Position Name

Immigrant Integration Specialist AmeriCorps Member

Casa’s Mission

To create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class and immigrant communities.

number of individual americorp members serving in this position:

The Program aims to recruit 14: (2)Two full-time members, 3 (three) three-quarter members, 5 (five) half-time members, and 4(four) quarter members serving on financial literacy programming.

Moving Forward NoVa

The program is focused on providing a set of financial education and supportive wrap-around family services such as employment placement, pathways to higher education and trades, to support immigrant and low-income people fully engaged in the social systems in Virginia. This project is coordinated and hosted by CASA, funded in part by the AmeriCorps Program and The Virginia Service Commission (VCS).

Host Sites and Locations

Members may be asked to serve at any of the following locations, the main service location for each member will be identified on the individual Service Agreement and the placement will occur based on program needs. These locations maybe in Fairfax and Prince William Counties.

Woodbridge Office: 2359 Research Ct, Woodbridge, VA 22192

Benefits 

Full-Time commitment (1700 hours/year):

• Actual biweekly living allowance of $960.

• Member will be entitled to a $6895 education award upon program completion.

Three-Quarter Time Commitment (1200 hours/year)

•  Actual biweekly living allowance of $720.

• Member will be entitled to a $4826.50 education award upon program completion.

Half-Time Ccommitment (900 hours/year):

• Actual biweekly living allowance of $480.

•  Member will be entitled to a $3,447.50 education award upon program completion.

Quarter-Time Commitment (450 hours/year)

• Actual biweekly living allowance of $240.

• Member will be entitled to a $1,824.07. education award upon program completion.

Living allowance will be paid bi-weekly by direct deposit. Individuals may be eligible to have the repayment of their qualified student 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. 

Program Period

The Moving Forward NOVA program launch will be on 11 September 2023, and the program end date is 16 August 2024. If there are any positions available after that day, members may start as agreed with the Site Supervisor and Program Director.

Member Position Summary

Immigrant Integration Specialists provide a range of direct services to community members to support their financial well-being, including but not limited to: one-on-one tutoring and workshops on financial education (household budget, banking, saving for a goal, credit score management, etc.), citizenship applications and immigration services (mock interview tutoring , citizenship classes, N-400 assistance, citizenship workshops), one-on-one assistance for Drivers’ Privilege Card and tax preparations services. The member will additionally conduct outreach activities with their team to ensure the program target population is aware of and participates in the program.

Training and Member Placement

CASA will provide orientation, training and placement at the beginning of the service year and continuous professional development of the Moving Forward cohort. The training will include financial education and naturalization content, as well as best practices on outreach, record keeping, employment placement, driving privilege card processes, VITA tax certification and more. Members will receive ongoing training specific to their service area and team.

Essential Functions of Position Dependent on Team Assignment

Direct CASA services:

• Facilitate and/or coordinate workshops and individual appointments focused on immigration, financial literacy, employment placement and economic development, access to public benefits and other health and social services.

• Assist Legal Permanent Residents to complete the Citizenship application form (N-400, N-600 and I-90).

• Facilitate citizenship classes and conduct USCIS mock interview with CASA members

• Prepare taxes for program participants during the tax season and receive IRS certification

• Conduct financial literacy interventions

• Assist Community members applying for the Virginia Drivers’ Privilege Card and provide financial education to those applying for it.

• Perform intakes for CASA services, gather & maintain up-to-date information about partners and community resources to provide to community members.

• Update organizational databases based on activities conducted, in a timely manner.

• Community involvement, leadership development and volunteer management.

• Develop volunteer opportunities related to service provision in order to expand programmatic capacity.

• Reach out to other community organizations to offer program’s services to their constituents.

• Required to wear AmeriCorps-Moving Forward uniform during service activities.

• Participate in required AmeriCorps Trainings and National Days of service 

• Comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and agreements of the organization and AmeriCorps

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• The ideal candidate will be motivated, responsible, disciplined, loyal, and comfortable working independently and within team setting.

• Must have the ability to exercise good judgment. The position requires excellent writing skills, phone etiquette.

• Excellent English writing and language skills (bilingual in Spanish, French, Korean, Mandarin, Thai, or Hindi preferred

• Excellent organizational and planning capacities.

• Computer literacy (Windows or Linux environment) and basic Google Sheets / Excel skills and ability to adapt to software.

• Experience performing duties in multicultural environments.

• Highly organized and efficient, “can-do” attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative and positive attitude.

• Access to personal transportation preferred.

• Fast learner.

• Some knowledge of popular education, financial education, tax preparation, social work and citizenship are a plus.

• Adhere to CASA’s coordination systems within our offices and remote-based systems.

Other Requirements

• Ability to perform all of the duties outlined above. 

• A high school diploma or GED or agree to obtain one during the service year.

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. Legal Permanent Resident (recently naturalized citizens are encouraged to apply).

• Ability to perform all of the duties outlined above.

• Must be at least 17 years old.

• Pass a national service criminal history check of the national sex-offender registry, state repository check (Virginia and state of residence), and FBI fingerprint check, before starting national service.

• Express commitment to complete one full year of National Service.

• COVID-19 vaccination: CASA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective July 1, 2021 requiring COVID-19 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 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. 

Days and 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 AmeriCorp 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.

Selection Process

To be considered for the Moving Forward NOVA program, interested individuals must submit a current resume to CASA’s ADP system through the portal. Program 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. Individuals will not be allowed to start orientation or be enrolled in the program until all appropriate background checks and paperwork is received by CASA. This is a competitive process for selection in the cohort, applicant’s responsiveness and preparation is taken into consideration when selecting program participants. The position is not a reassignment from a previous host site or agency.

Contact

For more information about the program, contact: amendez@wearecasa.org or at 571-421-3995