Internship with Lutheran Family Services Refugee Program

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About Internships at LFSRM:

An internship at LFSRM offers the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of refugee resettlement in the Denver area. Interns will work with individuals from diverse cultures who are forging new beginnings in the United States. Challenging, educational, and professional work experience will be gained through professional training and real work assignments that will provide valuable insight to the worlds of refugee resettlement and non-profit organizations. At times, interns will work closely with staff members, and other times independently. Internships are integrated into the operations at LFSRM to help build the capacity of the organization while utilizing the diverse skill and talent of the interns. We greatly value the time commitment of each intern.

Volunteer & Community Engagement Internship:

The Refugee Programs Community Engagement Intern will do outreach to area churches, schools, and organizations who want to learn more about refugee issues or how to support our local refugee community. They will help plan and coordinate 3-5 community partnership events that further resource the refugee community (i.e. World Refugee Day, job networking events, winter gift give away event, etc.). The intern will also play a part in the management of our cultural mentoring program. This would entail helping with intakes and matching of newly arrived refugees, training volunteers to be culturally aware and helpful partners, and helping with the administrative process. The intern will report to and work with the Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator. Work will take place in our office during normal business hours (8-5 M-F), and occasionally nights and weekends. Off-site work (meetings/presentations/etc.) with community partners is sometimes scheduled on evenings and weekends, as fits with Intern's availability. Approx. one week night and one weekend event a month would be the initial expectation.

Housing Internship:

The Housing Intern will build and maintain relationships with landlords and property managers to ensure an adequate supply of appropriate housing for newly arriving refugees and troubleshoot changing housing needs as special circumstances arise. This position requires a self-initiated person who likes connecting and networking with people. An understanding of the housing market/availability in Denver or an interest in developing that knowledge is key. This would be a great opportunity for a student interested in Community Services Social Work. The intern will spend a good amount of time off-site visiting landlords and property managers and reviewing potential housing. Therefore, access to reliable transportation or comfortability with public transportation is a must.

TANF Liaison Internship:

The TANF Intern will assist the Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains TANF Liaison. TANF intern will work on the Employment and Benefits team (TANF Liaison, Career Counselors, and Job Developer) to help clients navigate public benefits and achieve self-sufficiency through employment. The ideal candidate is interested in how public policy is created and the direct impact policy decisions have on at-risk populations. The TANF intern will attend both county- and state-level meetings where policy decisions are made. Additionally, the intern will work directly with refugee clients and will see firsthand how those decisions affect families receiving benefits. At the end of the internship, the TANF Intern will understand TANF administration and compliance standards, as well as have proficiency using databases such as Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) and Enterprise Nonprofit Software (ETO). The TANF Intern will also gain an understanding of timelines and processes refugees go through upon arrival and up to their 5-year service period. The TANF Intern will gain experience with navigation of social services available to refugees, increased intercultural communication and competency, and experience working in a non-profit human services environment.

Case Management Intern:

The Case Team Intern provides services that assist refugees in adjusting to life in the United States. The intern helps clients meet immediate needs upon arrival and works with Case Team members in preparing and implementing client resettlement plans in accordance with timelines and requirements of federal, state, and other funding sources. The intern also works with other members of administration to refer clients to additional resources with rent, utility and other types of assistance.

Additional internships are available depending on the unique skill set of individual interns.