Academic Coach Intern

BACKGROUND:
The staff of the IRC Dallas office works as a team to provide comprehensive resettlement services- including case management, employment and immigration services to newly arrived refugees, asylees, and victims of human trafficking as they begin to rebuild their lives in the Dallas area.  The Academic Coaching Program will provide refugee youth between the ages of 15-22 with year-round academic support, literacy training, and enrichment activities. It will also equip their families with resources and support services to enable them to navigate the public education system in Dallas.   

SCOPE OF WORK:
The goal of the Academic Coaching program is to help recently arrived refugee and immigrant youth adapt successfully to Dallas area educational institutions while giving them the tools and opportunities they need to grow in their academics, regulate emotions, and expand their social circles.  Academic Coaches will work directly with refugee families and school personnel in order to guide the student and their family through the education system and empower them to thrive in their new setting. 

The Academic Coach will serve as the central point of contact, providing support services to newly arrived refugee students.  The Coach will ensure appropriate school schedules and class placement, communicate with children, school staff, and families, make referrals as necessary to other service providers and connect with relevant school personnel. The Academic Coach will receive reimbursement for travel expenses and other approved program expenses. The Academic Coach intern position is for the duration of the academic school year (September-May).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct student and caregiver assessments in order to set a baseline for growth and a starting point for service provision.  
• Establish an individual service plan for the academic year with newly arrived refugee youth and their family; provide mentoring, guidance, advocacy, mediation, social activities, and secure translation/interpretation, as needed, for students and their family.  
• Track grades and attendance, advocate for and connect students to relevant resources
• Teach English one-on-one and provide academic tutoring to help students succeed with their schoolwork.
• Engage in conversations with students and facilitate activities to teach positive coping mechanisms.
• Facilitate caregiver involvement in children’s education through phone calls, home visits, and other mechanisms, including attending Parent/Teacher conferences and IRC Caregiver Workshops. 
• Provide or secure interpretation services as needed to address issues involving children’s education. 
• Maintain comprehensive case notes and regularly update family’s individual service plan to respond to students’ academic, material, and special case management needs. 
• Participate in staff development and team meetings.   

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Standard office work environment combined with evenings spent tutoring and visiting in the homes of clients. One Saturday a month will be spent attending field trips in locations around Dallas.

Unfortunately at this time we are unable to offer compensation for this internship. Thank you for your understanding that this is a practicum placement for growing professionals.