This is an unpaid internship. PURPOSE: The Resettlement Services Program is the first point of contact for newly arrived refugees and offers support, guidance and counseling through all stages of resettlement. The Case Management Team provide initial services to orient refugees to life in the U.S., including (but not limited to) orienting refugees to Western housing, addressing medical concerns, assisting with the transition to American parenting laws, accessing services for which individual families and refugees are eligible, providing orientation to transportation and cultural laws, and empowering refugees by teaching them to advocate for themselves. This internship focuses primarily on providing additional support to refugees arriving from Africa, especially Darfur, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda and Eritrea.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Assisting the Case Managers and refugees with the following tasks:
- Bus Orientation, with the purpose of the refugee being able to use the bus on their own in the future.
- Applications for basic services as well as niche services
- Home Safety Orientations, including emergency procedures in the US, locking doors, and using appliances.
- Coaching refugee clients through everyday concerns and struggles
- Advocating for refugees in social service offices and with medical professionals
- Practicing English with refugees
- Counseling refugee clients through keeping a budget, using American money, and shopping for food
- Providing occasional administrative support
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Reliable and flexible
- Excellent communication and writing skills
- Organized with attention to detail
- Able to work independently and under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- An interest in international and refugee issues
- Creativity and initiative to follow through on projects
- Strong desire to help people and enthusiasm for working in a multi-cultural setting
- Computer literacy – preferably with PC systems
- A car and driver's license, or being comfortable with learning and using the bus system
TIME COMMITMENT:
- Interns who can intern full-time (40 hours a week) are strongly preferred.
- Interns are required to work at least 10-15 hours per week, Monday through Friday, for a minimum of 12 weeks in the Fall and Spring
- Interns who can work for full days are strongly preferred
Reports to: Case Manager
Position: Unpaid Internship
Updated: 12/1/12
Please apply using our online system. You can also prioritize your application by sending your resume, cover letter, and contact info for 2 references directly to kafiya.ismail@rescue.org with the following information listed in the cover letter:
-internship(s) for which you wish to be considered (please provide a ranking of desired internships if you wish to be considered for multiple opportunities)
-projected start/end date (noting that we have a 3-month minimum for our internships)
-days and number of hours of availability during the work week (for example: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am-5pm)
-whether or not you would have access to a car in which you would be willing to drive with the refugees we serve; if not, please indicate your level of comfort with using the bus sytem
We look forward to reviewing your application!
IRC leading the way from harm to home.
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 or disability.
