Community Support Specialist

Hello Neighbor • Full-time • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • 3w ago

Hello Neighbor is seeking a Community Support Specialist to provide comprehensive case management and community-based wellness support for refugees, Special Immigrant Visa holders (SIVs), and other ORR-eligible Afghans families in the local area. This role plays a crucial role in ensuring continuity of care post-resettlement, addressing vulnerabilities such as medical needs, trauma, social and psychological disorders, and barriers to self-sufficiency.

Within a specialized program, The Center for Afghan Resilience, the Community Support Specialist will deliver holistic, strength-based, trauma-informed case management and emotional support for Afghan individuals and families impacted by combat. The role includes facilitating peer support groups, organizing educational sessions, and assisting with case management. As a Community Support Specialist, this position also extends to outreach and community-building activities to connect clients with essential resources, navigate their neighborhoods, and build practical life skills for successful integration through our wellness programming.

Founded in 2017, Hello Neighbor works to improve the lives of recently resettled refugee families by matching them with dedicated neighbors to guide and support them in their new home. We’ve expanded from our mentorship program to now include refugee resettlement services, family service programs, a national program supporting other refugee and immigrant nonprofits around the country.

This is an in-house full-time, non-exempt position at our Pittsburgh, PA office in Larimer. We are currently on a hybrid work schedule of 9am-5pm Monday through Friday; in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and work-from-home on Mondays and Fridays. We require a COVID-19 vaccination for full-time employees. The successful candidate must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Reports To: Assistant Director of Health & Stabilization

Key Responsibilities

- Reach out to potential clients in the community and conduct thorough intakes, assessments, and family and individual planning.
- Provide direct and indirect case management based on trauma-informed care, understanding clients' needs, and coordinating appropriate or feasible support.
- Conduct check-ins with clients and offer practical and non-clinical emotional support.
- Explore existing services and the fundamentals of PA Health Systems in order to refer clients and share this information at community gatherings and other events.
- Collaborate with service providers to address, mediate, and resolve issues as needed.
- Advocate for culturally appropriate care standards and utilize interpretation and translation services for families as needed.
- Organize activities to help clients feel a sense of belonging and integrate into the community.
- Utilize personal experiences to build collective knowledge, model behavior, and foster a sense of belonging among newer immigrant families.
- Be a cultural bridge, connecting communities and providing extended cultural orientation.
- Assist with scheduling and bus and MATP orientation for client independence.
- Assist with crisis management in collaboration with the team.
- Attend supervision and relevant staff meetings.
- Maintain accurate and timely program documentation while adhering to confidentiality guidelines and handling sensitive information properly.
- Complete other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

- Bachelor’s Degree and 4+ years of relevant experience, ideally with refugees, immigrants, or in social services.
- Proficiency in Dari & Pashto.
- Prior experience with teaching, training, or group facilitation preferred;Digital literacy, ability to learn new software, and comfort in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.
- Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented, and ability to handle multiple tasks effectively.
- Flexibility to work nights and weekends as needed and willingness to be on-call for emergencies.
- Car, valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance required.

About You

- Energetic, motivated, and hardworking
- Ability to take direction and work independently, as well as collaboratively
- Ability to take initiative and manage multiple tasks and projects at a time
- Passion for community building, refugee and immigrant rights
- Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
- Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills
- Living migration experience and fluency in other languages a plus

Additional Details

- This is a full-time role, in-house position at our Pittsburgh office in the Larimer neighborhood
- Clearances required: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance (PA Act 23 & Act 24); Mandatory Reporter and/or PSEA training may also be required depending on job requirements
- Valid driver’s license, personal vehicle, and proof of insurance will be required
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
- Selected candidates will be invited to interview on a rolling basis
- Anticipated start date: January 2025
- The successful candidate must be currently authorized to work in the United States.
- Range $20-$22/hour
- Comprehensive benefits package available, including comprehensive benefits package available, including medical/dental/vision insurance for employee and dependents (75% employer-paid), generous PTO policies, paid holidays, and participation in employer-sponsored retirement savings with employer match (after 12-months’ employment).

$20 - $22 an hour

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Hello Neighbor, we are committed to being an inclusive workplace where diversity in all its forms is championed. Hello Neighbor is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you require special accommodation, please let us know.

All Applications Welcome

Data shows that women and people of color more frequently do not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed. Our job descriptions are general overviews, not a mandatory comprehensive list. If you feel passionate about our efforts and believe that you have the skills to contribute to the growth of our organization, we want to hear from you!