Intern Opportunities

Laurel House•Norristown, PA

About The Position

Laurel House offers a variety of internship opportunities designed to provide hands-on experience in different areas related to domestic violence advocacy and support. Interns will work under the guidance of experienced professionals to assist victims, develop educational materials, and contribute to program development. Specific internship roles include: Domestic Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T.): Provide case management, accompany victims to legal proceedings, represent the program at community events, and follow up with referred victims. Medical Advocacy Program (MAP): Represent Laurel House on community committees, coordinate with medical facilities and behavioral health providers, and research/create presentations on relevant topics. Housing and Shelter: Provide individual counseling, options counseling, advocacy, crisis counseling, safety planning, referrals, goal planning, domestic violence education, and ensure shelter security. Community Education: Develop and implement training materials, present curricula to various age groups, collect evaluations, organize training for parents and professionals, promote educational programs, and assist with awareness month projects. Counseling: Provide empowerment-based domestic violence counseling, co-facilitate support groups, assist with case management and referrals, and handle administrative tasks related to scheduling and record keeping.

Requirements

The Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) Intern provides immediate crisis and safety response, as well as case management, to victims of domestic violence when contacted by law enforcement and/or medical professionals to assist in coordinating community response efforts.
Under the Medical Advocacy Program, the intern will be responsible for assisting the MAP Coordinator with connections and training with medical facilities and health care providers throughout Montgomery County related to domestic violence, intimate partner violence, elder abuse, traumatic brain injury, safe documentation, and safe referrals.
The Housing and Shelter Intern supports survivors through trauma-informed care by facilitating group sessions, providing individualized case management, and offering crisis support through our hotline. The advocate will also collaborate with partner agencies to connect clients with community resources and services.
The Community Education Intern helps raise community awareness about domestic violence, adolescent relationship abuse, and other domestic violence-related topics by providing age-appropriate information to schools, colleges, businesses, faith-based communities, youth groups, and other community groups.
We're seeking a Counseling Intern to provide crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, advocacy, and participation in program development. Interns will gain hands-on experience in providing direct services while working under the supervision of a licensed clinician.

Nice To Haves

Studying: Social Work, Criminal Justice, Women's Studies, Psychology, Social Services (or related field).
Bilingual capability desired! (Spanish and/or ASL preferred).
Studying: Public Health, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Human Services.
Undergraduate junior or senior studying: Social Work, Criminal Justice, Women's Studies, Psychology, Social Services (or related field).
Studying: Education, Public Health, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Human Services.
Enrollment in a Master's program in Counseling, Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, or a related field.
Commitment to a full academic year, including availability for at least one full weekday and some evenings/weekends.
Commitment to see clients through school breaks in order to maintain continuity of care.

Responsibilities

Provide case management, as needed, to victims referred to the program
Accompany victims to obtain Protection from Abuse Orders, preliminary hearings, and other hearings as appropriate
Assist in ensuring the DART program is represented at community events such as health fairs, informational "tablings", and so on as needed
Follow-up with victims referred by police departments, medical personnel, etc. and provide referrals, information, services and/or other support as needed
Represent Laurel House on community committees and events as requested and/or approved by the MAP Coordinator
Represent Laurel House in coordinating contacts with hospitals, substance abuse facilities, behavioral health facilities, etc. in Montgomery County
Research and create presentations related to medical trauma, behavioral health, substance abuse disorders, and domestic violence
Provide individual counseling, options counseling, and advocacy to clients in shelter
Support hotline callers with crisis counseling, safety planning, referrals, and resources
Help residents with goal planning, domestic violence education, and safety strategies
Ensure shelter security, safety, and a supportive environment for residents and children
Facilitate group programming with colleagues to build community and promote healing
Develop and implement customized training and education material for presentation to specific audiences
Present established curricula for middle schools and high schools, youth and young adult groups, and colleges throughout Montgomery County
Collect evaluations from all education and prevention programs
Organize and conduct training for parents, and for adult professionals who work with youth, on how to address teen dating violence
Assist in promoting and developing educational programs
Work collaboratively with the Community Education Supervisor to update program statistics and school and organization contact lists
Assist with Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month projects such as social media campaign and Art Poster Contest
Provide empowerment-based domestic violence counseling for individuals age 14+
Co-facilitate support groups for survivors of domestic violence
Assist with case management, legal referrals, and coordination with internal/external service providers
Other administrative tasks such as keeping an updated calendar of counseling appointments, communicating with clients about scheduling, digital record keeping (session and process notes)