We are now accepting internship applications for Fall 2023!

Join our team for a transformative learning experience that positively impacts lives. 

As the IRC in Sacramento continues to navigate office reopening, there will be a combination of remote placements and hybrid placements. Hybrid placements will require an intern to be local in the case that we are able to resume in-person activities. Therefore, your location may impact which placements you are eligible for consideration. 

The Fall Intern Cohort for 2023 will span from September through December.

COMMITMENT

Hours per week: 15+ hours per week, during IRC’s regular business hours of 9am–5pm, Monday–Friday.

Duration: 4–6 months for a total of 240 hours. Start and end date are flexible.

Work Model: Whether work is hybrid will vary by internship position and may change subject to any decline or surge in COVID-19 cases. The IRC in Sacramento will try to accommodate preferences for remote-only internships provided all duties can be accomplished online.

Compensation: All internships with the IRC are unpaid and part-time.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

IRC Internships are available to current and recently graduated undergraduate or graduate students looking to apply their skills, gain real-world experience, and impact lives.

Prospective interns must complete the volunteer process and should be currently enrolled in an educational institution or a recent graduate. Our office is a fast-paced environment that is successful due to both the personal initiative of individual staff members and the team-like mentality of the entire organization.

The ideal intern candidate will be able to complete their daily responsibilities, to solve problems with minimal supervision, and to provide support as needed to the overall team. Interns work alongside staff to provide direct services. All leave their internship with transferable skills that can help launch a career within the nonprofit sector. 

Candidates must possess the following qualities:

  • Reliable with strong attention to timeliness
  • Excellent communication skills (both intercultural, interpersonal, and with supervisors)
  • Possess a great attention to detail
  • Organized and able to multi-task 
  • Have a strong sense of personal initiative
  • Digital fluency with proficiency in Microsoft Office and social media networks
  • Able to work with a team and independently in a fast-paced setting
  • Minimum of 2 years of completed undergraduate experience

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Ready to get the process started? Click here to complete an online application.

Components of a completed application:

  • Complete the online application, including required and optional fields.
  • Upload a single PDF including: 1) Resume and 2) Cover Letter stating your desired position, availability, and motivation for applying. Please tailor your cover letter(s) to reflect your interest in a particular position(s). Cover letters should clearly state your time availability, which includes a) a specific projected start and end date, b) the number of hours you are available each week, and c) the days and times during which you are available (which should match the hours you list on the application).

After you have submitted a completed application, qualified applicants will be contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule a screening interview. If the candidate advances past the screening interview then they will be invited by program staff for an in-person interview at our office in Sacramento.

All positions are unpaid and initial offers are contingent on background check results. A $40 contribution for the background check is required upon accepting intial internship offer.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Email [email protected] for more information. 

 

INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTIONS

ACCESS AND LEGAL RIGHTS

Immigration Services

Immigration Services Internship Service Description
After a refugee resettles in the United States, that is not the end of their legal road to become a U.S. citizen. Refugees must apply for their green card one year after they have been in the U.S. and then for their citizenship after five years. Additionally, refugees often need legal assistance to bring family members over from other countries. The Immigration Intern will help provide these and other forms of legal services to clients seeking immigration assistance.

Anti-Trafficking

Human Trafficking Outreach, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Internship Service Description
The HOPE (Human trafficking Outreach, Prevention, and Education) program is funded through the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crimes to identify and serve foreign victims of human trafficking. Through trauma-informed, client-centered, intensive case management and financial direct assistance, survivors of labor and sex trafficking are supported on their path to safety, security, and self-sufficiency. IRC supports clients in accessing safe and affordable housing, all-encompassing medical care, and access to necessary social services, school enrollment for children, ESL enrollment for adults, legal aid, and more.

HOPE Training and Outreach Internship Service Description
The HOPE (Human trafficking Outreach, Prevention, and Education) program identifies and serves foreign victims of human trafficking. IRC personnel conduct intake interviews to ensure that clients qualify to be enrolled in program. They also secure housing, food, and clothing, and assist clients in procuring services. The anti-human trafficking department orients clients to their new environment and aids them in learning how to navigate systems in the United States so they can become self-sufficient. They also assist in physical and mental health services, safety planning, and police investigations, when necessary. The IRC provides up to 1 year of financial support and other assistance to ensure clients have: safe and affordable housing, all-encompassing medical care, access to necessary social services, school enrollment for children, ESL enrollment for adults, legal aid, and more.

