CRSP (Colorado Refugee Services Program) Specialist
CRSP (Colorado Refugee Services Program) Specialist
To build better communities by strengthening families is the mission of Focus Points Family Resources Center. For 27 years, Focus Points has worked successfully to transform the lives of low-income and working families in Northeast Denver and beyond. Focus Points serves over 2,900 participants each year, most of whom are Spanish-speaking immigrants. Focus Points is strongly committed to our values around collaboration, equity, and integrity which add to our four pillars (Family Support, Community Resources, Education, and Economic Inclusion)
Primary Responsibilities & Activities
Registration & Enrollment
- Complete refugee intake, including identification verification and ensuring eligibility for CRSP services; registration; testing and assessment; class placement
- Maintain communication with resettlement agencies and case workers regarding new referrals, current students, and inactive clients
- Conduct outreach to resettlement agencies, other refugee-serving organizations, and within refugee-dense neighborhoods to maintain high levels of enrollment
- Coordinate with resettlement agencies for developing information on referrals and taking part in warm handoffs
- Outreach to case workers, volunteers, education specialists, or other resettlement agency workers to ensure that the needs related to health, safety, and wellness of our students and their families are being met
Data Entry & Tracking
- Track and report attendance to various stakeholders
- Update and maintain student data in multiple databases
- Analyze data to improve efficiency and ensure high attendance, retention, and performance rates
Academic Assistance & Support
- Provide any resources or referrals for students whenever necessary or requested
- Create and maintain student files
- Obtain CASAS, BEST Plus, and/or other testing certification and training
- Support CASAS, BEST Plus, and other testing and assessment activities
- Provide all learners with a safe, appropriate, and culturally conscious environment
- Assist lead instructors in planning and hosting quarterly ESL integration activities for students, either virtually or in-person
- Execute quarterly student assessments and biannual student testing
- Assist instructors in creating individual academic goals with students and check in on goals-related progress every quarter
- Assist instructors in coordinating substitute instructors when necessary
- Contact absentee learners and develop attendance plans; stay in touch with resettlement agencies and case workers about student progress and attendance and unenroll inactive students when necessary
- Utilize interpretation technology to communicate with pre-literate and non-conversational students
- Provide dynamic support in the retention of learners
Additional Responsibilities
- Attend and assist in structuring and taking notes for CRSP meetings
- Attend required company meetings and team-building activities
- Assist instructors in coordinating substitute instructors when necessary
- Complete all required CRSP trainings as well as FRCA and other Focus Points trainings
- Attend workshops, trainings, and meetings as requested by the CRSP Program Manager
- Assist with translation and interpretation of program and organizational flyers, announcements, and needs
- Keep the CRSP Manager informed of all pertinent information
- Maintain regular contact with CRSP Manager to share relevant information and changes related to: 1) instructor-related time off, substitute teaching plans, sick days, adjustments to any scheduled classes; 2) student-related changes to personal schedules and availability, progress and attendance, course changes, health and wellness
- Submit timesheets for payroll on time
- Adhere to all organizational policies including submitting time-off requests well in advance of time-off needed
- Ensure classroom and/ or office space is kept organized
- Maintain cooperative relationships and open communication with all staff, participants, and off-site contacts
- Maintain a professional attitude and adhere to a high level of confidentiality towards Focus Points staff and participants
- Other duties as assigned within the scope of this position and organization handbook
Required Competencies
- Information Gathering: Record student attendance and referrals into multiple Salesforce platforms; log feedback to provide timely and accurate accounts of class activity; pull reports when needed for semi-annual reporting and grant purposes
- Written Communication: Utilize email, digital data tracking platforms, and classroom planning materials (such as lesson plans) to report progress and needs for each class
- Linguistic Flexibility: Download and use interpretation applications and resources to communicate with students who may be pre-literate or non-conversational in English; communication will include direct phone calls and/ or text messaging
- Decision Making/Judgement: Ability to manage classroom dynamics to ensure a safe and equitable learning environment for all; this includes ensuring that your classroom and/ or office environment is structured to meet the needs of a diverse range of students in terms of cultural and religious sensitivities as well as linguistic and technological barriers
- Interpersonal Skills: Ability to control and express one’s emotions in a judicious, patient, and empathetic manner, both with students and with other team members
- Computer Skills: Ability to operate, navigate and troubleshoot Microsoft Office suite products, Google Drive files, WhatsApp, Zoom, and various internet browsers; willingness to download and learn new technologies and applications as the landscape of online teaching shifts; have knowledge of efficiency shortcuts (like bookmarks) and demonstrate professional email etiquette, etc., in order to plan curriculum and teach students these technical skills; exhibit proficiency in subject areas and be able to share knowledge in order to meet learning objectives
Preferred Competencies
- Bilingualism: Ability to communicate in another language to support linguistic justice for our participants and ensure equitable access to information and social capital; preferred languages currently include Spanish, Dari/Farsi, Pashto, Ukrainian, Arabic, Russian, Haitian Creole, Tigrinya
- Time Management: Develop effective data entry planning to maintain reporting requirements and balance additional job duties.
Other Requirements
- Reliable home internet service
- Mobile phone service
- Reliable personal transportation for travel to our locations in North Denver and Aurora
Reports to: CRSP Program Manager
Status: Full-time/ Salaried Non-exempt
Salary: $38,000 annually
Diversity Statement
Personal or professional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as demonstrated by persistent effort, active planning, allocation of resources and/or accountability for diversity and inclusion outcomes. Applicant must share a commitment to anti-racist work.
COVID-19 Precaution(s): (These are subject to current guidelines)
- Sanitizing, disinfecting, and cleaning procedures in place
- Masking optional
- Some virtual meetings
To Apply
Send cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Erica Dine, CRSP Program Manager, at erica@focuspoints.org. This position is being interviewed on a rolling basis for immediate hiring; please submit your application as soon as possible.
Focus Points Resource Center is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, military status, genetic information, ancestry, creed, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law