Unification Specialist - The Providencia Group

TITLE: Unification Specialist

LOCATION: Onsite work required

TRAVEL: Required, potentially extensive at times, based on project need(s)

About Us

The Providencia Group is led by a purpose: to address global challenges and make an impact that matters through delivering transformative solutions. This purpose defines who we are and extends to our relationships with our clients, our people, and our communities. We combine purpose, innovation, and experience to deliver impactful results.

About the Team

We are problem solvers working with leading agencies and organizations to help them address many of today’s most complex challenges. Our world-class team of technologists, program managers, and subject matter experts is uniquely qualified to address ever-evolving, large-scale challenges. In an imperfect world, The Providencia Group puts capability and purpose into action.

What you’ll be part of – TPG Culture

At TPG, we proudly measure our success by the impact we have on the lives of vulnerable and underserved populations around the world. We are innovators and problem solvers who take great pride in partnering with government agencies, service organizations, and external stakeholder groups to address many of today’s most complex challenges. Our workforce is diverse in culture, language, and experience yet it shares a common sense of purpose and empathy for those in need of help. Our people are personally invested in the missions we support, and we reward their commitment by investing in their development, advancement, and growth. If you like what we stand for, you’ll appreciate the professionalism and dedication of those you stand beside every day.

Together, we actively imagine a better future, innovate new ways to make it a reality, and implement solutions that deliver a lasting impact.

About the Role

Our Unification Specialists will work closely with the Program Director, Unification Manager, Clinical Services, potential sponsors, other workers/staff, or stakeholders as applicable and in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) Unaccompanied Children Program and its care providers, and any additional clients and programs TPG supports.

What You’ll Do

• Initiate, coordinate, and maintain direct contact with unaccompanied child refugees and their family members while the minor is in ORR care, while efficiently working to safely release the minor from client care and reunify the child with its family
• In conjunction with program staff, communicate reunification updates to the minor
• Participate in case staffing with the program and field as needed to discuss reunification progress
• Facilitate the timely release or discharge of minors to identified family members or authorized caregiver/custodians and document the provision of services in each minor’s case file
• Report significant incidents in accordance with client policies and procedures
• Maintain the minor’s case file and case management portal in accordance with client policies and procedures
• Conduct initial program intake of minors to verify information, identify family/sponsors and make initial contact
• Act as the facilitator of communication between minors, sponsors, staff, and others as appropriate
• Complete all assessments with minor and family/sponsors, in accordance with policies and procedures
• Identify and process potential sponsors
• Help sponsor to complete all required forms and submit documentation.
• Maintain communication with the minor and their family/sponsors through meetings and phone calls
• Refer minor for additional services or programs, as needed, within the current program and after release, including documenting/reporting serious incidents through required communication channels
• Confirm the children are receiving all required services, meeting regularly with the minors to ensure their wellbeing
• Attend all case staffing discussions, training, and other meetings as part of the minor’s care team, providing status updates and collaborating with other stakeholders
• Ability to handle crisis intervention, conflict, confrontation, or other complex people situations with compassion and decisiveness
• Experience working with traumatized/exploited minors and minors with behavioral problems
• Demonstrated ability to support a diverse group of clients, including refugees or other minority families
• Aptitude to work cross-functionally with TPG personnel and social services agencies to deliver the highest quality of work under extreme pressure and in a fast-paced environment
• Proven experience and high level of comfortability operating technology and learning new software applications quickly to complete required data entry tasks
• Ability to work independently in the field and exercise a high level of confidentiality
• Knowledge of state, community, and agency resources for victims of abuse (preferred)
• Duties are performed via a government approved computer system. Employees are required to possess strong computer skills in MS Word and Excel
• Perform related duties as assigned, within your scope of practice – management reserves the right to revise these duties as necessary.
• Assist in vetting sponsors and submitting Sponsor Suitability Recommendations nationwide

Minimum Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or an equivalent degree in Psychology, Sociology, or other relevant Behavioral Science
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (preferred)
• 1+ years of demonstrated experience in case, unification management work
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Case Management Wellness Check, call center experience (preferred)
• ORR experience (preferred)
• Available to work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends
• Available to travel, as required
• Clean criminal background check
• Child Abuse/ Neglect Report (CAN) or child protective services check with no adverse findings
• Must possess strong computer skills in MS Office, including Excel, Word, Teams
• Ability to type 45 wpm

The Work Environment

• You will be required to complete 2 weeks of training to include webinars and in-person sessions on-site, Temporary Duty Travel (TDY).
• The ability to work onsite & travel is mandatory – All Unification Specialists are required to support a TDY assignment on-site for a minimum of 30-days, with the option for the company to extend in 30-day increments. Employees must be willing and able to travel within 2 weeks of notification.
• Additional travel assignments may be required based on project need, though program leadership will attempt to minimize travel by assigning tasks to those Unification Specialists who reside closest to the site where a support need exists.
• Tasks/assignments are dynamic and will change based on client needs and resource availability, meaning Unification Specialists are expected to provide additional administrative support, including the completion of data entry and intake paperwork as required.
• Hybrid work schedule (onsite/remote).
• When working within 30 miles of an office or shelter location, you will be required to work in office as agreed upon by the management team.
• Additionally, there is potential to support some home office work, based on project need and workload. This option is only available if you are not required to support a contract within close proximity to your home or required to TDY

Work Schedule

• Due to the importance of this position, employees supporting this contract may be required to work extended hours including evening work, support on-call assignments, and work weekends to support time-sensitive or real-time complex services, schedule is subject to change at any time based on project needs.
• This position is considered ESSENTIAL – Unification Specialists are required to report and work during emergencies or crises, including inclement weather, natural and man-made disasters, etc.

Condition of employment

• Complete a rigorous culture and competency testing process.
• Complete a Drug Test.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• A valid US Driver’s license.
• Available to travel as necessary.

Security Clearance Requirements

• Applicants selected will be subject to a government background investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
• Must be a U.S Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Residency requirement - 3 consecutive years in the last 5 years.

Physical Demands

• Standing/Walking/Mobility: Must have mobility to attend meeting with other managers and employees.
• Climbing/Stooping/Kneeling: 10% of the time.
• Lifting/Pulling/Pushing: 10% of the time.
• Fingering/Grasping/Feeling: Must be able to write, type and use a telephone system 100% of the time.
• Sitting: Sitting for prolonged and extended periods of time.

For more information about the company please visit our website at https://www.theprovidenciagroup.com

Providencia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.