Family and Client Support Specialist

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

This position is represented by the OPEIU union and subject to the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement.  

Position Summary

The Family and Client Support Specialist partners with individuals and families throughout their resettlement journey to promote successful integration, stability, wellness, and long-term self-sufficiency. The role supports refugees, asylees, immigrants, newcomers, and other eligible populations in navigating their communities, accessing essential resources, pursuing self-defined goals, and building a foundation for a successful future.

Using a person-centered and family-centered approach, the Specialist prioritizes each client’s strengths, needs, preferences, cultural context, goals, and aspirations. The Specialist coordinates support that addresses immediate needs while contributing to long-term well-being, belonging, integration, and self-sufficiency. The Family and Client Support Specialist delivers support using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based practices that promote safety, trust, dignity, respect, empowerment, collaboration, and client choice. The Specialist works alongside clients and families to identify barriers, build on strengths, access community resources, develop meaningful connections, and make measurable progress toward their goals.

All Turlock site staff are expected to provide support using trauma-informed, person-centered, family-centered, culturally responsive, and strength-based practices. Staff are expected to meet clients where they are, support self-determination, and collaborate with IRC teams and community partners to promote stability, wellness, integration, and long-term self-sufficiency.

Job Overview

The Family and Client Support Specialist delivers a continuum of support that begins with client arrival and initial resettlement and continues through stabilization, wellness, community integration, and long-term self-sufficiency. Services may include airport reception, housing stabilization, home setup, orientation, resource navigation, advocacy, coordinated support, and connection to community resources. Through person-centered, family-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based practices, the Specialist partners with clients and families to build on strengths, address barriers, achieve self-defined goals, and promote long-term wellbeing, belonging, and stability.

The Specialist identifies and leverages community resources, builds collaborative partnerships, and works across internal IRC programs to address barriers and support client and family goals. This position may support clients participating in Preferred Communities Intensive Case Management, Supplemental Case Management, Initial Resettlement, or other resettlement and integration programs. Program requirements may vary based on funding source, eligibility, service duration, documentation standards, and required client contact frequency.

Major responsibilities:

• Support newly arrived clients and families with arrival services, including airport reception, warm meal, transportation, home setup, orientation, and connection to essential resources that promote safety, stability, and successful resettlement.
• Conduct client intakes, assessments, and ongoing follow-up to identify strengths, needs, barriers, risks, goals, and priorities; develop and monitor individualized support plans and progress toward self-defined goals and outcomes.
• Partner with clients and families to establish self-sufficiency goals and SMART goals that reflect their strengths, preferences, cultural context, and aspirations.
• Provide holistic, wraparound support through advocacy, coaching, resource navigation, referrals, follow-up, and coordination with providers and partner organizations.
• Assist clients and families in accessing healthcare, behavioral health services, public benefits, housing, education, employment, transportation, interpretation, legal resources, family support, and other community services.
• Deliver support using trauma-informed, person-centered, family-centered, culturally responsive, and strengths-based practices that promote safety, trust, dignity, respect, empowerment, collaboration, and client choice.
• Meet clients and families where they are by providing support in homes, community settings, schools, healthcare facilities, partner locations, and IRC offices, and by offering services at locations and times that are accessible and responsive to client and family needs, preferences, and circumstances.
• Maintain regular engagement with assigned clients and families, including conducting in-person meetings at least monthly, or more frequently as required by program guidelines, client needs, or supervisory direction.
• Support clients with applications, appointments, follow-up activities, provider communication, advocacy, and problem-solving to reduce barriers and advance client goals.
• Monitor progress toward client goals and adjust support plans when strengths, needs, priorities, barriers, or circumstances change.
• Collaborate with internal IRC programs and external partners to provide coordinated, family-centered support that responds to client strengths, goals, needs, and preferences.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, government agencies, employers, landlords, faith-based organizations, donors, and other stakeholders to expand opportunities and resources for clients and families.
• Coordinate with community partners and internal resources, and provide direct assistance when needed, to secure furniture, household goods, and other essential items for newly arrived or other eligible clients and families.
• Assist with furnishing and setting up homes to promote safe, welcoming, and stable living environments.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and complete documentation, including case notes, referrals, reports, service activities, outcomes, and data entry in ETO or other required systems, in accordance with program, grant, confidentiality, and organizational requirements.
• Respond to urgent client needs and crisis situations using sound judgment and supervisory support when needed.
• Identify service gaps and collaborate with colleagues and partners to develop creative solutions that strengthen the client experience, service quality, and program outcomes.
• Participate in team meetings, client and family consultations, training, program planning, and professional development activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts and a learning culture focused on service quality, client experience, and program effectiveness.
• Work independently to manage assigned clients and families, documentation, follow-up activities, and service priorities while collaborating effectively as part of a team.
• Train, guide, or support volunteers, interns, and other program support staff as assigned.
• Transport clients, families, household goods, and program materials as needed using personal or agency vehicles.
• Safely operate passenger vans and small box trucks as required by program needs and in accordance with IRC requirements.
• Comply with IRC policies, procedures, confidentiality standards, and program requirements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Job Requirements: 

