Spring 2025 Community Services & Resettlement Intern (IINE Manchester)

The International Institute of New England is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving refugees and immigrants in Boston, MA, Lowell, MA, and Manchester, NH. The Institute offers internships to students, graduate students, and recent graduates with demonstrated interest or experience in supporting refugee, asylee, and immigrant populations. Each internship includes an educational component, through which interns contextualize their experience and reflect on their service.

All internships are unpaid and correspond roughly with the US semester system:

• Spring Internship: January through mid-May 2025
  (Applications requested by November 29th, considered thereafter until positions are filled)

First consideration is given to applicants that can commit at least 16 hours per week over the course of the semester outlined above. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of whether their schedule fits the semester system; IINE makes exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Slots fill quickly and candidates are encouraged to apply earlier than the requested date above.

Please note that this internship will be a hybrid format, meaning that some in-person hours at our Manchester, NH office are required.

Community Services and Resettlement Internship Overview

The community services team provides case management and other services to newly arrived refugees, asylees and other clients for up to 90 days after arrival, with some case management services provided after the first 90 days. During this time, staff coordinate the arrival, integration and social services of refugees, asylees, Haitian entrants and other clients after their arrival in the United States. Interns assist the Case Specialists by checking in with clients by phone, helping clients access local transportation and other public services, and ensuring clients understand available resources through cultural orientation workshops.

Reports to: Community Services Case Specialist

Location: Manchester, NH (hybrid format)

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist staff with case management responsibilities including:
• Applying for temporary financial assistance
• Advocating for health and social services
• Outreach to clients via home visits and/or phone calls
• Accompanying clients to the Department of Health and Human Services, health clinics, Social Security office, Department of Motor Vehicles, and other appointments.
• Helping to coordinate referrals to a wide variety of social services
• Conduct cultural and workforce orientation workshops for recently arrived refugees
• Review and update client records at Case Specialist’s direction
• Provide general administrative assistance to the Community Services team and other case management staff as necessary

Qualifications:

• Interest in international, refugee, asylee, and/or immigrant issues
• Patience speaking with non-native English speakers / non-English speakers
• Professionalism, discretion, and maturity in dealing with confidential information
• Experience advocating on behalf of others
• Language skills in Dari, Pashto, Arabic, or Swahili highly desirable
• Highly organized with great attention to detail
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Driver’s license and car required

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize common challenges faced by immigrant and refugee populations
2. Develop strong advocacy and people skills
3. Identify best practices associated with case management and how to effectively conduct client meetings
4. Capture important information from meetings and check-ins in concise case notes
5. Identify and access community resources and services, particularly those that cater to the needs of refugees and immigrants.
6. Understand the US Refugee Resettlement program, as well as what part VOLAGs and resettlement agencies like the International Institute of New England play in receiving and integrating refugees.
7. Respectfully express and engage ideas and values in a multicultural, multilingual environment.