Case Management Intern

TITLE: Case Management Intern-Unpaid

LOCATION: Denver, CO

OFFICE: 1873 S. Bellaire St. Suite 500, Denver, CO 80222 and in various locations around metro Denver and Aurora

TIME COMMITMENT: 10-15 hours per week, 3-month minimum

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work today in more than 40 countries and in 24 U.S. cities. The IRC’s U.S. Programs (USP) department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in America. USP serves more than 40,000 individuals each year, including thousands of newly arrived refugees, through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at achieving outcomes in five impact areas: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education, and Power.

The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors and local volunteers to help refugees, asylees and those with Special Immigrant Visas translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities. In Denver and other offices across the country, the IRC helps refugees and asylees to rebuild their lives through services and programs that assist with initial resettlement through longer-term integration. Presently, these services are case management, employment services, psychosocial support, family stabilization, health coordination, health insurance literacy, family reunification and programs for children and youth. The Denver office also has a legal services program to provide pro bono legal representation to survivors of torture, as well as direct legal services for family-based immigration.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW: The Case Management Intern position is an opportunity for individuals to learn about and support the case workers in providing services to newly arrived refugees. The Case Management Intern will carry a small caseload of refugee clients under the supervision of a case worker to provide key services such as community navigation, vital document acquisition, home safety orientations, and service planning. This internship is an opportunity to learn more about the nuances of refugee resettlement and the experience of a caseworker within the social work field. 

Responsibilities: 

Carry out the core services required for refugee resettlement under the supervision of a caseworker.

Meet with clients at the IRC office and in their homes.

Provide logistical and coordination support as well as direct client assistance for pre- and post-arrival.

Communicate with clients by phone and in-person using interpretation services.

Develop resources and instruction materials for clients and for volunteers assisting clients with services.

Transport clients to appointments and assist them in navigating community resources.

Administrative assistance – case-noting activities with clients, case filing, and supporting the team to complete various admin tasks .

Learning Objectives: 

Gain knowledge about the process of resettling newly arrived refugees and gain experience in completing the logistical tasks.

Gain case management experience and learn how to provide services for refugee populations.

Have the opportunity to interact with clients directly and find creative ways to communicate while encouraging the clients to be self-sufficient.

Learn about documentation that is required by the government, and become familiar with working with government entities such as the Social Security Administration and US Citizenship & Immigration.