POSITION TITLE: Human Rights Clinic Program Intern
LOCATION: New York, NY
REPORTING TO: Program Coordinator, Human Rights Clinic
COMPENSATION: Unpaid (Lunch money provided)
TIME COMMITMENT: 16-24 hrs. per week, 3 month commitment, possibly longer.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
Doctors of the World-USA is an autonomous affiliate of the French humanitarian aid organization Médecins du Monde. The twelve-member international MDM network is committed to providing medical and public health assistance to those in greatest need and, within the framework of health care services, contributing to the processes of peace, reconciliation, and human rights.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of Doctors of the World’s Human Rights Clinics is to provide torture survivors seeking asylum and other immigration relief in the United States with clinical examinations, referral for further care, legal (medical and psychological) affidavits addressing the consistency of claims and medical evidence, and oral testimony for asylum hearings. The Clinic trains and maintains a network of health professional to achieve this objective.
POSITION OBJECTIVE
The HRC Program Intern will provide clerical support for two to three program staff members, and be involved in volunteer recruitment and support as described below. There is a strong possibility that the summer internship could be extended through the fall semester.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under supervision and guidance of two program staff, the intern will assist in the following:
- Database maintenance: input client intake information and create paper files including ensuring completeness of client files through follow up with referring attorneys, update data for case closures
- Client Recruitment: Send out intake packets to attorneys as and when requested.
- Recruitment/Training of volunteers: outreach for recruitment of physicians/psychologists/social workers as required by the PA; training logistics; post-training recruitment processing including reference checks, license checks, and assembling and sending a contract packet to trained volunteers.
- Newsletter: Assist in preparation of, and write articles for, internal bi-monthly newsletter on topics relating to international migration, or medical treatment of asylum seekers. Assist in gathering updates on past cases from attorneys and law-firms.
- Referral: Identify referral needs from referral forms from examining volunteers, identify suitable referral partners, prepare referral packets to send out to referral partners
- Follow Ups: Follow up with attorneys of clients for case adjudication status, follow up with volunteers to update them on adjudication of clients they examined, follow up with volunteers for draft/final affidavit for clients they examined
- Perform some other support activities as required.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Two years of college education
Strong organizational skills
Excellent professional phone/email etiquette
Culturally sensitivity
Strong interest in human rights issues, immigration law, social work, or international studies
Good knowledge of word processing, Outlook and Internet
Desire to commit at least three months
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Strong writing skills
Ability to take ownership over job tasks and work independently as well as a team
Proficiency in MS Access
Interested candidates should send resume with cover letter to:
e-mail: human.resources@dowusa.org
fax: (212) 226-7026
mail: HRC Intern Search
Doctors of the World
80 Maiden Lane, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10038
