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The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants seeks a Family Support Services Intern to assist with workshops and events to help refugee families adjust to life in the United States. The position includes outreach, workshop facilitation, administrative work, direct contact with clients and community members, and close collaboration with staff.
This is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable families in your community, and to gain experience in program management, social work, and the field of refugee resettlement.

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The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants has been helping people flee war and persecution since 1911. USCRI addresses the needs and rights of persons in forced or voluntary migration worldwide by advancing fair and humane public policy, facilitating and providing direct professional services, and promoting the full participation of migrants in community life.

Through its network of resettlement field offices and partner organizations, USCRI provides refugees and immigrants across the United States with the support, services and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives and enrich their communities.

The USCRI field office in Albany opened in 2005 and now resettles hundreds of refugee families every year in the Capitol Region of New York State. The largest populations served by the Albany field office are Burmese, Iraqi, Afghan, Congolese, and Bhutanese refugees. The Albany field office also has an immigration and asylum services program that serves not only refugee clients and their families, but asylum seekers and immigrants from the wider community as well.


INTERNSHIP ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Family Support Services Intern will assist the Program Coordinator with coordinating and presenting orientation programs to newly arrived refugees on family related issues, and creating additional programming to enhance families’ communication skills and overall well-being. The intern will be expected to:

- Participate in training in the Relationship Enhancement curriculum
- Organize Relationship Enhancement workshops. Coordinate location; conduct outreach and follow-up with clients by phone, in person, and with printed materials; coordinate childcare volunteers for workshops.
- Prepare workshop materials, help to set up workshop space, videotape workshops when required
- Help facilitate workshops
- Recruit and support Relationship Enhancement mentors – refugees who have already completed the program who can support their peers
- Update client records and help maintain accurate case files
- Organize special events and workshops on topics related to maintaining strong, healthy families
- Assist with making appointments for clients with Family Support Services Coordinator.
- Network with community organizations to raise awareness about refugees and the Family Support Services Program.




TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• The internship is for a minimum of 10 weeks, with preference given to candidates who can work for 12 weeks or more. Minimum of 8 hours per week during school year, 16 hours per week in the summer.
• The internship is unpaid. Interns are responsible for all living expenses during the internship period.


EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED
• Acquiring or having already acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in the social sciences, international relations, law/justice, human rights, or related field required.
• Must speak, read, and write English fluently and at a university level.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and other Windows applications and have experience with Internet research and databases.
• Must have excellent organizational, time-management, follow-up, and administrative skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Must have excellent communication skills on telephone, via email, and in person
• Must be capable of working in a fast-paced, multicultural office environment, take initiative, and be able to handle multiple assignments at once and meet deadlines.
• Commitment to the human rights and general welfare of asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants.

DESIRED, BUT NOT REQUIRED
• A personal vehicle is extremely helpful with this position. Applicants who have and are willing to use their car will be given preference.
• Strong candidates will have previous internship experience in non-governmental or inter-governmental organizations.
• Strong candidates will be fluent in a second language in addition to English. Preference will be given to speakers of: Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Burmese, Karen, Nepali, and French.
• Solid understanding of international relations, immigration law, refugee law, human rights and public interest legal work.
• Experience with victims of torture or torture-related issues.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to Jen Barkan, Resource Manager, at info@uscri-albany.org.

Please indicate in your cover letter the time frame and number of hours per week you would be available for the internship.

If you are interested in being considered for more than one internship with USCRI Albany, please indicate this in your cover letter; there is no need to submit multiple applications.