The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps families uprooted by crisis survive and rebuild their lives. The IRC relies on interns to support its work helping these families adjust to a new life in the U.S. Volunteers and Interns form the very backbone of our programs here in the United States.  If you have a passion for people, we can help you find your place as an intern at the IRC.

 

Casework Program Department

Extended Case Management Internship

The ECM program provides trauma-informed services to refugees, asylees and other immigrants eligible for enrollment up to the first 5 years in the United States. ECM helps clients formulate service and/or self-sufficiency plans to meet individual needs utilizing a broad range of financial, medical, social, vocational, and other services and resources in accordance with client eligibility and program requirements. ECM interns can expect to assist the ECM Caseworker with the following tasks:

 

Intensive Case Management Internship

The Intensive Case Management (ICM) program is a federally-funded wraparound services program for refugees and asylees who have resettled in Dallas within the last 5 years. The cases that we usually see in these programs need significantly more help from their caseworkers than as expected in their initial 90-day Resettlement and Placement (R&P) period. Oftentimes these cases seek ICM services due to more complicated physical and mental health challenges, and/or experience of domestic or family violence in the home. Interns can expect tasks such as:

Reception & Placement Casework Internship

The Reception and Placement (R&P) program is the first program that incoming refugees enroll in when they arrive in the United States. Intern tasks include but are not limited to:


 

Development Department 

 

Development Internship

This department is in charge of fundraising, recruiting volunteers and interns, and soliciting in-kind donations. Interns can expect to assist with the following tasks:


 

Economic Empowerment Department

 

Career Pathways Internship

Career Pathways assist clients who have been in the U.S. for at least 1 year and are looking for gainful employment that requires higher level skills, and yields higher wages. This program connects clients to credentialing and vocational programs through local community colleges and trade schools. Intern duties include:

 

Employment Internship

Includes RSS (Refugee Social Services - employment) and Matching Grant programs (both of which are federally funded). The Employment programs are geared towards clients looking for their first jobs in the U.S. Interns can expect to perform tasks such as:

 

Financial Coaching Internship

Advocating for economic justice for all of our clients is a big priority at the Dallas IRC. Our Financial Coaches assist clients in reaching their financial goals including applying for loans, building credit, budgeting, banking, and reconciling debt. We believe that financial education, skill-building, and empowerment is the key to helping our clients overcome the cycle of poverty. Interns can expect to help with:


 

Education & Youth Program Department

 

Academic Coach (Youth Program)

The Refugee Youth Mentorship Program (Academic Coaching) provides refugee youth between the ages of 14-22 with year-round academic support, literacy training, and enrichment activities. It also equips their families with resources and support services to enable them to navigate the public education system in Dallas. Our goal is to help recently arrived refugee and immigrant youth adapt successfully in Dallas and Richardson Independent School Districts while giving them the tools and opportunities they need to grow in their academics, regulate emotions, and expand their social circles. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:


 

 

Immigration and Legal Services Department

 

Family Reunification Program Internship

With oversight from Immigration and Legal Services staff, the Family Reunification Intern will assist the team in helping eligible clients apply for resettlement to the United States through the following programs:

Interns can expect to perform the following tasks:

 

Immigration Core Services Internship

With oversight from the Immigration Program Manager and other immigration staff, the Immigration Intern will assist immigration staff in providing direct legal services such as adjustment of status, citizenship, and family reunification to refugees, asylees, and other immigrants. S/he will work closely with immigration staff to provide follow-up communication to clients.  The intern will also perform a series of clerical and administrative duties to ensure client files are kept up to date. Tasks include:

 

Signpost/ImportaMi Program Internship

With oversight from the Signpost/ImportaMi Program Manager and other Immigration and Legal Services staff, the ImportaMi Intern will assist the team in researching legal and wraparound social services for unaccompanied children who have been placed with sponsors across the country. (S)he will play a key role in helping unaccompanied children access the information they need to try to find an attorney, enroll in school, and get access to basic needs and services in the area where they live. The intern will also assist with translations (English-Spanish) of resources and website articles, to make it easier for unaccompanied children and their sponsors to learn about relevant resources, their rights, and help them acclimate to life in the United States.


 

Mental Health Department

 

Mental Health Program Internship

IRC Dallas is proud to offer culturally-responsive, trauma-informed, clinical mental health services to Dallas-area immigrants and refugees at no cost. Services include tele-mental health services, mental health literacy for new arrivals, screening and assessment, psychoeducation, support groups, individual counseling, crisis management, psychiatric evaluations and medication management, case management, and mental health care coordination. Our team is staffed by two licensed social workers, a clinical psychiatrist, psychiatry and psychology residents from UT Southwestern Hospital, and Master of Social Work interns. This internship is only available to advanced-year clinical MSW interns and UTSW psychology and psychiatry residents due to the advanced clinical nature of the work. Intern tasks include:


 

New Roots Program

 

New Roots Program Internship

With oversight from the New Roots Coordinator, the Food Security Intern will assist New Roots staff in providing food security and benefits navigation services to newly arrived refugees as they adjust to their new lives in the US. S/he will play a key role in helping refugee families access needed benefits and services as they resettle in the United States. The intern will also perform a series of clerical and administrative duties to ensure client files are kept up to date. Intern tasks will include:


 

Operations Department

 

Front Desk/Reception Internship

Our Office Manager is looking for intern assistance at the front desk to greet clients when the Front Desk Assistant is unavailable or out on lunch break. Intern will be expected to:


 

 

IRC Internship Requirements:

The Intern Application Process:

  1. Please apply for an internship by clicking the link here.
  2. Send your cover letter and resume to [email protected], listing your top three internship positions. 
  3. After your application is reviewed, you may be selected for a phone interview.
  4. Next, you may be selected for a department-specific interview.  This will take place over Teams or Zoom.
  5. Successful interviewees will be required to pass a background check before a position is confirmed.  The IRC in Dallas will kindly request a donation of $40 to offset the cost of your background check.
  6. If your background check and references are cleared, the volunteer team will work to schedule an intern orientation prior to your start day.

 

Internship positions are accepted on a rolling basis, and additional opportunities may be available.  Due to the high volume of applicants, applications may be stored until opportunities become available.  Interns and volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.  For additional questions, email [email protected].

 

Here are other ways to get involved:

  1. Become a volunteer
  2. Donate new or gently-used items
  3. Support the IRC with a financial contribution
  4. Spread the word
  5. Explore additional opportunities

 

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