 

IMMIGRANT WELCOME CENTER

Immigrant Welcome Center

Immigrant Welcome Center Internship Service Description
The Immigrant Welcome Center intern will support IRC's newly launched off-site Welcome Center providing resources and case management services to Sacramento immigrants from Latin America, Ukraine, and Afghanistan who are in need of support. Intern will work in-person to provide administrative support with greeting walk-in clients, taking phone calls, and supporting caseworkers with client service delivery. Assist with outreach, event coordination, organizing weekly food distributions, and tracking in-kind donations, volunteers, and donors. Work with local organizations to mobilize volunteers and procure needed items.

 

VOLUNTEER COORDINATION, DONATIONS, AND OUTREACH

Volunteer Coordination

Volunteer Coordination Internship Service Description

The Volunteer Coordination Intern with work closely with the Volunteer and Donations Coordinator in a capacity-building role to develop and implement systems for the volunteer program. Intern will act as a point of contact for volunteer support and guidance. Promote the organization and volunteer opportunities in the community. Help conduct volunteer and intern interviews and initial onboarding tasks. Support staff in providing ongoing program-specific training to volunteers and interns. Assist in the evaluation and tracking of volunteer and intern activities.

Donations Support

Donation Logistics Internship Service Description
The Donation Logistics intern will work closely with the Senior Volunteer and Donations Specialist to be the main contact for community members who reach out in support of the IRC, offering in-kind donations. Intern will assist with outreach, establishing systems of tracking, the intake of in-kind donations and organization of the donations room. Prepare items to be given away to newly arrived refugees. Deliver items to newly arrived refugees. Work with caseworkers to identify what items newly arrived refugees need. Work with local businesses and organizations to procure needed items. And record the dollar amounts of all items given away.

Social Media & Outreach

Social Media & Online Content Internship Service Description
Through clear written communication and careful networking skills, the Social Media Intern will work alongside the Volunteer and Donations Coordinator in managing IRC's outreach and communication efforts. The intern will develop creative ways of expanding the IRC’s presence within the Sacramento community by way of social media platforms. Learn and perfect critical marketing, public relations, and administrative skills applicable in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors while contributing to meaningful social change.

 

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL)

English Language Learner Internship Service Description
The English Language Learner intern will help students build their English language capabilities and search for employment. Interns assist in all aspects of the VESL courses, including teaching teaching a multicultural and multilevel classroom of new English speakers; teaching English language skills (including grammar, conversation, reading and writing, and listening/comprehension) in small group settings; assessing, tracking and reporting student attendance and comprehension progress.  Interns will also help teach cultural and social values of the U.S. and assist clients in becoming self-sufficient by teaching real-life language and job skills. 

Adult Education Internship Service Description
The IRC provides Vocational ESL, Job Readiness Training, and Employment Services courses to help students build their English language capabilities, work readiness skills, and search for employment. Interns will work with their supervisor to choose tasks that fit their skills and desires to learn. Interns assist in all aspects of the VESL/ES courses. 

Youth Programs

Youth RISE Tutoring Internship Service Description
The IRC’s Young Adult RISE program provides clients (18-24 years of age) with education, training, and support that results in enrollment in post-secondary education and/or employment within the fields of Healthcare and Administrative and Public Services. This intern position will support the planning, implementation, and recordkeeping required for the RISE program’s success, which includes multi-media outreach; student-centered instruction; and metric-driven workforce training and development activities. The intern may also support RISE students who are receiving instruction below the postsecondary education level to achieve the following: increase at least one educational functioning level (EFL) in basic skills (math and English) and/or to attain a secondary school diploma (HSD) or its recognized equivalent (HSE).

Job Development

Job Development Internship Service Description
This intern position will support both the Economic Empowerment team and Employment program. The position assists in addressing the unique barriers faced by refugees and immigrants seeking employment. Duties will include connecting clients with appropriate resources to secure early employment and establish self-sufficiency. 

Career Pathways

Career Pathways Internship Service Description
The IRC’s Career Pathways program assists clients to obtain professional jobs within the fields of Healthcare, Administration, Finance, Security, Construction/Engineering, IT, and Transportation. The position will assist in implementing IRC career training, connecting clients with technical off-site career training, and assisting the Career Development staff in ensuring that participants secure professional employment. Position could support general responsibilities, advanced career training, and generalist roles depending on program needs and placement strengths. 

Refugee Economic Empowerment

Refugee Economic Empowerment Internship Service Description
For IRC clients to become fully self-sufficient, they must be taught how to obtain successful employment as well as financial literacy. Economic Empowerment Interns work alongside Employment Specialists to help our clients reach self-sufficiency. Interns assist with core services including resume development, interview preparation, searching for and applying for jobs, transportation support, and other case management related tasks.

