I am current
ly interning at the CAIR Coalition, a non-profit legal organization focused on providing legal assistance to detained youth and adults. I am a Social Services Intern, and, in my department, I directly work with clients who have been released from detention centers and are currently residing in the DMV area. This department is outcome-oriented because providing resources to clients who are in need is essential and time-sensitive.
The goals of my department are to provide resources and advocate for clients who have suffered through traumatic events and are in need as they transition to life in the United States. My role is very hands-on which is very different than other internships I have had in the past. I work directly with clients through phone calls and emails. I also work with legal assistants and attorneys who reach out to the Social Services Department to get more information about resources in the area. I work with these clients for several weeks as it is often difficult to get them the resources that they need such as mental health providers and class registrations. My supervisor is JeanPaul Figueroa and he is one of the Social Services Coordinators. He mainly works with unaccompanied minors. Their attorneys reach out to JeanPaul with a referral and JeanPaul then connects with the client and assists them on a variety of issues such as health care, education, housing, and financial and food assistance. As an intern, I am assigned some of these cases per the direction of JeanPaul. With his assistance, I reach out to the client and begin the process of directing them to different organizations that could help them in their area, taking into account their location and current resources. JeanPaul and the other Social Services Coordinator also have supervisors, but I do not have much interaction with them. However, interns are invited to all staff meetings and I can get a larger understanding of the power structures in CAIR.
My daily duties include working on long-term projects and checking in with my clients. I am currently working on updating COVID-19 resources available in each county in Maryland. I am also working on creating a list of ESL resources for children/adults to use if they are unable to register for ESL classes in their county. This will help them in their court cases because they can prove that they are taking this time to study and learn English. I am enjoying my time at CAIR because I am directly working and advocating for my clients. My goals have not changed, and I see myself accomplishing my goals throughout my time here. I have learned so much about immigration policy and how it affects children, teens, and adults. I have also learned about the impacts it has on the lives of those who are detained and the importance of advocating for a vulnerable group such as this one.