Spring 2025 Basic Services & Secondary Migrant Intern (IINE Lowell)

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 Lowell, MA office are required.

Basic Services & Secondary Migrant Internship Overview

The Basic Services team provides case management and other services to newly arrived entrants, asylees and other clients for up to three years after arrival. During this time, staff coordinate the arrival, integration and social services of asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, parolees, 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, supporting families to enroll their children in school, and ensuring clients understand available resources through cultural orientation workshops.

Reports To: Senior Programs & Contract Manager

Location: Lowell, MA (hybrid format)

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist staff with case management including:
• Applying for temporary financial assistance
• Staying up to date on a client’s approval of cash assistance
• Advocating for health and social services
• Helping to coordinate referrals to a wide variety of social services
• Collaborate with the Education team to register clients into ESOL classes
• Collaborate with the Employment team to support clients with job search
• Help clients identify and find community amenities (laundromat, grocery story, faith-based)
• Manage and update client records including case notes and case files
• Provide general administrative assistance to the Basic Services team

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 interacting with social welfare agencies highly desirable
• Experience advocating on behalf of others
• Language skills in Haitian Creole, French, and/or Spanish highly desirable
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly organized with great attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint?

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize common challenges faced by Cuban/Haitian entrants, parolees, and asylee populations
2. Develop strong advocacy and interpersonal skills, particularly for use in a cross-cultural, cross-linguistic environment
3. Identify best practices associated with case management and make community referrals
4. Capture important information from meetings and check-ins in concise case notes and via other forms of documentation
5. Identify and access community resources and services, particularly those that cater to the needs of Cuban/Haitian entrants
6. Respectfully express and engage with ideas and values in a multicultural, multilingual environment.