School Social Work Intern, Refugee Youth Summer Academy

Position:                                Refugee Youth Summer Academy School Social Work Intern (2 positions)

Reports to:                            Youth Programs Supervisor, Patrick Curran

Position Term and Hours:June 30; July 1, 2 (full days of training)

July 6 - August 31, 2020 (Minimum 15 hours per week, preference to candidate seeking more hours)

BACKGROUND:

Since 1999, the IRC has developed partnerships with New York City public schools, community-based organizations and local colleges and universities to support the positive development of refugee youth and their communities in New York City.  The Education & Learning department provides year round programming working directly with refugee youth, their parents and families, and their schools.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Refugee Youth Summer Academy (RYSA) is a six-week program focusing on preparing newly arrived refugee youth to succeed at their grade level in the New York City public school system. Up to 130 students ages 5 – 21 from over 20 countries will participate in academic, creative arts, physical education, and social emotional learning classes. Field Trips are held on Fridays.

The School Social Work Intern will work with students exhibiting challenges or barriers to success at RYSA according to the program’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.  In addition, the School Social Work Intern will meet individually with students who exhibit behavioral or emotional concern in the classroom. The intern will also contribute to the development of individualized student behavior plans for students exhibiting the highest level of need.

Under the supervision of the Dean of Student Support, the School Social Work Intern will work alongside a Caregiver Engagement Intern to conduct outreach to parents of students who are having difficulties in the classroom environment, using interpretation services if necessary.  The School Social Work Intern will complete other tasks and duties as assigned by the Dean of Student Support.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

·Participate in the All-Staff orientation/training and all program meetings and staff development activities thereafter

·Conduct behavioral observations of students in the classroom environment

·Develop behavior plans for students exhibiting the highest level of need

·Under supervision of the Dean of Student Support meet with students for individual guidance/counseling sessions

·Support instruction of the Social Emotional Learning class

·Maintain case notes for students served, containing detailed information on services provided during the Summer Academy day

·Participate in weekly Student Support team meeting

·Assist program staff in the outreach to parents of youth who are having difficulties in the classroom, coordinating meetings at school as necessary.  Work with interpreters when necessary and available

·Complete all required reporting on time.  Comply with all agency policies and protocols

·Participate in parent/teacher conferences throughout summer school

·Assist newly-arrived refugee youth with school enrollment in New York public schools at the end of the Summer Academy

·Strong interpersonal and communication skills

·Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations preferred

·Organized, reliable, and flexible

·Ability to work independently and as part of a team

·Second language proficiency in relevant language desirable (including Spanish, French, Pashto, Fulani, Wolof, Dari, Farsi, Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian, Mandingo, Haitian Creole, Nepali, Tibetan, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Bengali)