates degree or bachelor's degree in Education, Social Work, Intercultural Studies, Business Management, or similar field.

Experience: Preferred experience in education and refugee resettlement, or other direct social services. Ability to educate in a culturally sensitive manner is required.

Other Skills:

• Superior English written and verbal communication skills are required. Fluency in a refugee language preferred.
• Computer literate, with proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word and Access) and internet application
• Strong organizational and time management skills are required
• Clean driving record
• Access to personal vehicle and a valid driver's license
• Must be able to travel frequently and independently throughout the relevant region
• Must be able to pass an FBI background check and a Child Abuse/Neglect check

Benefits

CWS offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- 403 (b) Retirement Plan
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off (21 Paid Days Off; 27 Days after 2 Years)
- 14 Official Holidays
- Sick Time Off (12 Accrued monthly)
- Life Insurance and AD&D
- Long Term and Short-Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Commuter Benefits

This job has expired.