Refugee Reception and Placement Internship - Maryland
Ethiopian Community Development Council
Job Summary: The R&P Case Management Intern will assist case managers in all resettlement activities, systems navigation, and access to benefits for recently- arrived refugees in Maryland.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Assist setting up apartments for newly arriving refugees
- Provide assistance to case managers in meeting clients at airport when they first arrive and transport them to their new home
- Assist with conducting Cultural Orientation
- Perform orientations on safety, health and hygiene
- Assist clients to get services from local social service offices and public assistance
- Assist and accompany clients to various appointments including but not limited to: employment, medical appointments, school enrollments, immunization appointments, ESL class enrollments
- Assist R&P case manager with maintenance of case files
- Show clients how to use public transportation
- Assist with other related duties as assigned
Required Qualifications
- College degree or perusing an undergraduate degree in political science, international relations, social work, law/justice, human rights, or related field required
- Previous experience working in multicultural contexts is desirable
- An interest in international and refugee issue
- Ability to work independently as well as in a team
- Ability to work in fast-paced environment and process unexpected tasks and deadlines
- Ability to work under pressure
- Flexibility
- Creativity and initiative to follow through on projects
- Effective communication and writing skills
- Proficiency in one or more language other than English is preferable
- Having personal car or access to a car is highly desirable
Learning Outcomes:
- Understanding of the timelines and processes refugees go through from arrival-5 years.
- Increased intercultural communication competency
- Exposure to basic non-profit operations and environment
- Knowledge of marginalized populations - challenges and opportunities
- Experience working with limited English proficiency populations
- Knowledge of Maryland refugee benefits systems
- Ability to navigate of social service systems
- Basic ability to keep case notes and maintain case files to State Department standards.
Time Requirements:
At least 2 full days a week
Applications are considered on a first come, rolling basis.
About Ethiopian Community Development Council
Location:
8121 Georgia Avenue, Suite 800, Silver Spring, MD 20910, US
Mission Statement
ECDC's mission is to resettle refugees, promote cultural, educational, and socioeconomic development in the refugee and immigrant community in the United States, and conduct humanitarian and development programs in the Horn of Africa. To pursue this mission, ECDC: provides programs and services that assist newcomers to the country become productive members of their new American communities fosters greater understanding among newcomers and the wider community conducts outreach and education activities to increase public awareness about refugee and immigrant issues promotes African community-based organizations increase their capacity to serve their local communities promotes civic participation by newcomers in the decision-making process at the local, state, and national levels provides cross-cultural training to service providers' on the diverse cultural backgrounds of the clients they work with assists in educational development and cultural preservation projects in Ethiopia
Description
ECDC is non-profit organization that works toward the resettlement of refugees within the United States. We conduct case work, as well as educational and social outreach programs for newly arrived refugee families. These programs are aimed to help the families recover from past traumatic experiences, get adjusted to American life, and become economically self-sufficient contributing members of their new communities. The refugees we work with refugees come from all across the globe.
Some of the services that we provide refugee families include:
- Housing and rent for 3 months (families will hopefully be self-sufficient by this time)
- Basic home furnishings
- Enrollment in ESL classes
- Setting up medical and social security appointments
- School enrollment for the children
- Helping refugee families connect with their new communities on a social and logistical level