Refugee Walk-in Casework Intern – Summer 2024

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 26 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. Domestically, our 26 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 Walk-In Services Casework team provides case management services toover 700 new walk-in clients each year at the IRC in Silver Spring. The team works directly with newrefugees, asylees,parolees, and other humanitarian immigrantsresettling in the DC Metro area, including Haitian, Ukrainian, Latin American, African, and Middle Eastern individuals,striving to provide them the necessary barrier reduction services and resources to become self-sufficient in the U.S. This position will report to a Walk-In Caseworker or the Walk-In Coordinator.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with new client orientation days by sending welcome emails, printing documentation, recording attendance, and filling out any required new client forms and paperwork.

• Submit and follow up with a variety of external referrals, including for English classes and health screenings.

• Conduct follow up calls with clients and provide guidance or assistance with support of supervisor.

• Request and procure required documentation from clients, such as when they receive their social security card.

• Research and build community resources to fill any gaps in services.

• Request and distribute small on-site donations from inventory, including the activation of donated cell phones.

• Coordinate and conduct in-person training events for clients, for instance on how to use the local library or public transportation.

• Regularly track service provision through electronic data entry and organize required client documentation.

• Other duties as assigned by the Walk-In Casework team.

Learning Objectives:

• Intern will gain US resettlement agency experience.

• Intern will acquire knowledge of internal programs and public benefits available to humanitarian immigrants.

• Intern will learn how to communicate with a diverse population, including how to effectively utilize interpreters.

• Intern will gain skills in building resources and training limited English proficiency clients.

• Intern will learn tracking and reporting requirements for resettlement agencies and how capturing this data improves services.

• Current undergraduate, graduate student or less than 12 months out of school. *

• Minimum 24 hours per week, three-month commitment and three full working days per week; full-time 32-40 hours per week highly preferred.

• Proficient digital literacy skills (e.g., MS Excel, Outlook, and Word) and the ability to learn new software and tasks.

• Organized and attentive to detail.

• Ability to work independently and multi-task.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Interest in working with refugee and humanitarian populations.

• Ability to build out community resources or conduct trainings is a plus.

• Fluency in Haitian Creole, French, Spanish, Amharic, Tigrinya, or Ukrainian is a plus.

TO APPLY

Click Apply Now at the top of this page. Please attach a resume, cover letter and list of (at least) three references to your application. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2024.

This position is for Summer 2024 and requires a minimum commitment of 3 months, at least 24 hours per week. 32 – 40 hours per week preferred.

Summer 2024 Interns are expected to begin their internship term by attending an in-person intern orientation on June 3rd, 2024 from 9:15AM-2:00PM. 

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

Note: Internships with the IRC in Silver Spring are unpaid. Summer 2024 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. 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 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.