Family Support Liaison - Refugee and Immigration Services

Job Description

Job Description

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest is a non-profit organization with Corporate Offices in Phoenix and Tucson and additional offices throughout Arizona.

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest administers programs and services to help build collaborative Community Partnerships and strengthen individuals, families, and communities.

Working for our organization is a positive, challenging and rewarding experience with opportunities for personal and professional development.

General Description :

The role of the Family Support Liaison is pivotal in ensuring the successful integration of refugee families into the U.S.

education system through the Refugee School Impact (RSI) Program. Working in close collaboration with school districts, community partners, and program coordinators, the Family Support Liaison focuses on providing essential guidance and support to refugee families as they navigate the educational landscape.

By facilitating language access, cultural orientation, and connection to available resources, this role plays a vital part in helping families feel welcome and empowered in their new community.

The Family Support Liaison acts as a bridge between families and the education system, contributing to the enrichment of lives and the promotion of successful integration for refugees seeking educational opportunities in the United States.

The Family Support Liaison will model the LSS-SW shared values for staff, volunteers, and the community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following :

WEIGHT DESCRIPTION 40Program Coordination :

1. Collaborate with the Education Services Coordinator and other stakeholders to develop and implement specialized support initiatives for eligible refugee students and families, including but not limited to English language training classes, tutoring, after-school and summer programs, mentoring, and cultural orientation.

2. Act as a primary point of contact for refugee families, providing culturally sensitive guidance and assistance in navigating school-specific orientations, language access support, and available community resources.

3. Program Coordination : Collaborate with the Education Services Coordinator and other stakeholders to develop and implement specialized support initiatives for eligible refugee students and families, including but not limited to English language training classes, tutoring, after-school and summer programs, mentoring, and cultural orientation.

4. Plan and implement monthly center based parenting activities and parent education Coordinate space with community partners for center-based activities.

Support material management, organization, and distribution of monthly activity materials from the offsite storage to centers and community locations.

Present and role model a professional attitude, greeting families upon arrival at the center, respecting cultural and ethnic differences and always wearing professional attire.

5. Work closely with school systems to enhance their capacity in addressing the unique needs of refugee families. Provide education and training for school staff to ensure effective communication and support mechanisms.

30Parent Educator / Preschool Teacher :

1. Facilitate and support the implementation of Parenting Activities designed to increase parental knowledge of child development, positive parenting practices, community resources, personal wellbeing and increasing informal support systems.

Duties may include but are not limited to; before class set up, after class clean up, interacting with parents participating in activities or providing childcare during adult only learning sessions.20Data Entry :

1. Ensure all services rendered through RSI funding are accurately documented in the ARRPODS data system or other specified methods.

Collect and report required data to meet federal reporting requirements and program metrics.

2. Collect and maintain secure case files in accordance with documentation standards and requirements. Duties may include but are not limited to entering attendance, family intake, family screenings, family referrals and follow up, action plans and case notes in the ARRPODS.

5Outreach / Community Collaboration :

1. Collaborate with Education Services Coordinator, school districts, and community organizations to identify and address the needs of refugee families, fostering a supportive and inclusive educational environment.

2. Participate in Development and Implementation of Regional Outreach Plan. Duties may include but are not limited to : Establishing and maintaining relationships with other community agencies and stakeholders to share information about the LSS-SW programs.

2.5Follow internal protocol immediately with regard to safety, health, and environment of the client and employee workspace and workplace equipment.

2.5Perform other related duties as assigned.

Examples of a Daily Schedule : for Family Support Liaison may be visiting a family in their home to explore their success in completing an action plan.

Setting up, facilitating, and cleaning up small group learning experiences, collaborating with community partners to meet the needs of families, documenting case notes in a family's file, and entering data to document family outcomes for funders.

Qualifications :

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience :

Bachelor's Degree in education, social services, behavioral health or a closely related field and two years relevant work experience is preferred.

Four years in family support, social services or early childhood and / or training; equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for a bachelor's degree.

• Ability to participate as a member of a team, including collaboration, cross-training, and mutual assistance.
• Experience and comfort working with young children birth to 12
• Knowledge of human service systems and resources.
• Provide and maintain a current Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card, clear the Department of Economic Security Central Registry Background Check and a criminal background and motor vehicle screening;

must maintain valid AZ Driver's License, a clear driving record and reliable transportation for the duration of employment.

• Very good understanding of computer hardware and software.
• Good time management ability and ability to work independently.
• Skills in English composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Reliable transportation

Language Skills :

Bilingual English / Spanish is strongly preferred. Ability to communicate clearly. Ability to listen and perceive need, working with people from diverse backgrounds non-judgmentally.

Ability to effectively present and represent LSS-SW and the program's needs to religious and community groups as well as others in the social services community.

Mathematical Skills :

Good ability to calculate figures.

Reasoning Abilities :

Ability to define problems, collect data, evaluate information, draw conclusions, and take appropriate action based on this information.

Physical Demands / Work Environment :

The physical demands and work environment characteristics here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit or stand for long periods of time.
• The employee frequently is required to use hands to hold objects and operate office equipment.
• The employee is required to be able to listen and communicate effectively.
• The employee may be required to occasionally lift and / or move up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment varies with the activity level of the facility.
• Maintain valid AZ Driver License, vehicle insurance and reliable transportation.
• Ability to work within the mission of LSS-SW.

All positions at Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest require a background check.

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