Catholic Charities Internship: Opportunities and Requirements

Catholic Charities and affiliated organizations offer a variety of internship programs designed to provide students with hands-on experience in social services and related fields. These internships cater to a wide range of interests and skill sets, from direct client interaction to program development and administrative support. These opportunities not only benefit the interns themselves but also enable the organizations to extend their reach and impact within the community.

Internship Opportunities Overview

Internships are available across a wide range of disciplines that provide hands-on experience in how things work in a large multi-social-service agency as well as the opportunity to network with a wide variety of people. These internships provide hands-on experience in how things work in a large multi-social-service agency, as well as the opportunity to network with a wide variety of people. Students currently enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs are encouraged to apply for a rewarding, hands-on internship with Catholic Charities. These internships offer opportunities for leadership building, networking, community impact, and learning from experts and executives, allowing interns to develop a broad set of work skills in a professional setting.

Specific Internship Programs and Roles

Catholic Charities offers internships in various programs, each with specific responsibilities and requirements. Here's a look at some of them:

Catherin V. Merrill Foundation Summer Internship

The Catherin V. Merrill Foundation offers a summer internship program for college students who are Catholic and want to serve people who are in need in our community. As requested by the Catherin V. Merrill Foundation, this program is for Catholic students who are entering their 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of college in the fall following the summer in which they would intern. Twenty full-time positions are available this summer at nonprofit organizations throughout the Kansas City area. Students are compensated $18.50 per hour.

Each week you must write a one or two page reflection about some experience you had during the week and what you think God’s message was through that experience. Or, you can look at the readings from the Sundays that bookend that week to see if there is a message that connects to an experience you had that week. Yes, there will be an initial orientation and during the internship we will meet twice for lunch, discussion and Mass. During the last week of the internship we will have a concluding dinner with the trustees of the Merrill Foundation. You can take up to 5 unpaid days off during the summer.

Read also: Catholic School Educators

Ask for a letter of recommendation from your pastor, parish staff, campus minister or a teacher. When Catherin Merrill passed away, she left money to establish a charitable foundation in her name. She requested that her money be used to help young Catholics deepen their faith.

Youth Programs Internships at Alphapointe

Alphapointe is a multi-faceted organization with an array of divisions, products, and services. Each summer, the Youth Programs plan and host Technology camp, Adventure Overnight camp, and Adventure Day Camp.

Camp Instructor Specialist

The Camp Instructor Specialist will work hands on in developing a curriculum for each of the three weeklong camps. This position is responsible for assisting in the overall instructional and operational design for each of the camp experiences and working hands on with the youth throughout each of these three camps. The Camp Instructor Specialist will assist the director of the camp, plan, supervise, and implement creative summer camp program ideas that enrich the experience of the summer campers and staff. Responsibilities include completing day-to-day administrative tasks for the Youth Programs department, specializing in helping plan and carrying out daily activities as well as ensuring the safety and physical well-being of the campers, sending and receiving correspondences with the parents of the campers and answering any questions there may be. The intern should be willing and able to engage with the campers as individuals in a way that allows them to grow at their own abilities, able to revisit and adapt to plans and activities that meet the needs of the group that you are working with, able to be a team player and work well with other individuals, and complete evaluations and reports on youth participating in the programs.

Youth Experiences Specialist

The Youth Experiences Specialist will work with the Youth Services Team and Youth on all of Alphapointe’s Camps and Eye Programs. Which includes Adventure Damp (Day and overnight), Technology Camp and the EYE programs. Technology Camp is a weeklong learning experience for youth with visual impairments to learn about utilizing various technologies that impact academic development, advance their internet navigation skills, develop social networking knowledge, and establish internet safety and security awareness. EYE, Expanding Youth Experiences, is a program designed for children and youth who are blind or visually impaired, so they can experience an array of opportunities in the community that are fun and interactive.

Summer Transition Employment Program (STEP) and College Prep Experience (PREP) Intern

As a Youth Programs Intern with a focus on the Summer Transition Employment Program (STEP) and the College Prep Experience (PREP), you will support the Youth Services Team in delivering impactful programs designed to facilitate the transition from school to work and prepare students for college success. You will play a key role in developing, implementing, and evaluating these programs, while also engaging directly with participants to enhance their learning experiences.

