The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Please note: This is an unpaid internship. Job Overview:
The Preferred Communities (PC) Intensive Case Management (ICM) Program, funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) offers individualized case management to the most vulnerable IRC clients. In FY22 with additional funds from ORR, the IRC’s ICM program created the Supplemental Case Management (SCM), a case management program that provides services to clients who exited their initial resettlement service period with additional need, but whose needs do not rise to the level of ICM eligibility. In FY23, the Virtual Supplemental Case Management (VSCM) Program was created to provide services to clients in need of case management who are outside the serviceable area of an IRC office or other resettlement agency and help local offices who need additional virtual support. The Virtual Supplemental Case Management intern will work in coordination with the VSCM team to provide remote services and referrals to clients located across the 27 IRC resettlement sites as well as clients located outside of the IRC catchment areas part of vulnerable groups: single-headed refugee households; survivors of domestic violence and gender-based violence; older refugees; youth and young adults without parents or permanent guardians; refugees experiencing mental health or psychological difficulties; refugees with physical disabilities or medical conditions; unanticipated refugee arrivals and secondary migrants; and refugees who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ). The VSCM Intern reports to the Program Officer for VSCM in the Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration Department in the US.
Major Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
•Conduct client assessments at intake, 3 months and 6 months by phone or video conferencing with the use of telephonic interpretation as needed.
•Work in collaboration with the client to develop individualized goals and service plans for their service period.
•Map community assets and help make referrals to community partners where client resides.
•Assist in scheduling and helping clients learn how to get to appointments in their area.
•Assist clients with navigating healthcare and social service systems in their area.
•Input case note documentation into IRC’s database, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO).
•Communicate client concerns with VSCM staff
•Work on additional mezzo and macro projects to increase capacity of the VSCM program
•Collaborate with VSCM team, IRC colleagues, and community members to identify and develop partnerships to connect clients to nearby resources that meet client needs.
•Assess and make client referrals for other services as appropriate
Learning Objectives:
•Develop social work competencies at the micro level, with additional projects that focus on the mezzo and macro levels.
•Apply critical thinking to problem solving within the context of professional social work practice and service delivery.
•Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
•Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice for clients.
Requirements:
•Must be a US citizen or legal permanent resident and authorized to work in the U.S.
•Must be at least 18 years old
•Must be working towards their MSW degree
•Must commit to at least 15 hours a week, with a preference of two full days a week over the course of two semesters (with time off for all school holidays)
Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:
•Demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IRC’s core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality. Ability to lead in a way that recognizes that IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals from many cultures with a great variety of skills and perspectives.
•Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
•Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
•Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
•Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.
•Attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
•Fluent in English, both spoken and written; proficiency in language(s) spoken by client group is desired.
•Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.
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Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.