TITLE: Resettlement Casework Internship 

LOCATION: Des Moines, IA  

START DATE: Ongoing

DURATION: 3-5 Months, Minimum of 10 hours per week 

BACKGROUND:  

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a leading, non-sectarian, non-profit organization providing emergency relief, protection, rehabilitation assistance, resettlement services, and advocacy for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict.  Domestically, our 29 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency.  

The Des Moines, IA office was opened in July of 2022, serving more than 200 refugees in its first year. Our operations expanded to Iowa City with our office opening in February 2024.The Health and Wellness Coordinator supports clients in navigating complex medical and benefits systems, and designs and connects clients to programs and resources that improve their quality of life.

 

SCOPE OF INTERN WORK:  

The case management program includes providing core services to new arrivals and helping clients work towards self-sufficiency during their first two years in the U.S. in the areas of health, employment, finances, education, housing, family, and community. Under the supervision of the Casework Supervisor, the Resettlement Casework Intern will focus primarily on the job experience and shadowing, learning the core services delivered under the U.S. resettlement program, and building the capacity of the current casework team by assisting in the everyday work of caseworkers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

  • New arrival services: assist with airport pickup, home safety orientation, grocery shopping, applying for social security card, applying for benefits at DWS, activating EBT card, lease signing, setting up utilities, office intake, furniture delivery, bus orientations, paying bills, home safety & cleaning orientation, etc.
  • Core Services: ESL & public school enrollment, cultural orientation, housing applications, transportation to appointments
  • Needs assessment, budgeting, action plans, home visits
  • Referral and connection to community services
  • File case notes, complete data entry, and participate in case staffing and staff meetings
  • Job shadows the casework team to understand the core services delivered under the U.S. resettlement program. 
  • Build the capacity of the casework team by learning about and supporting the following activities: 
  • Helping clients apply for public benefits and personal documents, i.e. social security cards. 
  • Enrolling families in English as a Second Language classes 
  • Enrolling children in public schools. 
  • Greeting families at the airport upon their arrival and supporting their transition into the hotel. 
  • Assist caseworkers’ efforts to find adequate and sustainable employment for their clients by creating a sample resume for clients to use and adapt for job applications, assisting caseworkers in case noting activities with clients, case filing, and supporting the team to complete various tasks. 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

  • Gain exposure to interacting with diverse communities, cultures, and backgrounds. 
  • Deepen understanding of the unique barriers, challenges, and assets of the refugee and immigrant communities. 
  • Gain industry knowledge of the U.S. refugee resettlement program and its core services. 
  • Gain some experience in working directly with clients to support their goals. 
  • Interns will also learn about documentation required by the government and they will become familiar with working with government entities such as the Social Security Administration and US Citizenship & Immigration. 

REQUIREMENTS & PREFERRED SKILLS:

  • ​​Pursuing a degree in: Social Work, Public Health, Kinesiology and Health, Nutrition, Medicine, Pre-PA, Pre-Dental, Sociology, Anthropology, Global Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Education, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, International Relations, HR, or other relevant field.​ 
  • Experience and moderate efficiency with Microsoft products.
  • Ability to work efficiently and accurately under multiple demands and frequent interruptions.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Experience with English language learners

This is an unpaid internship position. No financial compensation, including compensation for relocation, is available. May be used as credit for classes through appropriate registration.

How to apply 

Go to https://irc-global.my.salesforce-sites.com/volunteer and complete the application. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected]. Once your application is received, a staff member will contact you for a brief interview. You will then receive a link to complete a background check. Finally, you will be contacted to attend a required volunteer training. 

 

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.