Fall 2024 Economic Empowerment – Benefits Intern – United States of America

SCOPE OF WORK

The Economic Empowerment Program assists refugees in becoming economically independent by placing newly arrived refugees in their first job in the United States. The goal of the program is to help clients reduce barriers to self-employment and employment and assist them in finding full-time employment. Clients receive public benefits as they transition into employment and earn sufficient income to successfully cover their expenses. The intern works directly under the supervision of the Cash and Benefits Specialists.

This is an unpaid internship that requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week for at least two months.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inform clients about the Refugee Cash Assistance and KTAP Differential programs.
• Assist benefits specialists in compiling the necessary documentation to submit applications for public benefits.
• Transport clients and all required documents to the Department of Community Based Services (DCBS) office as needed.
• Contact DCBS to check the status of your benefits application.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case files and case notes.
• Regularly track service delivery and cash disbursements through electronic data entry.
• Other assigned tasks.

LEARNING GOALS

• The intern gains experience in assessing new clients of a US resettlement agency.
• The intern learns how to communicate effectively across different cultures, including through the use of interpreters.
• The intern acquires knowledge of programs and public services available to humanitarian immigrants.
• The intern learns how to effectively create resumes and search for jobs for clients.
• The intern acquires skills in strategic research and outreach strategies.
• The intern will learn about the reporting requirements of resettlement agencies and how collecting this data improves services.

REQUIREMENTS

• Current student, graduate student, or out of school for less than 12 months.
• Autumn (September, October, November): At least 20 hours/week for 3 months
• At least 10 hours/week
• Primary availability during IRC business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Applicants who can commit themselves long-term will be preferred
• Strong digital literacy skills and the ability to learn new software and tasks.
• Organized and with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and multitask.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including intercultural communication skills.
• Works well in a fast-paced environment and adapts quickly to changes.
• Interest in working with refugees and those in need of humanitarian assistance.
• Fluent Spanish, Kiswahili, Kinyarwanda, Arabic, Dari, Pashto or Burmese is an advantage.
• Access to an insured vehicle is desirable but not required.

Gender equality: IRC is committed to closing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that enable women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive safety protocols, and other supportive benefits and perks.

Equal opportunities for all employees: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodations.