Asylum Program Support Intern (Unpaid)

The IRC in New York is seeking interns to support a case management program for asylum seekers in New York City. Interns will assist program staff in providing services to recent arrivals, including healthcare, public benefits, housing, and legal services support. This position offers hands-on experience in immigration advocacy and program operations.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the coordination and facilitation of group orientations for potential IRC asylum seeker program clients.
• Collaborate with staff to develop program materials and resources.
• Support client enrollment into programs for which they qualify.
• Refer ineligible clients to community resources such as local departments of social services, shelters, food banks, crisis centers, and others as applicable.
• Conduct research on referral opportunities and available resources in New York City to enhance support service network.
• Provide support to caseworkers with connecting clients to external services.
• Help maintain and organize referral records and databases, incorporating client feedback.
• Document client interactions in accordance with established requirements.
• Maintain client files across multiple platforms (Box, ETO, Sharepoint, etc).
• Administer Client Satisfaction Surveys to individuals who have exited Asylum Seeker Programs.
• Support with creating internal and external facing tools and resources.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Interns must be based in US and must be enrolled in post-secondary institution or have graduated from a post-secondary institution within last 2 years.
• Education – Interns should be enrolled into a university program (Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, etc). Individuals with at least 2 years of direct services would be considered regardless of educational background.
• Strong interest in immigration issues, social justice, and advocacy work.
• Excellent research and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse, multi-lingual team environment.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and online research tools.
• Previous experience in social services, community work, immigration, or related fields is a plus, but not required.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Ability to engage in emotional conversations on sensitive topics such as labor trafficking, domestic violence, and family separation.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English and Spanish.
• Proficiency in French, Pashto, Dari, Russian, Wolof, Pulaar, and Farsi highly desirable.

Skills

• Immigrant Rights Advocacy
• Research Skills
• Communications Skills
• Case Management
• Social Service
• Community Work
• MS Word
• MS Excel
• MS PowerPoint
• Online Research Tools
• Organizational Skills
• Multilingual Team Collaboration
• Emotional Support Conversations
• English Language Proficiency
• Spanish Proficiency

Languages

English, Spanish