Volunteer opportunities

Economic Empowerment in Oakland provides tools, resources for economic mobility, financial independence, autonomy. IRC Services are designed to assist clients with targeted, industry-specific career counseling and training. Clients who are ready to graduate from entry-level positions to more advanced career opportunities are able to access these services that will help them grow professionally. The Economic Empowerment Volunteer will support these services through direct client interaction, coordination of supportive volunteer services, and classroom training.

Community Volunteer will work closely with the Economic Empowerment team in providing basic community skills training to IRC’s female clients in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Oakland IRC’s Economic Empowerment program supports clients in rebuilding their lives in the U.S. The IRC supports new arrivals find their first job in the U.S. through Early Employment Programs, which blend classroom job-readiness instruction and individualized employment case management in helping over 75 percent of enrolled cases successfully find employment within 6 months of arrival to the U.S. While clients are looking for a job, they simultaneously learn about the complex U.S. financial services system, receive help in establishing bank accounts, and can access consumer advocacy and financial coaching support from IRC Financial Counselors.

The Housing, Outreach, Mentorship, and Education Program provides three levels of support for newly arriving families through community groups of volunteers. HOME teams (2-5 individuals) fundraise to provide a rental subsidy, a complete apartment setup and provide 6 months of mentorship to the family.

The IRC’s ICM Program serves refugees with high barriers to self-sufficiency. ICM focuses on the following populations: children and adults with serious medical conditions and mental health needs, clients affected by gender-based violence, LGBTQ clients, the elderly, single parents, and women-at-risk. A client-centered and strengths-focused approach is used to assist clients in meeting their goals.

The resettlement services program (also referred to as the reception and placement, or R&P, program) is the first point of contact for newly arrived refugees and special immigrant visa holders. This case management program offers support, guidance, and counseling through the initial 3 months of resettlement. The R&P case management team provides services to orient refugees to life in the U.S., including (but not limited to) securing housing, applying for state benefits such as food stamps, cash benefits, and medical insurance, connecting clients with medical providers, registering children in school, applying for Social Security, conducting “cultural orientation” classes for all adults, and linking refugees to additional internal and community services. This year, the IRC in Oakland will be resettling refugees and special immigrant visa holders primarily from Afghanistan, El Salvador, Eritrea, and Burma. These clients will live all across the Bay Area, however, the majority of clients will likely reside in Contra Costa and Alameda County. The Anti-Trafficking Program provides intensive case management services to adult, foreign-born survivors of human trafficking. The majority of the clients in this program are currently from Central and South America.

Oakland IRC’s Economic Empowerment program supports clients in rebuilding their lives in the U.S. The IRC supports new arrivals find their first job in the U.S. through Early Employment Programs, which blend classroom job-readiness instruction and individualized employment case management in helping over 75 percent of enrolled cases successfully find employment within 6 months of arrival to the U.S. While clients are looking for a job, they simultaneously learn about the complex U.S. financial services system, receive help in establishing bank accounts, and can access consumer advocacy and financial coaching support from IRC Financial Counselors.