Paula C. Mazzeo

 

International Rescue Committee

 

The International Rescue Committee is a non profit organization that helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. IRC teams provide health care, infrastructure, learning and economic support to people in 40 countries with special programs designed for women and children. Every year, the IRC resettles thousands of refugees in 22 U.S. cities. The IRC provides individuals with those crucial basic needs; shelter, food, and clothing for eight months as they begin to live their lives to the fullest potential in their newly settled home. 

 

As a childcare intern I worked in direct contact with refugee and asylee clients and their children. During my time at the IRC I helped in two major areas, the childcare subsidy program, and assisted the youth caseworker enroll client’s children into their local Head Start, Pre-k, and Kindergarten programs.

 

As the childcare intern my primary goal was to assist clients in receiving childcare vouchers through the Child Care Subsidy Program issued by the Maryland State Department of Education. Many IRC clients come into the US looking for work. They also have small children with them and are unable to leave them with proper care because the cost exceeds their means. By receiving these vouchers clients are provided assistance enabling them to find a local and reliable childcare provider as well as providing them hours to work outside of the home. My duties included obtaining referrals of eligible clients from caseworkers, calling clients and educating them on the program available, creating case files, assisting clients with the application, doing home visits, and assisting clients navigate their local department of social services office.

 

This internship allowed me to explore the importance of cultural competence, working with non-English speaking adults I had to use an interpreter for several meetings with my clients. I also learned the importance in doing an initial assessment so that I understood the full spectrum of my clients needs. I also learned how to find resources for my clients as well as make professional connections in other offices such as the National Child Support Services office and local DSS offices.

 

Working with the youth caseworker I was instrumental in initiating over 60 Head Start, Pre-K, and Kindergarten enrollments. My primary duties were to create a spreadsheet that would organize the children by age and local school. I contacted the families to inform them of their child’s eligibility in one of the programs. I also contacted the schools to obtain enrollments dates and applications. Once this process was complete I took the child’s medical paperwork to their local clinic to ensure all immunizations and physicals were up to date for the school. I also helped fill out school applications with parents. This part of the internship taught me the process of school enrollments. I gained professional skills working with excel and developed professional connections with local elementary schools for my clients.

 

Working at the IRC I was able to work with caseworkers in a professional setting helping refugee and asylee clients begin a new life in the US. Working with this population was challenging but also fulfilling. The IRC gave me full responsibilities with clients, this was wonderful because I was able to work in direct contact with them, assess their needs, and educate them on the resources available to them. The IRC taught me invaluable skills about case management that I take with me in any career in the future. 

 

Below is a video I made about the IRC, specifically the logistics department who I also spent some time with. The logistics department takes care of all household needs for new clients. This means obtaining an apartment for them to live in and having that apartment fully furnished before clients arrive.