Home Study and Post Release Services 

Unaccompanied Children Program

Make a Difference! Join our Home Study and Post Release Services Team


Understanding HS/PRS

Unaccompanied Children in Need: An unaccompanied child is defined by United States law as a child who is under the age of 18 years old and without an accompanying parent or legal guardian. Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children from places such as El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras seek refuge in the United States annually, escaping war, gangs, and violence; and others enter involuntarily as labor or sex trafficking victims. These accompanied children are released from the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) into the care of sponsors—often relatives or friends already living in the U.S.

Navigating a New World: Facing a challenging transition, these unaccompanied children must adapt to new communities, cultures, languages, and family dynamics. Their mental health, safety, education, and legal needs are critical.
 
How We Support HS/PRS: This is where the IRC comes in to provide essential support for these unaccompanied children in two different areas:
  1. Home Study: Before the unaccompanied child arrives, we visit the sponsor’s home, interview household members, and ensure a safe placement. We guide sponsors in their responsibility to promote the child’s safety, rights, and needs.
  2. Post Release Services: Once the unaccompanied child is with their sponsor, IRC caseworkers create an action plan. IRC provides case management and connects unaccompanied children and their sponsors to educational, legal, medical care, and mental health services. Regular check-ins ensure the child’s well-being and progress.


Benefits of Working on HS/PRS

  • With a nearly 10-year record of HS/PRS implementation and our history and reputation as the leading service provider for refugees, asylum seekers, trafficking survivors and other vulnerable immigrants, IRC has a unique ability to scale and provide high-quality HS/PRS services nationwide for unaccompanied children.
  • We're expanding our HS/PRS presence from 6 to 20 sites to better address child welfare needs and advocate for more unaccompanied children in need of support, creating growth opportunities within the IRC. 
  • IRC's multi-tiered management structure ensures quality and accountability at national, regional and local levels, empowering our teams to excel. By collaborating with local case management teams, we leverage child advocacy experience and community connections to gather feedback, demonstrating our adaptability in providing the right support and structure for the unaccompanied children program.

Work with IRC 

  • Opportunity to be part of a dynamic, mission-driven team and a culture that supports gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion with a network of 22,000 professionals across the globe. 
  • IRC offers sector-leading comprehensive benefits, including generous vacation and retirement matching, healthcare coverage, and more.
  • At the IRC, we prioritize professional development. Employees benefit from an extensive selection of courses through e-Cornell, edX Programs, and access to 450 Ivy League courses, either complimentary or at a fraction of the cost.
  • Staff can participate in Temporary Transfer Assignments (TTA) to explore alternative roles and programs for a set period, fostering career advancement and learning while maintaining their current positions.

What our employees are saying

"During my two months at the IRC, I have encountered staff from many different backgrounds and cultures. I've enjoyed meeting staff that reflect our clients and can relate to the difficult work we do every day. My favorite part of working with HSPRS has been witnessing the case workers successfully connect clients to resources and services in their area and supporting sponsors."
Arielle - Casework Supervisor
"I have really enjoyed experiencing and learning about so many different cultures. I have found immense fulfillment in the meaningful work we do to support immigrant families and individuals in need. One of the aspects of my role that brings me great satisfaction is the tangible impact I can make in the daily lives of these immigrant families. Being a son of two immigrant parents, I know the importance of able to aid, support and provide resources to individuals who are navigating challenging circumstances. In a way I feel as if I am paying it forward, witnessing the positive changes and improvements in the lives of those we serve reaffirms my commitment to the mission and values of the IRC."
Brandon - Senior Case Worker
"What I love most about working at the IRC is that they have worked hard to be diverse, inclusive, and empowering for us as a team. Working with unaccompanied minors and their families, I enjoy that I am part of a team that advocates for their needs and helps connect them to resources within their community. While we work in a challenging and often difficult environment, I feel very much supported by my supervisors and peers and everyone on the team has made a difference. I appreciate that the IRC is a mission-driven, humanitarian, and agile organization that values diversity, curiosity, and care."
Yacob - Crisis Case Manager
"During my time at the IRC, I have deeply appreciated the organization's commitment to ongoing learning and development, which enables us to effectively serve diverse populations. Working with Unaccompanied Minors and their families has been particularly rewarding, and I consider it a privilege to contribute to their well-being. One aspect of my role that I hold dear is the opportunity to collaborate with experts from various disciplines within the IRC. This exposure has been instrumental in my professional growth, allowing me to expand my knowledge and skills significantly."
Krystal - Regional Director

Learn more about our roles

Senior Caseworker
Responsible for assessing safety, developing strength-based service plan, providing psychoeducation, developing safety plans where needed, ongoing assessment and referring and connecting children to community based services.

Crisis Case Manager
Supports our high risk, most vulnerable clients. Works actively with local agencies and our clinical management team to provide comprehensive support. 

Casework Supervisor
Supervises Senior Caseworkers and Crisis Case managers. They ensure HSPRS program success by driving operational excellence, working closely with Regional and HQ leadership and program stakeholders.

IRC Employee Benefits & Resources 

Our sector-leading, comprehensive benefits offer our staff the support, freedom and flexibility, enabling them to do their best work.
Mental Health Support
Free & private consultation and counseling sessions offered in multiple languages to assist you with managing any work or personal related concerns, such as stress and building resiliency through our EARP program. 
Retirement Matching
Generous retirement plan with employer match up to 4.5%, immedately vested with additional matching options with tenure. 
Personal Development
We offer both online & in-person learning courses & programs including manager and leadership development, with extensive selection of courses faclitated through esteemed platforms and Ivy league universities. Our robust internal mobility prorgam includes temporary transfer assignments (TTA) where employees can explore roles in and across our organization globally.
Generous PTO & Holidays
Paid time off including generous vacation (20 days), sick days (10 days), parental & adoption leave, disability and holidays (10 days). 

Learn more about our comprehensive benefits

Commonly Asked Questions:


About the role & expectations: 

Benefits and resources

Hiring and Interview Process