Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Louisville Citizenship Coordinator (part-time, 25 hours per week)

Transcription

1 Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Louisville Citizenship Coordinator (part-time, 25 hours per week) Summary KRM enrolls over 300 students per year in Citizenship Preparation classes. Students learn about U.S. History and Civics and improve English skills and vocabulary in order to pass a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Naturalization Interview. On average, students successfully complete this process every year and become citizens. Citizenship marks an important step for clients integrating into the Louisville and Lexington communities. U.S. Citizens are able to vote, can carry a U.S. Passport, and have an expedited path to family reunification. The sense of belonging and community involvement is increased, and research shows a positive correlation between naturalization and economic indicators such as annual wage, home ownership, and career or educational investment. The Citizenship Coordinator ensures provision of high-quality Citizenship Preparation education in several multilevel off-site classrooms in Louisville and Lexington. Two of the Louisville classes are taught directly by the Citizenship Coordinator. The Coordinator also works with other Citizenship Preparation teaching staff, Immigration Legal Services staff, volunteers, and other community and agency partners to coordinate outreach and civic education, collect program data for grant reports, and provide case management for individual clients as necessary. Teaching, Reporting, Outreach and Administrative duties are outlined below. Essential Duties and Tasks 1. Teach citizenship preparation classes focusing on the English and civics questions included in the USCIS naturalization interview. One class meets as follows: Thursday 11am-1pm Iroquois Branch, Louisville Free Public Library 601 W. Woodlawn Ave, Louisville KY A second class would either meet during early evenings or on the weekend. 2. Manage grant reporting and application process. 3. Create comprehensive plan for program outreach. 4. Facilitate program administration, including data tracking and reporting, English language testing, volunteer program oversight, collaboration with teaching and legal staff in Louisville and Lexington, and other practical concerns. Teaching

2 1. Disseminate authoritative knowledge of the process to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, including the USCIS form N-400, Application to Naturalize." 2. Teach at least one weekly citizenship preparation class focusing on the English and civics questions included in the USCIS naturalization interview. Current classes are held on Thursdays, 11am-1pm, at the Iroquois Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library and at other sites around Louisville. 3. Track student progress and maintain program enrollment data on all participants, including referral to immigration legal services and participation in case management as necessary. 4. Adapt program and curriculum based on current student population to ensure students are able to succeed and naturalize within a reasonable time period. 5. Administer formal and informal assessment tools, including BEST Plus English language test, for student intake and placement and to monitor student progress. 6. Manage relations with citizenship classroom site: coordinate classroom space, advertise class and recruit clients, train and supervise volunteer instructors; ensure that students are provided with appropriate educational materials. Reporting 1. Prepare trimester and quarter narrative and data program reports for all grants and partners. 2. Ensure all grant requirements are met, and train all pertinent staff to follow grant guidelines so that grant funding is well spent, data is properly managed, and Citizenship program is in compliance. 3. Track current progress towards program goals, and share information with other agency staff. 4. Research data management solutions to maximize efficiency of reporting process. 5. Coordinate grant re-application process as necessary, write yearly service plan, and seek alternate resources and grant funding as appropriate. Outreach 1. Conduct outreach to refugee communities and ethnic community-based organizations to promote the importance and benefit of U.S. citizenship and participation in citizenship education. 2. Maintain online profiles and contacts with partner agencies, and keep current with Louisville and Lexington's international populations and neighborhoods for outreach purposes. 2