Refugee Empowerment Match Grant Internship Service Description
Interns support the Economic Empowerment department by assisting the Match Grant Specialist to secure jobs for newly arrived refugees and asylees. Interns will work with IRC clients to develop resumes, practice interview skills, and apply to open job postings. This internship allows candidates the opportunity to work closely with refugee clients and help them on a one-on-one basis. IRC clients accessing Career Development services focus on building their professional skills, developing specific career plans and milestones, and potentially accessing vocational training and re-certification programs. Interns will conduct outreach to potential employers and training partners, help with the implementation of advanced work readiness training, practice interview skills with clients, and assist in the pairing of clients with volunteer Professional Mentors.

Women's Empowerment

Women's Economic Empowerment Support Internship Service Description
This intern position will support both the Economic Empowerment team and Safety & Wellness program. The position assists in addressing the unique barriers faced by refugee and immigrant survivors of crime. Duties will include connecting clients with appropriate education, services, and resources to secure early employment and establish self-sufficiency. 

 


REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

Refugee Resettlement

Refugee Resettlement Internship Service Description
The Resettlement team is the first point of contact for newly arrived refugees and offers support, guidance and counseling though all stages of resettlement. This intern works side by side with caseworkers to provide initial services to orient refugees to life in the U.S., including (but not limited to) scheduling health appointments, applying for Social Security and California ID cards, and linking refugees to internal and mainstream services.

Housing & Logistics Internship Service Description
Meeting refugees’ housing needs is a critical part of their resettlement process in the United States. Refugees’ housing situations affect their ability to be employed, their access to public services, and integration with the community. The Intern will support the caseworkers in planning and delivering essential housing program activities, including outreach, home visits and workshops for refugee and asylee clients.

Cultural Orientation

Cultural Orientation Internship Service Description
All newly arrived refugees to IRC Sacramento attend a series of Cultural Orientation (CO) classes. The CO Intern will be responsible for the logistics of CO classes, class facilitation, and public transportation field training as instructed by the CO Coordinator each week. CO classes are targeted to adult refugees and class size or composition will vary. Additionally, the Cultural Orientation Intern will assist the CO Coordinator to develop evaluation tools for all CO classes, including public transit trainings and/or additional relevant trainings based on population needs.

 

COMMUNITY WELLNESS

Intensive Case Management

Health Access Internship Service Description
The IRC’s ICM Program serves refugees with complex medical, mental health, or other high needs. Significant portions of newly arrived clients are considered vulnerable; their complex medical conditions have been compounded by living conditions overseas and are further exacerbated by systemic barriers to accessing healthcare in the U.S. The program seeks to reduce disparities for medically and otherwise vulnerable clients by connecting them to needed treatment, education, resources, and psychosocial support. Objective: To provide holistic and comprehensive case management services, including clinic/hospital accompaniment, progress monitoring, advocacy, and referrals, to all clients enrolled in the ICM program.

 

GENERAL OFFICE SUPPORT

Administrative Support

Client Coordination and Office Support Internship Service Description
The Client Coordination and Office Support role will support all programs and interact regularly with clients. The role will provide coverage for the reception desk and greet and direct client walk-ins. The volunteer will answer the IRC in Sacramento’s main telephone line, direct incoming calls as appropriate, and assess documentation of clients to determine program eligibility. The volunteer will provide additional clerical assistance and support to IRC staff in the Sacramento office.   

 

NEW ROOTS GARDEN

Clients arriving in the U.S. are often interested in finding a place to connect to the land, grow food for their families, and maintain their food culture. At the same time, clients are also surrounded by new and unfamiliar foods, many of which can lead to diet-related disease. Unfortunately, such options also tend to be cheaper and easier to access than healthy and whole options. The New Roots program works with IRC clients in two main areas: 1) Food Secure Resettlement and 2) community gardening. The program aims to engage newcomer youth in garden and nutrition education, as well as to facilitate food and farming knowledge transfer and relationship building with the elder generation.


New Roots Program

New Roots Education and Outreach Internship Service Description
The New Roots team delivers regular food security educational programming at a variety of sites, including at: Adult Education sites offering English Language classes, elementary schools in West Sacramento, and within our community gardens. Educational programming targets both adults and children, tailored to maximize cultural sensitivity among different communities. 

New Roots Farm and Maintenance Internship Service Description
The New Roots program operates a five-acre urban farm in West Sacramento, on which 25-30 farm program participants grow crops for sale and for household consumption. The farm requires a high level of maintenance to ensure participants can be successful; the New Roots Farm and Maintenance Intern will support staff with the successful operation of the farm. In addition, the IRC helps to manage three community gardens in Sacramento which require regular support and maintenance.

 

Ready to get the process started? Click here to complete an online application.