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TITLE: YOUTH PROGRAM INTERN
LOCATION: ELIZABETH NEW JERSEY
START DATE: JUNE 2024
DURATION: 3 MONTHS+
POSITION REPORTS TO: YOUTH PROGRAM SUPERVISOR
BACKGROUND: International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in more than 40 countries and over 20 U.S. cities, the IRC provides resettlement, education and empowerment support to refugees and displaced people. Over the past eight years, the Refugee Youth Program at IRC NJ has developed partnerships with Union, Essex and Hudson County public schools, community-based organizations and local colleges and universities to support the positive development of refugee youth and their communities in New Jersey. The Refugee Youth Program provides year-round programming working directly with refugee youth, their parents and families, and their schools.
SCOPE OF WORK: The goal of the refugee school impact program is to help recently arrived refugee and immigrant children and youth adapt successfully to elementary, middle, and high schools while meeting their short-and long-term educational needs. Program staff will work directly with parents and school representatives and will provide after-school, weekend and summer academic programming for refugee and immigrant youth.
RESPONSIBILITIES: The Refugee Youth Program supports newly arrived refugee and immigrant youth, their families, and their schools with the school adjustment process. Refugee Youth Program Interns will provide assistance with a variety of support services, such as school enrollment, parent workshops, summer school referrals, summer programming, and developing academic resources for refugee students. Youth Program Interns will support the Youth Programming team with planning and implementing the Newcomer Refugee Youth Summer Academy (NYSA). Youth Program Interns will also provide other direct services to youth and their families as needed.
- Assist with school enrollment, application for school reduced-free meal program, student placement testing, immunization requirements, and registration for after school programs, mentoring, and summer programs (IRC-run or otherwise).
- With support from the Youth Program Supervisor, establish individual service plans for the academic year with newly arrived refugee and immigrant youth and their families; as needed and identified in the service plan, provide mentoring, guidance, advocacy, mediation, social activities, tutoring and secure translation/interpretation, as needed, for students and their family.
- Provide or secure interpretation services as needed to inform students and parents about procedures and steps and to address issues involving children's education.
- Under the supervision of the Youth Program Supervisor, assess and monitor family needs and make appropriate referrals.
- Maintain comprehensive case notes and regularly update family's individual service plan.
- Assist staff in welcoming, accompanying, and supporting students at the designated summer program location during lunch, recess, activity, and class time (as needed).
- Participate in staff development and team meetings.
- Complete related tasks and responsibilities assigned by the Youth Program Supervisor.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- The student will learn about refugee resettlement issues and processes, especially K-12 education registration and accessing educational services.
- The student will develop outreach and advocacy skills.
- The student will develop direct client service skills.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor or Master Degree in social work, education, public health, or related field.
- Experience working with children and youth, specifically in the context of educational and social programs.
- Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations highly desirable.
- Fluency in a second language preferred (i.e. Dari, Pashto, Farsi, Arabic, Spanish, and Kiswahili)
- Ability to work independently
- Willingness to travel within Union County, Hudson County and/or Essex County and accompany clients to appointments.
- Understand the need to approach and apply case management methods with the goal of client self-sufficiency and sustainability.
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.
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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.