Refugee Resettlement Intern - Summer 2023

Job Description

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. Domestically, our 28 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Refugee Resettlement team supports refugees during their first eight months in the United States. The housing team prepares their apartment. Caseworkers connect refugees with services include providing monthly cash assistance, ensuring that clients apply for public benefits such Medicaid, food stamps, social security and enroll in health insurance and ESL classes. And the cultural orientation team introduce refugees to U.S. customs and systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Assist with managing clients’ cases and providing orientation to IRC services. - Guide clients through appointments and applications including but not limited to: medical and immunization appointments, ESL class and school enrollments, and applications for Social Security cards, State IDs and Medicaid. - Conduct public transportation orientation with clients. - Furnish apartments and transport donations. - Facilitate Cultural Orientation sessions in a classroom or remote, video-conference setting

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

- Intern will gain experience interacting with and assisting refugee clients. - Intern will acquire detailed knowledge of programs and public benefits available for refugees and asylees during their resettlement period. - Intern will learn reporting requirements for resettlement agencies and how to capture data to improve services.

Qualifications

- Minimum commitment of three months and at least 25 hours per week. 35 hours per week preferred. - Ability to work in-person preferred. - Passionate about immigration, refugees and serving others. - Access to a personal vehicle with active insurance preferred. - Willingness to use public transportation with clients in order to orient clients to buses, etc - Ability to work independently and under pressure in a fast-paced environment. - Organized with attention to detail. - Excellent communication and writing skills. - Fluency in one of the following languages is highly desirable: Spanish, French, Arabic, Amharic, Burmese, Nepali, Swahili, Farsi or Tigrinya. - Able and willing to lift and carry up to approximately 50 pounds (E.g., carrying half of a couch during apartment setup) is preferred, but not required.

TO APPLY

Click Apply Now at the top of this page. Please attach a resume, cover letter and a list of (at least) three references to your application. This position is filled on a rolling basis.

IRC Silver Spring is operating in a hybrid work setting. Summer 2023 interns may intern in-person, hybrid, or fully remote.

This position is for summer 2023 and requires a minimum commitment of 3 months and at least 25 hours per week. 35 hours per week preferred. Ability to work in-person preferred.

We currently offer internships during the following semesters: Spring: January – May Summer: May – August Fall: September – December Internships are typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date.

Note: Internships with the International Rescue Committee in Silver Spring are unpaid. Summer 2023 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. School credit may be received depending on your program and institution. For information on scholarship opportunities, contact your university or the IRC Silver Spring intern coordinator at [email protected].

*Candidates applying who are not currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or are outside 12 months of their graduation are welcome to apply. These candidates will be processed as volunteers.

To protect our clients, the IRC requires all selected applicants to complete background checks. We ask that you make a $30 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 87% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer.

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, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you need assistance in the application or hiring process to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. Please contact Talent Acquisitions at [email protected]. As required by law, the IRC will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with a known disability.