STEP is an 8-week summer program designed for transitional aged youth (15 to 23) that focuses on work experience, career awareness, vocational skill-building, and personal independence. The program includes job exploration, self-advocacy instruction, workplace readiness training, and work-based learning experiences. PREP is a 4-week program that prepares students for successful enrollment and participation in college. The program covers enrollment procedures, disability support services, accommodations, FAFSA completion, and other essential transition services, along with college readiness skills and administrative knowledge.

Key responsibilities include assisting in the development and implementation of the STEP and PREP programs, contributing to the creation of instructional materials and tools for job exploration, self-advocacy, and college readiness. The intern will work directly with participants to facilitate their involvement in STEP and PREP activities, providing guidance and support as needed. Conduct group sessions and workshops on job exploration, self-advocacy, workplace readiness, and college preparation.

The intern will also complete day-to-day administrative duties, including maintaining program documentation, tracking participant progress, and managing correspondence with stakeholders. Assist in coordinating program logistics, including scheduling, materials preparation, and communication with participants and their families. Help assess program effectiveness through participant feedback, observations, and performance metrics. Assist with making recommendations for program enhancements based on evaluation results and feedback. Support and participate in on-site activities and events at both the work site and camp site, including orientation, workshops, and experiential learning opportunities. Ensure a positive and supportive environment for participants, fostering their personal and professional growth.

Qualifications for this role include excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with youth and program stakeholders. Patience and enthusiasm for working with transitional aged youth in educational and work-based settings. Ability to learn and adapt to new software applications and tools. Prior experience with youth programs, vocational training, or educational support is a plus.

Bishop Sullivan Center Intern

Inspired by Christian faith, Bishop Sullivan Center shows God’s love to people in financial hardship by providing food, help in finding jobs and other aid. Beyond material assistance, Bishop Sullivan Center strives to build relationships between those who live in poverty and those who do not, promoting mutual understanding and affirming the dignity of all. Bishop Sullivan Center’s services include two food pantries feeding 1,200 families a month, One City Café, a community kitchen serving over 300 meals each weekday, Employment Services helping over 400 individuals secure employment each year, Project ElderCool providing air conditioners for seniors, and more.

The Project ElderCool Intern oversees this program and works directly with our clients who are elderly or have disabilities. Primary responsibilities include: Installing air conditioners in recipients’ homes and being a friendly face and listening ear for seniors. Interns will need to be able to lift a minimum of 25 pounds and have a valid driver’s license. Bilingual in Spanish and English is a plus. This intern may assist with other responsibilities at the Center including the food pantry, household assistance, and our employment program as time allows. This intern may also spend time assisting at Journey To New Life, a non-profit that helps people coming out of prison.

Community LINC Intern

If you are interested in ending homelessness in Kansas City for this generation and the next, then Community LINC is the place for you. For over 30 years, Community LINC has been a game-changer in serving and housing the most vulnerable families in our community. Community LINC Interns and staff share a common competency framework, which guides our approach to services, informs our practices, and creates our values of trust, integrity, transparency, and mutual respect. Our goal is to drive communal change from homelessness to homefullness through innovation, creativity, strategic thinking, and flexibility. It requires a love of diverse backgrounds, a wiliness to be flexible, ability to shift and organize and eagerness to grow and self-direct.

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas Internships

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas offers several internships focused on specific programs:

Citizenship Preparation and English Language Learning (ELL) Programs Intern

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ free Citizenship Preparation and English LanguageLearning (ELL) Programs include course work that is focused on the English language,American history and civics knowledge that is needed to pass the United States’ USCISnaturalization interview and exam. The summer intern will promote and support the mission ofCatholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and the Citizenship/English Language Learning Programwith conducting new student outreach, retention, and developing classroom materials. Thisposition is ideal for candidates interested in learning about teaching English to newcomers,seeking to learn about the naturalization process, lesson development, and serving KansasCity’s refugee/immigrant community.

