BACKGROUND: International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in more than 40 countries and over 20 U.S. cities, the IRC provides resettlement, education and empowerment support to refugees and displaced people. 

SCOPE OF WORK (INTERN): IRC NJ’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services is part of the Health and Wellness program. The Team supports newcomers as they learn to navigate the U.S. health care system. We recognize that clients are the experts on their own lives, experiences, and beliefs. The Health and Wellness team uses client expertise to guide, encourage, and empower clients as they interact with various health systems. We teach clients how to set up appointments, find specialists, apply for health insurance, request interpretation, access emotional support services, among many other skills and needs. Additionally, the MHPSS intern serves a specialized role in helping facilitate and coordinate mental health care for our clients, working with the MHPSS Clinical Supervisor and the doctoral level psychology externs.  

RESPONSIBILITIES: Health and Wellness Interns will assist IRC NJ clients with a variety of support services, such as Medicaid/New Jersey Family Care follow up, appointment accompaniment, transportation orientations, supported health referrals, and developing health resources for IRC NJ clients. The MHPSS intern will also provide other direct services to clients as needed, under the supervision of the MHPSS Clinical Supervisor and the Health and Wellness Supervisor. These responsibilities will include: 

Assist with scheduling screening appointments and initial assessments for clients assigned to Psychology Externs 

With the MHPSS Clinical Supervisor, develop and maintain an excel summary sheet of referrals and clients served 

Assist with development of additional databases as needed 

Assist clients with learning the NJ public transportation system so clients can come to the IRC for MHPSS appointments 

Accompany Clinical Supervisor and Psychology Extern on client home visits as requested and as schedule permits 

Following an introductory training, participate in co-facilitating client psychoeducational groups with Psychology Extern 

Assist with interpretation if needed by Psychology Externs 

Develop and maintain an update to date list of mental health resources in the state, focusing primarily on northern and central NJ 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

The student will learn about refugee resettlement issues and processes as they relate to client’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.  

The student will learn how to effectively navigate health systems that IRC NJ clients frequently need and access. 

The student will develop basic psychosocial support skills in facilitating MHPSS work with clients, guided by assigned Psychology Externs