Unaccompanied Children Home Study Contractor (US Remote)

Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.

The Unaccompanied Children Home Study Contractor (contractor) will conduct home study assessments for unaccompanied children in ORR care. The Contractor conducts document review, interviews, and home visits to evaluate the proposed placement and prepares the sponsor to receive and care for the child. Home Study services are conducted expeditiously, within 10 calendar days, using trauma-informed, strengths-based, linguistically and culturally responsive approaches. The Contractor provides a written assessment of the placement and a recommendation for or against reunification based on all available information. Home studies may become available anywhere in the United States (U.S.) on short notice. CWS is sourcing contractors that can cover a state or region, or that are willing to travel within limited notice within the continental U.S.   

• Conduct document review to understand available information about the minor’s history and identify any inconsistencies or significant gaps in information
• Schedule and conduct interviews on short notice with unaccompanied children, their case manager and clinician, proposed sponsor, family in home country, and others, as appropriate.  
• Conduct home visits to assess the physical space, with particular attention to the minor’s proposed sleeping arrangements.
• Engage other household members in the interview and home visit, as appropriate.
• Provide psychoeducation on identified concerns and reasons for referral and assess sponsor’s ability to apply the information and provide care for the minor.
• Address any discrepancies in information identified through the document review, interviews and home study process.
• Screen for trafficking, potential labor exploitation threat or other risks presented by the sponsor or other household members.
• Identify viable resources in the sponsor’s community that are tailored to the needs of the family. Ability to identify resources in communities unfamiliar to the contractor is required.
• Assist the sponsor in accessing needed resources that should be in place to prepare for the minor’s reunification.
• Assist the sponsor in mitigating any concerns identified to facilitate reunification, when safe and appropriate.  
• Complete a thorough home study report and recommendation for or against reunification.
• Participate in pre-service training with the Senior Home Study Officer during regular business hours.
• Participate in regular supervision/consultation with the Senior Home Study Officer during regular business hours.
• Complete any required edits to the home study report or additional assessment based on Senior Home Study Officer feedback.  
• Submit final home study report/recommendation within 9 calendar days.
• Complete significant incident reports as required by ORR, including mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.
• Conduct home study activities 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends.  

Experience: 

• Contractors with a Masters Degree must have at least 3 years of experience working with children and youth, family reunification/preservation, and or foster care/child welfare and previous work experience and interest working with foreign born populations is required.
• Contractors with a Bachelors degree must have at least 5 years of experience working with children and youth, family reunification/preservation, and or foster care/child welfare and previous work experience and interest working with foreign born populations is required.
• Demonstrated experience providing trauma-informed, child centered, culturally and linguistically responsive services.  
• Knowledge of local community social services and other resources and be skilled in identifying resources in unfamiliar areas.
• Experience navigating complex systems (child welfare, immigration, court system, etc.) required.

Skills:

• Fluency in written and verbal Spanish and English is required
• Self-Motivated
• Strong attention to details
• Strong time management skills and demonstrated ability to complete deliverables on a expedited timeline

Education & Certifications: 

• Masters degree preferred, in the following fields:  social work, psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science 
• Minimum of a Bachelors degree required, in the following fields: social work, psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science
• Licensure in relevant field preferred

• All work is conducted remotely. Contractors must have access to reliable internet.
• Contractor must reside in close proximity to airport.
• Contractor will be provided a CWS laptop and Cellphone and must comply with CWS’ IT Acceptable Use Policy
• Ability to travel within your state, region or within the U.S. with limited notice.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends to meet home study timeframes.
• Valid driver's license and insurance.
• Personal vehicle.
• Must be comfortable conducting visits in the client’s home, including in unfamiliar areas.
• Must be comfortable conducting home visits in the community in diverse areas of socio-economic backgrounds.
• Successfully pass PREA, FBI criminal and Child Abuse and Neglect Checks