Mental Health Intern

ChildServe•Johnston, IA

About The Position

Join Child Serve this summer for a graduate-level practicum or mental health internship and support our outpatient mental health department. At Child Serve , we focus on children with special health care needs and their families. Our diverse caseload—serving children and young adults ages 2–30 with a range of diagnoses—makes this a unique and valuable training opportunity. We partner closely with our multidisciplinary team of clinicians across Child Serve , including our inpatient unit, to support mental health needs in acute settings. Our department was added to Child Serve’s scope of services to bridge the gap in care for children with dual diagnoses—special needs and mental health. This is not your typical talk-therapy environment. We play, draw, move, imagine, connect - and play some more! Our team is full of creative clinicians who bring unique approaches and skill sets to mental health care and to connecting with kids and families. If you love to play, support kids and families, and grow in your knowledge of working with children and their care teams—you will love Child Serve’s environment! S tart Date and Schedule June 2026–December 2026 (with the possibility of extension) Our internship is structured to last 6 months to 1 year in time. Beginning with job shadowing, collaboration, co-treating and then potentially having a small caseload of your own to manage and support. You set your own schedule, while keeping in mind that many of our families prefer after school/evening times. We have a collaborative team approach and offer 1 hour of individual supervision and 1 hour of group supervision a week. Make a Difference Every Day at Child Serve Child Serve partners with families to help children with special healthcare needs live a great life. Child Serve is a leading pediatric healthcare provider with Iowa’s only children's specialty hospital, offering a variety of services and programs to meet each child’s unique needs. Child Serve ’s four key specialty areas include: complex medical care, pediatric rehabilitation, autism and behavioral health, and community-based services. With a coordinated approach to care delivery, services are interwoven and streamlined, so families can address their child’s needs in one location. Established in 1928, Child Serve proudly provides more than 30 pediatric specialty services to nearly 6,000 children in Iowa each year. Child Serve is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. To request assistance with the application process, please email [email protected] . Child Serve is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

Current enrollment in a master’s program focused on Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or Marriage & Family Therapy
Interest or experience in working with children and families
Interest or experience in supporting individuals with special health care needs
Ability to be a self-starter
Strong communication skills
Flexibility, creativity, and organizational skills
Ability to communicate effectively in reading, writing, and speaking the English language