International Rescue Committee, Baltimore, Maryland
3516 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224
United States
Tel: (410) 327-1885
Founded in 1933 on the recommendation of Albert Einstein, the IRC is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. The IRC DC resettlement office is located in the Suburban Washington Resettlement Center (SWRC) in Silver Spring, MD, serving approximately 1200 clients a year. Currently, our refugee clients are primarily from Iraq, Bhutan, Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Iran. The IRC also serves a unique population of asylees, victims of trafficking, and parolees from countries such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Liberia, Togo, El Salvador, and more. While the majority of the refugees are resettled in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties, services are also provided in Washington, DC and northern Virginia.
The IRC is committed to developing a public health program with the overall goal of maximizing public health awareness, access, and advocacy for all refugee and asylee clients of the SWRC. Significant portions of the newly arrived refugees and asylees are considered medically vulnerable, whose complex medical conditions have been compounded by living conditions overseas and are further exacerbated by systemic barriers to accessing healthcare in the U.S. IRC’s Special Needs Health Program serves all complex medical cases resettled by the SWRC. The program focuses on reducing healthcare disparities for medically vulnerable refugees and asylees by connecting them with the resources, education, support and treatment they need to attain the best quality of life possible. Health concerns of Special Needs clients may include: physical and developmental disabilities, mental illness, serious communicable diseases, pregnancy, heart conditions, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and complex chronic conditions.
Responsibilities
- Support the Special Needs Care Coordinator and Special Needs Caseworker responsible for providing complex medical case management to all special needs clients enrolled in the SHN Program.
- Serve as a patient advocate by accompanying special needs clients to medical appointments, aiding clients in navigating local healthcare services, as well as assisting with reporting and coordinating necessary follow-up care
- Provide one-on-one and family-centered health education to reinforce clients understandings of health conditions, treatment instructions, medical service plan, and follow-up care
- Create and/or adapt culturally appropriate health education and resource guides
- Assist with developing, coordinating and facilitating health promotion and psychosocial support workshops
- Conduct research and support outreach to develop partnerships with community health organizations and providers
- Assist with developing and coordinating trainings for staff and volunteers
- Other duties, research and special projects as assigned
Learning Objectives
- Gain understanding of refugee resettlement process, client services, and US resettlement experience; Expand knowledge and understanding of the journey of refugees, asylees, and victims of trafficking
- Deepen awareness and understanding of health disparities within the US healthcare system; Develop an appreciation for role of cultural competence in health care
- Expand knowledge of patient advocacy, health empowerment and health promotion techniques; Explore, respect and appreciate cultural differences in health perspectives and health literacy
- Gain knowledge and skills related to coordination of services for complex health care needs of refugees and asylees
Qualifications:
- Education and/or experience in public health, international development, social work, nursing; Previous experience working with refugees, immigrants, non-English speakers, and/or overseas preferred
- Experience coordinating and facilitating adult learning preferred
- Comfort and confidence navigating and educating about public transportation
- Access to personal vehicle required
- Effective interpersonal, organizational, and writing skills; High level of professionalism with attention to detail
- Interest and flexibility in working in a fast-paced, multi-cultural setting
- Proficiency in Nepali, Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Swahili, Farsi or French desirable
- 24-40 hours per week commitment, 9:00a.m. 5:00p.m.; Full time/five days per week preferred
- Position requires minimum commitment from June - August 2013; Applicants interested in multiple semesters preferred; Current enrollment in academic program or within one year post-graduation required
Application Deadline is May 15, 2013.
http://unjobs.org/vacancies/1366513719422
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