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.

LOCATION: Hybrid Schedule

START DATE: June 5, 2026

DURATION: Sept 5 2026 (Hybrid)

POSITION REPORTS TO: Jessica Lazo

DETAILS: 2 days per week (15 hours)

BACKGROUND: The Childrens Legal Services (CLS) program in New York provides legal

representation to unaccompanied children. To be eligible for services, unaccompanied children

must be under the age of 18 at the time they enter the CLS program, have no immigration

status, and, at the same time, have been officially designated as an unaccompanied child by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). We help clients understand the immigration systems,

prepare them for hearings, evaluate and advise them on the types of immigration applications

they can file, and assist them with preparing their filings.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Childrens Health Promotion Intern will assist the Childrens Legal Services (CLS) program

with a variety of activities and services, such as Medicaid/New York Child Health Plus

application and follow-up, transportation orientations, supported health referrals, and

researching and developing health resources for CLS clients. The Childrens Health Promotion

Intern will also provide other direct services to CLS clients as needed.

This is an unpaid internship but may be pursued for academic credit. If you are planning to

obtain academic credit through the position, please indicate this in your cover letter.

Assist clients with Medicaid/New York Family Child Health Plus/ HealthFirst follow-

up, including application and documentation submission, advocating for and with

clients, and updating client information accordingly.

Facilitate health and wellness transportation orientations to empower clients to

use public transit or other transportation options.

Accompany clients to appointments to facilitate check-in, presumptive eligibility

Medicaid coverage, and confirm interpretation services.

Under the supervision of the CLS team, assess and monitor client needs and

make appropriate community referrals.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• The student will learn about immigrant communities in NY, with a key focus on
• CLS clients physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
• The student will learn how to effectively navigate health systems that clients
• frequently use.
• The student will develop outreach and advocacy skills.
• REQUIREMENTS:
• Currently pursuing a masters degree in public health, social work, or related field.
• Experience working with diverse populations, ideally in the context of health and wellness.
• Lived or working experience with refugee and/or immigrant populations is highly desirable.
• Fluency in Spanish is required .
• 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.
• Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings
• Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
• US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
• 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.
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