Digital Inclusion Program Intern

The Digital Inclusion program focuses on education and technology-specific case managementto support refugees in their journey toward full digital engagement with civic life in the UnitedStates, including the pursuit of meaningful work, education, and social participation. This internposition is ideal for anyone seeking to learn about curriculum development and pathways todigital literacy for non-English speakers. Interns also have opportunities to practice and improvepresentation and teaching skills and to engage with technology through technical support anddevice distribution.

New Roots Program Intern

The United States Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Match Grant program aims to helprefugees (and other appropriate individuals) attain self-sufficiency within four months afterarrival without access to public cash assistance. New Roots is a training program that empowers refugees, immigrants and English LanguageLearner farmers to develop sustainable farm businesses. The summer intern will promote andsupport the mission of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and the New Roots Program inproviding critical support to farmers looking to grow their small farm businesses. This positionwill spend a significant portion of time outside at the farm or at farmer’s markets and driving theNew Roots truck (if 21 years old) or your own car to make produce deliveries.

The summer intern will be involved in all facets of the New Roots Program, including: Drive New Roots pickup truck (if 21 yrs.

Pregnancy Support Services Intern

Pregnancy Support Services goal is to provide education, support and physical baby items to womenwho are pregnant and parenting their child. The summer intern will successfully promote and supportthe mission of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas (CCNEK) by providing support to mothers whowill be parenting their child. Help break the cycle of poverty by providing free support and by helpingwomen access low cost prenatal medical care. Provide prenatal and early childcare education andsupport for expecting parents that are low income, refugees, or Wyandotte County residents.

The summer intern will be involved in all facets of the Pregnancy Support Services Program, including: Responsible for intake, assessment and referral of clients. Provide support to actively assist clients through pregnancy, including problem solving, goalsetting, preparation for parenting, and post-pregnancy visits. Support clients with connections and referrals for medical services both for the pregnant motherand for well-baby visits. Assist in meeting client’s needs: medical, housing, financial and school by becoming involved inthe community. Identify appropriate services available and inform participants of services.Make referrals and access resources with or on behalf of the participants. Collaborate withCCNEK Family Support programming as needed, in alignment with our self-sufficiency model. Support clients with getting connected to WIC both during their pregnancy and after the child isborn. Educate clients of labor and delivery, nutrition, safe sleep, car seat safety, and individualeducation needs. Support the program with doing behind the scene projects, which may include sorting babyequipment, organizing files, etc.

Refugee Services Internships

Several internships focus on refugee services:

Refugee Extended Cultural Orientation Intern: Refugee cultural orientation services are provided to all newly arrived refugee clients andsupports their understanding and adjustment into US culture and systems. The RefugeeExtended Cultural Orientation Intern will work with Refugee and Migrant Services staff to identifybarriers to adjustment that refugee clients may experience. This position is ideal for candidatesseeking to learn about refugee social adjustment and the challenges that newly arrived refugeesface in acclimating to their new environment. Responsibilities include recruiting and enrolling Extended Cultural Orientation participants, following-up with refugee clients to confirm attendance in sessions, and developing lessons on topics to support social adjustment.
Refugee Health Literacy Intern: The Refugee Health &; Benefits Department supports refugee clients in accessing health,wellness, and benefits services. The Refugee Health Literacy Intern will work with Refugee &Migrant Services staff to offer a variety of health education sessions to refugee clients tosupport their understanding of US Health systems.
Refugee Reception and Placement Program Intern: The Refugee Reception and Placement Program at Catholic Charities provides resettlementservices to newly arrived refugees during their first 90 days in the United States.
Refugee Youth Program (RYP) Summer Enrichment Program Intern: The Refugee Youth Program (RYP) Summer Enrichment Program simulates school for refugeechildren to prepare them for a new school year, while also allowing them to have some fun. Thesummer intern will promote and support the mission of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansasand RYP by assisting in enrolling students in the summer program, preparing activities,supplies, space, developing lessons, teaching classes, and overall support of the program. Thisposition is ideal for candidates seeking to learn about the challenges refugees face in accessingand adjusting to United States education system. The RYP intern will also participate in directservice, teaching ELL classes and meeting with parents.

