The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Scope of Work
The Extended Case Management (ECM) team provides case management services to up to 400 new clients each year at the IRC in Silver Spring. The team works directly with new refugees, asylees and other humanitarian immigrants resettling in the DC Metro area; utilizing a holistic 2Gen household approach for the families served, the team addresses both short-term and long-term barriers to support overall well-being in the US. This intern will report to one of the ECM caseworkers.
Responsibilities
- Conduct check-in calls and send messages to clients to determine the status of any unresolved service provision and provide guidance or assistance with the support of supervisor.
- Submit and follow up with a variety of external referrals, including for English classes, health screenings, and housing assistance programs.
- Assist clients with scheduling and teaching them how to navigate various organizations, such as public benefit offices or medical offices.
- Assist clients with completing and following up on applications for public benefits, Medicaid, childcare vouchers, social security cards, and more.
- Research and build community resources to fill any gaps in services.
- Provide clients with public transportation orientations in the field if needed.
- Regularly track service provision through electronic data entry and organize required client documentation.
- Other duties as assigned by the ECM team.
Learning Objectives
- Intern will gain US resettlement agency experience.
- Intern will acquire knowledge of internal programs and public benefits available to humanitarian immigrant families.
- Intern will learn how to communicate with variety stakeholders population, including how to effectively utilize interpreters.
- Intern will gain skills in building resources and coaching limited English proficiency clients.
- Intern will learn tracking and reporting requirements for resettlement agencies and how capturing this data improves services.
Qualifications
- Current undergraduate, graduate student or less than 12 months out of school.
- Minimum 24 hours per week, three-month commitment and three full working days per week; full-time 32-37.5 hours per week highly preferred.
- Proficient digital literacy skills (e.g., MS Excel, Outlook, and Word) and the ability to learn new software and tasks.
- Organized and attentive to detail.
- Ability to work independently and multi-task.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Interest in working in a global environment
- Knowledge of or interest in learning about public benefits and other community resources.
- Ability to build out community resources is a plus.
- Driver's license and access to a reliable, insured vehicle is a plus.
- Fluency in Dari, Pashto, Haitian Creole, Spanish, or Ukrainian is a plus.
Application Deadline
August 21st, 2026
Position Details
This position is for the Fall semester and requires a minimum commitment of 24 hours per week. Ability to work in-person at the Silver Spring office and at a minimum of 15 hours per week is required.
Fall 2026 interns are expected to begin their internship term by attending an in-person intern orientation on September 7th, 2026 from 9:15AM-3:30PM.
We currently offer internships during the following semesters:
- Fall: September – December
Internships are typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date.
Compensation
Internships with the IRC in Silver Spring are unpaid. Fall 2026 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. For information on scholarship opportunities, contact your university or the IRC Silver Spring Community Engagement Coordinator Michalina Kulesza at michalina.kulesza@rescue.org.
Additional Information
Candidates applying not enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and outside of 12 months from graduation are welcome to apply. These candidates will be processed as volunteers.
To protect our clients, the IRC requires all selected applicants to complete background checks. We ask that you make a $30 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 87% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer.
Professional Standards
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
Equal Opportunity Employer
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
