CHSFS offers a number of internship opportunities throughout the year. You’ll gain hands-on, professional experience as part of a team dedicated to giving every child security, opportunity, permanency, and a loving family.
Internship opportunities for Fall 2012 will be posted soon.
Internship applicants: please attach your résumé and cover letter and specify the internship you are seeking. All CHSFS internships are unpaid.
Domestic Adoption Intern (BSW)
Term: Summer 2012
Location: St. Paul, MN
Description:
Most of the work of this internship will involve assisting social work staff who serve youth waiting to be adopted after their parents’ rights were terminated. The clients are primarily teens and school-aged children in foster care and the families interested in adopting them. Responsibilities of this intern are as follows: shadow a child-specific recruiter or social worker in their work with clients; identify prospective permanent family resources for children and adolescents by searching a statewide database of families; document preparation (materials about youth or families to assist the agency in locating appropriate matches); assist in creating life book materials for waiting and/or placed youth; assist with reading and redacting child files for adoptive families; assist program assistant with foster care licensing paperwork and database management; assist staff with preparation for adoption education classes; attend appropriate staff meetings. There will likely also be opportunities to work alongside a social worker during the preparation and adoption study phase of the process for adoptive families. Direct work with CHSFS clients will be done as a team member along with the program’s social workers. 20 hours per week. Availability on some Tuesday mornings preferred to accommodate program meetings. Some flexibility in hours (day and evening) required in order to accommodate schedules of youth clients (e.g. after school meetings in evenings).
Qualifications
Ability to work as a team member and to accept responsibility; ability to act independently and to seek consultation when needed; ability to work independently in networking with other social work professionals and potential adoptive families; understanding and acceptance of children and families from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds; uphold the ethics & professional standards of social work; comply with all program policies and procedures of Children’s Home Society & Family Services; respect and maintain confidentiality at all times.
Contact: Emily Palmer at epalmer@chsfs.org (please include résumé and cover letter)
International Adoption Intern
Term: Winter/Spring 2011-2012
Location: St. Paul, MN
Description:
The International Adoption intern will assist the International Adoption department with a variety of tasks relating to specific country needs. These could include assisting with information sessions, dossier preparation, travel orientation; helping to create, edit, copy and send newsletters, CDs, DVDs and publications; assisting with copying, filing, organizing; obtaining adoption stories through various media, including photos, videos and audio; preparing PowerPoint, Web and audio presentations for families. Duties and responsibilities will be expanded commensurate with the number of hours per week, length of time of the internship, and individual skills and experience. Flexible daytime scheduling; minimum of 3-month commitment.
Qualifications:
Familiarity with websites, basic office equipment, and competence in Word and other Microsoft computer programs; attention to detail; willingness to learn and understand issues experienced by all members of the adoption triad; excellent interpersonal skills; good organizational, oral and written communication skills.
Contact: Molly Rochon at mrochon@chsfs.org (please include résumé and cover letter)
