Refugee Walk-In Service Intern (Spring 2027)

International Rescue Committee•Silver Spring, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Refugee Walk-In Service Intern supports the Walk-In Services team, the first point of contact for nearly 2,000 new walk-in clients visiting the IRC in Silver Spring each year. The team works with humanitarian immigrants of varying statuses who are resettling in the DC Metro area, helping them access internal programs and external benefits and resources. The intern is trained and supervised by an Intake Specialist or the Intake Coordinator. This is an unpaid Spring 2027 internship requiring a minimum commitment of 24 hours per week, three months, and three full working days per week. The role requires in-person work at the Silver Spring office. Spring 2027 interns are expected to attend an in-person orientation on January 25, 2027, from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The posting also mentions possible per diem reimbursement of $15 per day to offset food and travel costs.

Requirements

Be a current undergraduate or graduate student, or be less than 12 months out of school.
Commit to a minimum of 24 hours per week, three months, and three full working days per week.
Have proficient digital literacy skills, including familiarity with MS Excel, Outlook, and Word, and the ability to learn new software and tasks.
Be organized and attentive to detail.
Be able to work independently and multitask.
Have strong verbal and written communication skills.
Have an interest in working with humanitarian immigrants.
Have knowledge of, or interest in learning about, public benefits and other community resources.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in French, Spanish, Amharic, or other languages spoken by the client base.

Responsibilities

Conduct in-person screenings to assess clients’ eligibility for referrals to internal IRC programs, including casework, employment, and immigration services, and external public benefits and resources.
Complete program enrollment forms with clients, explain their rights and responsibilities, and ensure required documentation is scanned and electronically filed.
Assist clients with applications for eligible public benefits, including cash assistance and medical insurance.
Conduct follow-up calls with prospective clients inquiring about IRC services, providing walk-in information, rescheduling appointments, and responding to general inquiries.
Assist the team with scheduling contract interpreters for appointments.
Track service provision through electronic data entry and organize required client documentation.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Walk-In Services team.