Catholic Charities Dallas Internships

Catholic Charities Dallas helps our community’s most vulnerable by taking on the effects of poverty and helping all those in crisis move toward a better life. Students currently enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs are encouraged to apply for a rewarding, hands-on internship with Catholic Charities.

Catholic Charities of Chicago Internships

To provide students with the opportunity to gain hands on experience in their field of interest and further prepare them for their career. With the help of interns, we can assist more individuals in our community. Internships are available in the Fall and Spring Semester. Continuation in services is important for our clients; therefore, some placements require one year or two school semesters. Internships are unpaid; however, we will work with your school to ensure school credit as needed. The number of hours vary based on the program and University requirements. Typically, interns volunteer between 8-15 hours per week. Interns must be currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students.

Clinical Internships

A clinical intern is a graduate level student who requires specialized supervision by a licensed professional (e.g. social workers or medical professionals). Programs that engage clinical interns change on a yearly basis.

Counseling and Intake Program

The Counseling and Assessment program at Anchor Behavioral Health has a competitive rotation of three internship positions. Candidates should be second-year students in a graduate program working toward an MSW or graduate degree in clinical psychology.

School Based Mental Health

The School Based Mental Health program provides mental health support to teachers, staff, and students across public and charter schools in Washington.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

The Assertive Community Treatment program works out in the community to reach individuals experiencing chronic mental health challenges. The ACT team is a multidisciplinary one comprised of mental health professionals, nurses, and social workers, who work directly with clients to set goals towards progress and independent living.

Counseling and Behavioral Health Clinic Internship

Internship Description: The Counseling and Behavioral Health Clinic helps families of any income level with everyday problems build healthy relationships and heal from trauma and grief. Our licensed bilingual counselors serve families in schools, at parishes and in other locations throughout the community. Counseling also is integrated into other Catholic Charities programs because overall health is essential to self-sufficiency.

Counseling Interns are actively engaged in a professional clinical setting that affords them the opportunity to interact with clients and licensed counseling professionals. Interns receive approximately two (2) weeks of training in confidentiality, mental health 101, crisis intervention and trauma informed care. Upon completion of this training interns conduct intakes, screenings, schedule client appointments, make referrals and follow-up calls. With the permission of the client, interns may observe one-on-one counseling sessions with a licensed clinician. Interns also have the opportunity to review case files for the purpose of learning. In addition, interns participate in outreach activities, co-facilitate groups, presentations, attend internal and external meetings, and attend relevant trainings.

Application Process and Requirements

To apply for an internship with Catholic Charities, it's essential to follow the specific application procedures outlined by each local organization. Generally, the process involves:

Showing Interest

Applying here is just to show interest in completing an internship with Catholic Charities. Final determination will be based on availability and successful completion of all internship requirements. To be considered, please click 'RESPOND' and provide the following:

A resume detailing your academic experience, including whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.
Your college/university's Affiliation Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding.
A brief statement describing your internship requirements.

Creating an Account and Submitting an Application

To apply, please submit your application through our internship application You will need to create an account before applying. Be prepared to provide the following information below.

Providing Necessary Documentation

A resume detailing your academic experience, including whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student. Your college/university's Affiliation Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding. A brief statement describing your internship requirements.

Additional Information

Interns must stay on site during the Overnight Adventure Camp week. All food and lodging will be provided by Alphapointe. Interns are encouraged/directed to observe a full Comprehensive Rehabilitation Assessment (CPVA) with adults to help the evaluation process of the prospective students' abilities to ensure program success. We are sometimes able to accommodate requests for individual internships or senior projects required for high school graduation.

Key Qualifications

While qualifications vary depending on the specific internship, some common requirements include:

Enrollment in an undergraduate, graduate, or seminary program.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
A passion for social justice and helping those in need.
For some positions, bilingualism in Spanish and English is a plus.

Benefits of Interning with Catholic Charities

Interning with Catholic Charities offers numerous benefits, including:

Hands-on experience in a professional social service environment.
Opportunities for skill development and career exploration.
Networking with professionals in the field.
Making a positive impact on the community.
For clinical internships, specialized supervision by licensed professionals.
Potential for academic credit.

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