Community Social Worker Internship

Community Social Work Internship - Underserved Population Advocacy

Remote Position

Schedule, Duration, Position Type

-Contract, Part-Time, Internship

-Compensation: Academic Credit or Volunteer (Unpaid)

- Flexible hours to accommodate academic schedules

- Minimum commitment: 3 months

- Start date: Flexible

Position Overview

Join our team as a Community Social Work Intern, focusing on developing innovative approaches to serve and advocate for the most underserved populations. This role combines direct service strategies with systemic advocacy to create sustainable support systems and empower marginalized communities.

Key Responsibilities

- Research evidence-based practices for supporting underserved populations

- Develop resource guides and support materials

- Create trauma-informed engagement strategies

- Map community resources and identify service gaps

- Build connections with local service providers

- Participate in weekly Saturday afternoon collaborative sessions with our nationwide team of student leaders

- Document successful intervention strategies

- Support advocacy initiatives for systemic change

Required Qualifications

- Current enrollment in an accredited college or university

- Commitment to social justice and equity

- Understanding of trauma-informed practices

- Strong cultural competency skills

- Excellence in interpersonal communication

- Knowledge of social work ethics

- Basic case management understanding

- Interest in systemic advocacy

Focus Areas

**Direct Service Development**

- Crisis intervention strategies

- Resource coordination

- Support system building

- Case management frameworks

- Client empowerment

- Basic needs assessment

- Mental health support

- Family strengthening

**Systemic Advocacy**

- Policy research

- Community organizing

- Coalition building

- Rights education

- Impact documentation

- Barrier identification

- Solution development

- Change management

What You'll Gain

- Direct service experience

- Advocacy skills development

- Case management expertise

- Understanding of systemic barriers

- Professional network building

- Letter of support from Voice Up's founder upon successful completion

- Portfolio of social work initiatives

- Real-world advocacy experience

Project Components

- Resource development

- Intervention strategies

- Community mapping

- Policy recommendations

- Progress tracking

- Impact assessment

- Best practice documentation

- Partnership building

Core Competencies Development

**Clinical Skills**

- Assessment techniques

- Intervention planning

- Crisis management

- Resource coordination

- Family support

- Mental health awareness

- Trauma-informed practice

- Cultural competency

**Advocacy Skills**

- Policy analysis

- Community organizing

- Coalition building

- Rights advocacy

- System navigation

- Change management

- Impact measurement

- Resource development

We are committed to supporting and empowering underserved populations through innovative social work practices.

Key Objectives

- Develop effective support strategies

- Create resource networks

- Build community partnerships

- Document best practices

- Measure service impact

- Identify systemic barriers

- Propose policy solutions

- Foster community empowerment

To Apply

Send to

Please submit:

- Your resume

- Personal statement about your commitment to serving underserved populations

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

- Passion for social justice

- Understanding of systemic barriers

- Cultural humility

- Strong ethical framework

- Communication skills

- Advocacy experience

- Empathy and compassion

- Commitment to empowerment

Special consideration given to candidates with:

- Social work background

- Direct service experience

- Community organizing experience

- Policy advocacy knowledge

- Language skills

- Crisis intervention training

- Mental health awareness

- Lived experience with served populations

This role provides the opportunity to develop both direct service skills and systemic advocacy capabilities while working with underserved populations. The ideal candidate will understand the interconnection between individual support and systemic change.

We seek candidates who can bring both compassion and critical analysis to addressing the needs of underserved populations. We welcome applications from students who share our commitment to social justice and systemic change.

Note: We particularly value candidates who bring lived experience or deep understanding of the communities they seek to serve, while maintaining professional boundaries and ethical practice.

Our commitment to ethical practice includes:

- Maintaining confidentiality

- Respecting client autonomy

- Promoting social justice

- Cultural humility

- Professional boundaries

- Continuous learning

- Collaborative practice

- Strengths-based approach

Patience

Workplace patience is the capacity to maintain composure and effectiveness in the face of delays, setbacks, and the varying speeds at which different team members work and learn. Patient team members understand that quality work takes time, that learning curves vary, and that rushing often leads to mistakes. They recognize that building strong teams and developing new capabilities requires investment in time and understanding. Patience includes the wisdom to know when to push forward and when to step back, allowing processes and people the time they need to achieve optimal results. It also means maintaining a calm and supportive demeanor during stressful periods or when facing challenges.

Empathy

Empathy in the workplace is the ability to understand and respond to the feelings, perspectives, and needs of teammates. Empathetic team members recognize that each person brings their own set of experiences, challenges, and working styles to the table. They take time to understand others' viewpoints before making decisions or judgments, and they adjust their communication and support styles based on individual needs. Workplace empathy includes recognizing when teammates are struggling, celebrating others' successes genuinely, and creating an environment where people feel seen and valued. It means understanding that personal and professional lives intersect and that supporting the whole person leads to better outcomes for everyone.