AmeriCorps - Immigrant Integration Specialist (Rockville)

Job Description:\n\n Position Name: “Immigrant Integration Specialist AmeriCorps member” Number of individual AmeriCorps members serving in this position: The Program aims to recruit 14 (eleven) full-time and 4 (four) half-time AmeriCorps members to focus on financial literacy programming for eligible participants. 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.CASA Maryland’s Immigrant Integration Program Manager is the Program Supervisor. He can be reached at 240-491-5774, or shaberman@wearecasa.org Position Start date: The Program launch will be on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. If there are any position available after that day, members may start as agreed with the Program Supervisor. The actual start date for each individual will be identified on the Service Agreement. Position End Date: August 16, 2024 Days/ Hours of Service Full-time AmeriCorps members’ schedules are flexible but will serve approximately 40 hours per week. Part-time AmeriCorps members’ schedules are flexible but 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 AC 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 may be asked to serve at any of the following locations: CASA Center for Citizenship: 14645 Rothgeb Dr., Rockville, MD 20850 CASA Langley Park: 8151 15th Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20793 CASA Baltimore: 2706 Pulaski Hwy, Baltimore MD 21224 BCCC Harbor: 710 East Lombard St, Baltimore, MD 21202 The main service location for each member will be identified on the individual Service Agreement. If due to COVID-19 CASA should close its offices, members will be allowed to continue service on virtual mode for the time of the closure. CASA’s Mission and goals. To create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class and immigrant communities. Project Mission and Goals: The program is focused on providing immigrant integration services, with an emphasis on developing participant’s financial capabilities and supporting eligible Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) to apply for the US citizenship. The project is coordinated by CASA as part of the Maryland New Americans Partnership, funded in part by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Maryland Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism (GOSV). The program aims to provide financial education services to 900 people during the program year. Of them, at least 810 should show improvement in their skills, knowledge and confidence. The program utilizes surveys to track these goals. Other goals related to naturalization efforts may be set at the beginning of the Service. Community Need: Low income immigrants and Latinos in Maryland face a number of economic challenges. The majority of individuals who access CASA's services come from Latin America and West Africa and have limited English skills, are unfamiliar with U.S. financial systems, and are unaware of the resources available to them. Due to experiences in their home countries, they often mistrust government and financial institutions, and as a result, operate largely in a cash economy and utilize check cashers, payday lenders, pawnshops, and rent-to-own stores. These families are vulnerable to the tactics of predatory actors that exploit them by charging exorbitant fees. Because many immigrants work multiple low-paying jobs, having an understanding of financial literacy concepts and how to create a household budget is critical. Without the tools and knowledge needed to fully participate in U.S. economic systems, immigrant families will be unable to transition out of poverty and positively contribute to the larger economy. CASA views naturalization as a key strategy for economic empowerment and stability for those who are eligible. But Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) from Latin America and West Africa historically take much longer to naturalize than other groups. In response to these needs, CASA operates an integrated program of financial literacy, naturalization, and legal services. Member Position Summary: New Americans Opportunity Project of Maryland’s AmeriCorps members provide a range of direct services to LPRs including one-on-one tutoring and workshops on financial education (household budget, banking, saving for a goal, credit score management, etc.) as well as support for them 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, data collection, record keeping, and other relevant issues. The training includes an overview of National Service, the role of CNCS and the Maryland’s GOSV, as well as training on prohibited activities and timesheets 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. 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 o Facilitate and/or coordinate workshops and individualized coaching sessions focused on naturalization, financial literacy and economic development, and access to public benefits o Teach and/or coordinate citizenship preparation courses o Assist Legal Permanent Residents to complete the Citizenship application form (N-400) o Conduct outreach activities to identify potential program participants. o Prepare taxes for program participants during the February/April tax season. Information Gathering o Strengthen and develop organizational partnerships with existing community organizations that serve immigrant and working class communities in Maryland o Conduct needs assessments and provide community education within immigrant community o Update organizational databases based on activities conducted. Community involvement/Leadership Development/Volunteer Management o Develop volunteer opportunities related to immigrant integration and U.S. citizenship o Train and coordinate volunteers to participate in immigrant integration workshops or Citizenship mentoring o 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 requirements: · 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 (Maryland and state of residence), and FBI fingerprint check, before starting national service.Express commitment to complete one full year of National Service. · CASA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective 01 February 2022, requiring COVID‑19 Booster vaccination(s) for all employees and prospective employees, AmeriCorps members, and paid or non-paid internships. In accordance with CASA's duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we are adopting this policy to safeguard the health of our employees, AmeriCorps members and interns, and their families, CASA members and visitors, and the community at large from infectious diseases that may be reduced by vaccinations. In making this decision, the executive leadership team reviewed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, CASA’s Legal Counsel and local health officials. All prospective employees will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation prior to the first day of employment with CASA. AmeriCorps member candidates will be required to provide proof of COVID 19 vaccination or appropriate medical / religious accommodation documentation at the time of presenting proof of citizenship and SSN eligibility Placement Type: The position is not a reassignment from a previous Host Site/Agency. Prohibited Activities: Citations: • 45CFR § 2520.65 - http://www.americorps.gov/help/ac_sn_all_2012/WebHelp/index.htm • 2012 AmeriCorps Provisions IV.D.3 - https://egrants.cns.gov/provisions/ACProvisions2012.pdf While charging time to the AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or CNCS, staff and members may not engage in the following activities: a. Attempting to influence legislation; b. Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; c. Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing; d. Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements; e. Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office; f. Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials; g. Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization; h. Providing a direct benefit to— i. A business organized for profit; ii. A labor union; iii. A partisan political organization; iv. A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 related to engaging in political activities or substantial amount of lobbying except that nothing in these 9 provisions shall be construed to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities undertaken at their own initiative; and v. An organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph 3.g. above, unless CNCS assistance is not used to support those religious activities; i. Conducting a voter registration drive or using CNCS funds to conduct a voter registration drive; j. Providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such services; and k. Such other activities as CNCS may prohibit. AmeriCorps members may not engage in the above activities directly or indirectly by recruiting, training, or managing others for the primary purpose of engaging in one of the activities listed above. Individuals may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the activities listed above on their initiative, on non-AmeriCorps time, and using non- CNCS funds. Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps logo while doing so. Benefits: Full-time commitment (1700 hour/year): Biweekly living allowance of $992, health care coverage. Member may apply for child-care allowance. Member will be entitled to a $6,895.00 education award upon program completion. Three-Quarter Time Commitment (1200 hour/year): Biweekly living allowance of $744. Member will be entitled to a $4,826.50 education award upon program completion. Half-Time commitment (900 hours/year): Biweekly living allowance of $496 Member will be entitled to a $3,447.50 education award upon program completion. Quarter Time Commitment (450 hour/year): Biweekly living allowance of $248. Member will be entitled to a $1,824.07 education award upon program completion. Living allowance will be paid bi-weekly by direct deposit and is taxable. 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. To be considered for the New Americans Opportunity Project 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 un