Summer 2021 Unaccompanied Children’s (UAC) Program (IINE Boston)

The International Institute of New England is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving refugees and immigrants in Boston, MA, Lowell, MA, and Manchester, NH. The Institute offers internships to students, graduate students, and recent graduates with demonstrated interest or experience in supporting refugee, asylee, and immigrant populations. Each internship includes an educational component, through which interns contextualize their experience and reflect on their service.

All internships are unpaid and correspond roughly with the US semester system:

• Summer Internship: May 31, 2021 – August 20, 2021
• (Applications requested by April 1, 2021)

First consideration is given to applicants that can commit at least 12 hours over the course of the semester outlined above. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of whether their schedule fits the semester system; IINE makes exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Slots fill quickly and candidates are encouraged to apply earlier than the requested date above.

UAC Internship Overview

The Unaccompanied Children’s (UAC) Program supports the reunification of children aged 0-18 with family members by providing case management and other services. Interns assist the UAC Case Managers by checking in with clients by phone and helping them to understand available community resources.

Reports to: UAC Case Managers

Location: Boston, MA

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist Case Managers with:
• case management (check-in calls with the children and their caregivers)
• school enrollment
• identifying community services and helping families to access them
• managing client records.
• Provide general administrative assistance to the Unaccompanied Children’s Program staff

Qualifications

• Must speak Spanish (will otherwise be unable to communicate with clients)
• Interest in international, refugee, asylee, and/or immigrant issues
• Ability to work respectfully in a multicultural environment
• Patience speaking with non-native English speakers/non-English speakers
• Experience interacting with social welfare agencies
• Experience advocating on behalf of others
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly organized with great attention to detail
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and to switch gears quickly
• Professionalism, discretion, and maturity in dealing with confidential information
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize common challenges faced by minors and identify community resources that best address those challenges
2. Develop strong advocacy and interpersonal skills
3. Capture important information from meetings and check-ins in concise case notes
4. Identify and access community resources and services, particularly those responsive to the needs of refugees and immigrants.
5. Understand the immigrant integration work and the US Refugee Resettlement program, as well as what part VOLAGs and resettlement agencies like the International Institute of New England play in receiving and integrating refugees.
6. Respectfully express and engage with ideas and values in a multicultural, multilingual environment.