3 3. Present quarterly at KRM programs (Cultural Orientation, Family Center, Services to Older Refugees) about the Citizenship process and the classes offered here, as well as giving outreach presentations during partner agencies' programs, especially Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services. 4. Participate in citizenship and agency outreach events. 5. Augment current outreach plan with creative solutions to increase program exposure and reach non-refugee immigrant groups. Administrative Tasks 1. Assess Citizenship program needs, and coordinate joint planning processes with all Louisville and Lexington Citizenship Preparation teaching staff, Immigration Legal Services staff, and Services to Older Refugees staff. 2. Coordinate, train and assist teachers for other classroom sites. Current Louisville classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6-8pm, at the International Christian Center; on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm, at the Americana Community Center; and on Saturday afternoons, 1-4pm, at the Victory Memorial Baptist Church. Current Lexington classes are held on Monday and Thursday afternoons, 2-4pm, at the KRM Lexington office; and on Wednesday evenings, 4-7pm, at the Global Lex center. Ensure that teachers and students are provided with appropriate educational materials. 3. Assist other teachers with BEST Plus English testing needs. Purchase and distribute BEST Plus administrations as necessary. 4. Utilize volunteer tutors and university interns to provide individual and small group citizenship preparation, oversee quality of training and materials provided, and find new ways to match volunteers to program needs. 5. Maintain Professional Development plan for all Citizenship teaching staff, and assist in planning volunteer Professional Development events. 6. Connect with immigration legal services providers to stay up-to-date regarding citizenship interview process, and refer prospective naturalization applicants to immigration legal services. 7. Consult with teachers and legal staff about specific clients as necessary, creating individualized case management plans to ensure client success. 8. Engage closely with Lexington Citizenship program staff, providing technical assistance as necessary. 9. Refer clients with learning/cognitive disabilities to immigration legal services; consult with KRM Immigration Legal Services staff on completion of USCIS form N-648 Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions for such clients. 10. Provide expert assistance to community partners in need of Citizenship information and education, working to improve Louisville and Lexington's access to Citizenship 3

4 resources. Target partners include English as a Second Language providers, faith-based groups, local state and federal government agencies, and other partner agencies which provide services to refugees and immigrants. 11. Monitor inventory of textbooks and other supplies, physical and digital filing systems, and other practical resources used in teaching and administrative tasks. Job Requirements One year experience teaching ESL or citizenship to adults is required. Bachelor s or Masters degree. Strong computer skills, including proficiency in MS Excel Previous cross-cultural experience required, preferably in a social service, development or educational setting Specialized Skills Ability to work with clients of diverse nationalities and cultures. Teaching experience and classroom management skills, particularly ability to teach a multi-level class and limited-english-proficient clients. Ability to supervise citizenship instructors to ensure effective teaching methods and classroom management. Ability to integrate volunteers into program to improve educational outreach and effectiveness of instruction. Ability to multi-task Detail-oriented and organized Record keeping skills Strong outreach skills; ability to connect with diverse types of organizations: schools, businesses, government, faith organizations, etc. Capabilities Demonstrated capability to effectively communicate orally and in writing Ability to work well with a diverse group of staff and volunteers Ability to work both independently and as a member of a larger staff team Ability to effectively manage a variety of tasks, projects, and responsibilities Ability to work productively in an ever-changing environment with frequent interruptions 4

5 Agency Profile Founded in 1990 as a nonprofit agency, Kentucky Refugee Ministries is a local affiliate of Church World Service and Episcopal Migration Ministries, two of nine national voluntary agencies authorized to provide resettlement services to refugees legally admitted to the United States through the U.S. State Department s Refugee Admissions Program. Since 1995, under the auspices of the Church World Service/Immigration and Refugee Program (CWS/IRP), KRM has also assisted Cuban/Haitian entrants admitted under a special program for Cuban immigration administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. Under this program, KRM s Cuban/Haitian office is also authorized to assist Cubans and Haitians who are paroled into the U.S. KRM s Louisville office currently receives around 680 refugee and 900 Cuban arrivals a year. Kentucky Refugee Ministries secures housing and medical care for refugees and provides them with comprehensive case management including employment services, educational and cultural orientation programming, and specialized programs for refugee youth and elders. KRM also offers classes for refugees and immigrants preparing to apply for U.S. citizenship and a full range of immigration legal services. Salary and Benefits This is a part-time position. Salary commensurate with experience and background. To Apply Interested applicants should reply with a résumé and cover letter by Monday, December 12 th, to Date Posted: November 22, 2016 John Koehlinger Executive Director Kentucky Refugee Ministries 969-B Cherokee Road Louisville, KY jkoehlinger@kyrm.org 5