Education 

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, human services, psychology, sociology, or a related field preferred. 

Work Experience 

• One to two years of experience in refugee resettlement, client and family support, human services, public health, social services, community-based services, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working with refugees, immigrants, asylees, newcomers, low-income families, or culturally and linguistically diverse communities strongly preferred.
• Experience providing person-centered, family-centered, trauma-informed, strengths-based, or community-based support preferred.
• Experience with client documentation, data tracking, reporting, resource navigation, referrals, or coordinated support preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies 

• Commitment to supporting client and family stability, wellness, integration, and self-sufficiency through person-centered, family-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based practices.
• Ability to promote safety, trust, dignity, respect, empowerment, collaboration, self-determination, and client choice.
• Ability to build respectful and trusting relationships with clients, families, community members, colleagues, and partner organizations.
• Strong advocacy, communication, active listening, cross-cultural engagement, and partnership-building skills.
• Resourcefulness in identifying community resources, addressing barriers, developing creative solutions, and connecting clients and families to immediate and long-term support.
• Ability to prioritize client strengths, needs, preferences, dignity, safety, cultural context, and self-defined goals in decision-making.
• Strong organizational, time-management, follow-through, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently, maintain accountability for assigned clients and families, and collaborate effectively with colleagues and community partners.
• Ability to track measurable progress and use documentation, data, feedback, and collaboration to support client goals, program reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain timely, accurate, and complete documentation, including case notes, referrals, reports, and required data entry.
• Demonstrated commitment to reflective practice, professional development, continuous improvement, and contributing to a learning culture.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to use databases and digital tools for documentation, communication, research, data entry, and reporting.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in a language spoken by client communities preferred.
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and reliable transportation required based on program and location needs.
• Ability and willingness to transport clients and families using a personal or agency vehicle when required.
• Ability and willingness to safely operate passenger vans and small box trucks while maintaining a respectful, welcoming, and safety-focused environment.

Working Environment: 

• Combination of office-based, remote, community-based, and field-based work.
• Primary office location is the IRC office in Turlock, with work in client homes, community settings, and partner locations based on program and client needs.
• Regular local travel may be required for home visits, appointments, community meetings, outreach, service coordination, and partner engagement.
• Evening or weekend work may be required based on client needs, outreach activities, or program requirements.
• Work may include transporting clients, families, furniture, household goods, donations, supplies, or program materials. 

Compensation: (Pay Rate: $29.10- $30/hr). Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements. 

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Benefits: IRC offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Highlights include 10 paid sick leave, 10 U.S. holidays, 20-25 generous paid time off based on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163/month, dental starting at $6.50/month, and vision starting at $5/month, flexible spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care, and commuter), a 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match (immediate vesting) along with a non-elective employer contribution based on age and years of service (3-year vesting), disability and life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.