Coaching and Mentoring Intern

IRC BACKGROUND:

The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC has 28 offices in the United States and a presence in over 40 countries.

COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAMMING:

The IRC’s Success Coaching and Mentoring (SCM) Program is a part of a larger College and Career Readiness Program (CCR). CCR programming targets newly arrived refugee youth between the ages of 15-19 to help them prepare for their next steps in life. Program initiatives include monthly workshop opportunities, open office hours, mentoring, and as needed individual support aimed at topics like English language development, high school graduation, and college and career preparation. CCR programming operates on a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) model to support all eligible youth. Tier 1 includes support for all CCR eligible youth. Tiers 2 & 3 make up the Success Coaching & Mentoring Program and is extended to young adults up to the age of 24. Tier 2 involves a volunteer or intern mentorship pairing with targeted support to address client’s gaps in skills. Tier 3 requires intensive support provided more frequently and individually with a staff or intern mentorship pairing.

The IRC’s SCM program is rooted in its Social Emotional Asset Development (SEAD) framework. Mentors and mentees work together to use an evidence-based curriculum that supports youth in setting and achieving goals for their education, social emotional asset development, and life skills. The SCM program involves meeting with clients and collaboratively developing Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) to work on throughout the course of their time in the mentorship program. Positive outcomes include academic support programs, engagement in school, positive relationships, positive identity, a sense of belonging, and stress management.

SCOPE OF WORK:

IRC SLC Youth Program’s Success Coaching and Mentoring internship will pair Interns with a cohort of refugee young adults (ages 15-24) placed in Tiers 2 & 3. This allows interns to gain experience in Individual Service Planning, 1:1 coaching and mentoring, and supportive case management with young adults. Interns will directly support students placed in Tier 2 & 3 by developing an ISP, meeting regularly via one-on-one home visits, office appointments, calls, and messages to follow up on the student’s ISP and discuss progress.

Coaches also support youth’s involvement in various workshops and other educational opportunities IRC SLC provides. Interns will also assist with broader CCR programming as needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

•Once onboarded, manage a caseload of up to 5 youth placed in Tiers 2 & 3 of the SCM Program as their identified Success Coach.

•Conduct mentee assessments to set a baseline for growth and a starting point for service provision.

•Establish an individual service plan for the 9-month mentorship with newly arrived refugee young adults; provide mentoring, guidance, advocacy, mediation, social activities, and secure translation/interpretation, as needed, for mentee.

•Facilitate mentee involvement in IRC Skill Building and Social Emotional Asset Development Workshops.

•Assess and monitor client progress to support their attainment of established goals, address challenges, and ensure that available resources are utilized.

•Maintain comprehensive case notes and regularly update on the youth’s individual service plan in database(s) and assist with other program tracking and reporting as needed.

•Participate in staff development and team meetings.

•Other duties as assigned and/or determined by College and Career Readiness Coordinator.

Minimum Qualifications:

REQUIREMENTS:

•Strong desire to work with teenage youth – experience working with youth strongly preferred.

•Experience working and communicating effectively in a multicultural environment, specifically with refugee and immigrant populations preferred.

•Motivated, flexible, and able to work independently.

•Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.

•Willingness to work some weekends and evenings to meet with mentees.

•Computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

•Valid UT Driver’s License, access to a vehicle, willingness to drive clients.

•Understanding of the need to approach and apply case management methods with the goal of client self-sufficiency and sustainability.

•Fluency in a second language such as Swahili, Kinyarwanda, French, Spanish, Dari, Pashto, Arabic, or Burmese preferred.

•Preference for interns who can commit to 9-month mentorships beyond the length of the internship, or an extended internship, however, this is not required.

•Work 10-20 hours for 3 months

•First Cohort: August 19th – December 6th

•Second Cohort: September 9th – December 20th

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

•A combination of a standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above-outlined responsibilities.

•Requires occasional weekend and/or evening work.

This position reports to the College and Career Readiness Coordinator, Jess Hudson.

This is an UNPAID internship with the IRC.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at volunteerSLC@rescue.org to request any needed accommodations.