Description
The Refugee Resettlement Intern will support refugees and other eligible humanitarian immigrants with their initial resettlement period in the United States. The intern will assist with home set-ups, support clients with benefit applications, conduct bus orientations, refer clients to external services, and provide guidance or assistance with the support of the intern supervisor.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with home set-ups before client arrival, including lifting, moving, unpacking, assembling, and transporting household supplies and furniture.
- Support clients by completing applications for eligible public benefits, Medicaid, social security cards, and more.
- Orient clients with the local public transit system via conducting bus orientations in the field.
- Refer clients to external services including but not limited to English classes and medical screenings.
- Conduct check-in calls and send messages to clients to determine the status of any unresolved service provision and provide guidance or assistance with the support of the intern supervisor.
- Research and build community resources to fill any gaps in services, as needed.
- Record client interactions and service provision in compliance with funder requirements by inputting data into Microsoft Excel and databases.
- Other duties as assigned.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how housing is secured and prepared for newly arriving refugees.
- Gain professional U.S. field-office experience interacting with and supporting refugee clients.
- Acquire detailed knowledge of the programs and benefits available for clients during their initial resettlement period.
- Learn tracking and reporting requirements per funder requirements and how capturing this data improves service provision.
Qualifications:
- Current undergraduate, graduate student or less than 12 months out of school.
- 24 to 32 hours per week (3 to 4 full-time days per week) and four-month commitment.
- Valid driver's license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.
- Willing and able to transport, lift and move items as needed to set up homes and otherwise support new client arrivals.
- Proficient digital literacy skills (e.g., Microsoft 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 in a multi-cultural environment.
- Knowledge of or interest in learning about client benefits and other community resources.
- Fluency in Dari, Haitian Creole, Pashto, or Spanish is a plus.