Child and Adult Protection Services Internship

Arapahoe County • Aurora, CO

9d • $14 - $80

About The Position

This internship is intended for college students enrolled in a social work program or a related field requiring an internship placement. Applicants must have a passion and commitment to helping others and have a direct interest in Child Welfare. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the Child Welfare system and how caseworkers engage and support the most vulnerable children and families within the community. We are committed to providing a rich, educational experience for students to observe and eventually participate in the day-to-day work of caseworkers engaging with families. Child and Adult Protection Services is comprised of three primary sections, Intake, Permanency and Services. The Intake section is responsible for the assessment of child abuse and neglect referrals that meet the statutory requirements for response. The Permanency section is responsible for the case management, treatment and continued assessment for children and families who require longer term involvement with child protection. The Services section provides supportive services such as Kinship/Foster Care, Placement Support Services, Prevention Services, CORE Services, Family Engagement, Family Time, and others. Adult Protection Services provides assessment and case management services for at-risk adults. Internships may be placed in any one of these areas depending on availability. Interns will have the opportunity to shadow caseworkers managing caseloads, conducting home visits, preparing for, and attending court, interviewing adults and children, attending and participating in internal and external meetings related to parents and/or children, assessing the safety of children, supervising family time, documenting comprehensive reports, etc. There are opportunities for interns to shadow and support staff in various roles areas across the Child and Adult Protective Services division. All sections will work collaboratively to provide opportunities for students to become familiar with these systems as a whole and its impact on children, families, and adults.

Requirements

• Ability to adapt to fast-paced and high-volume work environment and be able to handle high stress and complex situations while remaining calm and professional.
• Ability to handle conflict and challenging situations.
• Ability to effectively communicate in a positive and professional work environment.
• Establish and maintain professional working relationships with parents, foster parents, relative care providers, staff, peers, supervisors, providers, state officials, and other community partners.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong ability to prioritize tasks, take initiative, and multitask.
• Ability to effectively present information, write reports and business correspondence and respond to court, managers, customers, other agencies, co-workers, and the public via fax, telephone, and email.
• Ability to clearly articulate concepts, directives and goals to employees, professionals and state and community representatives.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and state and county computer systems.
• Ability to learn and apply new computer skills on a regular basis.
• Ability to follow directions under general supervision and/or independently.
• Ability to adapt to different environments & people from all walks of life.
• Accountability
• Accessibility
• Inclusivity
• Integrity
• A completed degree or pursuing a degree in Social Work or a related human services field including:
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Social Work
• Counseling
• Child Development
• Criminal Justice courses relevant to child welfare: This includes courses covering topics in juvenile justice, family law, family conflict, general court procedures, interviewing techniques, dispute resolution, and mediation.
• Foreign language courses
• Anthropology courses relevant to cultural development and history, linguistic development, and communications. Physical anthropology courses do not count toward minimum requirements.
• History courses relevant to family and cultural development
• No substitution of experience for education is permitted.
• By position, may require a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.
• Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.
• Possession of a valid Class “R” Colorado Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within two weeks of appointment.
• Will require fingerprinting and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) background check.

Nice To Haves

• Experience handling conflict resolution & challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Home visits with children, adults, and their families
• Supervising Family Time
• Court involved cases
• Interviews with adults and children
• Internal and external meetings related to adults, parents and children
• The processes to assess the safety of children
• Documentation requirements
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) work internally & within the community

Benefits

• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launchPrivacy Rights 24https://arapahoeco.gov/Human%20Resources/Work%20for%20Arapahoe%20County/Privacy%20Act%20Statement.pdfPrivacy Rights 25https://arapahoeco.gov/Human%20Resources/Work%20for%20Arapahoe%20County/Noncriminal%20Justice%20Applicant%20Privacy%20Rights.pdf

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees