Health and Wellness Promotor

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees delivers lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

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. The H&W Promoter will provide outreach and engagement, education, screening, and referral services. The H&W Promoter will work with the Clinical Advisor and Prevention and Early Intervention Coordinator to create personalized wellness plans that include traditional healing practices and cultural aspects, as well as follow up with individuals to prevent escalations in mental health crises.

Major Responsibilities:

• 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.

• Facilitate community-based group support activities to promote emotional well-being and healthy adjustment and provide opportunities for refugee connection and support.

• Coordinate and conduct educational activities including home visits to promote community integration and self-care among refugees and other populations in the Bay Area.

• Conduct emotional distress RHS-15 screenings and provide appropriate referrals to community mental health and/or other service providers.

• Conduct outreach to existing Afghan, refugee, immigrant and asylee communities to encourage participation and increase referrals to health and wellness programming.

• Ensure accurate tracking and data entry of client notes, outreach, workshop 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: Prevention & Early Intervention Coordinator

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Health and Wellness Promoter will develop working relationships with internal direct service staff including MG, 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:

• Associate degree with an emphasis in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Public health, or an equivalent field of study.

• 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.

• Fluency in written and spoken English; Fluency in additional language relevant to current refugee populations (Farsi, Dari, or Pashto).

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.

US Benefits:

The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.