International Rescue Committee

The IRC in Northern California was established in 1975 in response to the needs of the growing refugee population. Over the past 40 years the IRC has resettled nearly 60,000 clients in Northern California. Originally focused on reception and placement the IRC in Oakland one of four offices in Northern California provides a range of services including resettlement and economic empowerment services, immigration, community gardening and case management for victims of trafficking. The Oakland office provides further psycho-social services to support newcomer population’s wellness, emotional health and promote the healthy integration of refugees into new communities in the Bay Area.

Job Overview

The IRC in Oakland’s Community Health and Wellness programs ensure that all newly resettled refugees have access to on-going psycho-social support to serve their adjustment needs as well as ensure additional culturally and linguistically sensitive mental health referral support services are available. The Health and Wellness (H&W) Promoter will be responsible for the implementation of psycho-social programing serving the newcomer population in the Bay Area, including the facilitation of workshops and support groups. The H&W Promoter will provide outreach and engagement, education, screening, and referral services. Major

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate community-based group support activities, including IRC Oakland’s Afghan women’s sewing circle, to promote emotional well-being and provide opportunities for refugee connection and support.
• Work with H&W Coordinator to create, plan, and implement creative workshop curriculums related to mental and emotional wellbeing, stress management and community support.
• Work with H&W Coordinator and H&W team members to plan and implement community-based events geared towards client engagement, outreach, and well-being.
• Conduct outreach to existing Afghan, refugee, immigrant and asylee communities to encourage participation and increase referrals to health and wellness programming.
• Conduct emotional distress RHS-15 screenings and provide appropriate referrals to community mental health and/or other service providers.
• Work with IRC staff to identify, refer and assist clients determined to have a high probability of physical and emotional distress with navigating community resources.
• Ensure accurate tracking and data entry of client notes, outreach, client attendance and assessments, into corresponding databases including ETO.
• Ensure that program services are provided in accordance with the quality assurance standards of the IRC and program funders.
• Work closely with staff to enhance and implement Health and Wellness Program goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Health and Wellness Coordinator

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Health and Wellness Promoter will develop working relationships with internal direct service staff including ICM, AT, and R&P staff, Health and Wellness staff at other IRC sites.

External: Health and Wellness Promoter will develop working relationships with other refugee resettlement agencies, ethnic Community- Based Organizations, Community leaders and other stakeholders.

Job Requirements:

• Fluency in both English and Dari required.
• Associate degree with an emphasis in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Public health, or an equivalent field of study preferred.
• 2+ years of relevant work experience acquired through relevant work experiences. A significant portion of this experience would include responsibilities in community-based services, social services, education, capacity building, and/or humanitarian relief.
• Understanding of community integration, resettlement, and migration trauma.
• Cross-cultural awareness and communication skills.
• Experience with psycho-social programing preferred.
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Experience working with underserved populations.
• Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team member.
• Very well organized and has excellent reporting skills.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.

Work Environment:

• A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities.
• Travel to field site operation often. Access to reliable and insured transportation required.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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 $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, 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.