Grow With Us!
The Center for Youth and Family Solutions is a proud partner with over 14 colleges and universities to offer internships in multiple areas of study. We greatly value the opportunity to provide a learning environment for students to gain hands-on experience in their chosen field. We offer internships for those working toward an associate, Bachelors, or Master’s degree in our human service programs and our administrative departments. We have opportunities in all of our service locations throughout Central Illinois.
Paid Internship Opportunities
The Center for Youth & Family Solutions’ Behavioral Health programs offer professional counseling and therapy services to individual youth & adults, couples, and families to address issues related to mental, emotional, and relationship health; treatment of the impact of trauma; and improving the lives of our clients. Our philosophy is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and eco-systemic. Our clientele varies by location but generally includes youth and families involved in other CYFS programming (e.g. foster care, intact family, etc.), clients referred by other service providers (e.g. DCFS, other child welfare entities, governmental entities, etc.), and community residents seeking services independently Our program offers clinical internships/practicum placements to those enrolled in a Master’s program in Counseling, Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, or a related field and who need to fulfill the requirements of a clinical internship/practicum placement. Students are supervised by licensed clinical field supervisors and provided formal weekly individual supervision and group supervision (in most offices).
Duties of interns include, but are not limited to, provision of counseling/therapy services including assessment, treatment planning, and clinical services; completing intake calls; provision of some case management and resource linkage services; administering program outcomes instruments; and clinical documentation, including Medicaid, court reporting, and psycho-social assessments. Services may be provided on an outreach basis and may require some limited reimbursed travel. The position requires achieving certification on the Illinois Medicaid-Comprehensive Assessment of Needs and Strengths (IM+CANS) which will be expected within the first few weeks of placement.
Necessary qualifications and skills:
- The student must be enrolled in a Master’s Degree or Doctoral Program from a regionally accredited graduate institution in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling or Psychology, or closely related Human Service field.
- The student must meet the qualifications of an MHP, per 89 IL Admin Code 140 (Rule 140). See attachment for specifics.
- Intermediate knowledge and practice orientation from a strengths-based, family-focused, trauma centered, culturally sensitive perspective.
- Basic knowledge and ability to utilize the DSM 5 in clinical assessment and treatment planning.
- Knowledge and awareness of marriage and family therapy, child welfare, and family-based service literature.
- Demonstration of responsible behavior and reliability.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing with diverse populations.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Windows operating system environment, keyboarding, word processing software, and e-mail transmission.
Other requirements include a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and state-required auto insurance; the ability to use one’s personal car for agency travel requirements; and the successful completion of DCFS criminal background check.
Compensation: Interns will be compensated based on provided and documented income-producing activities. For every hour of billable activity that is documented correctly, interns will be compensated $25.00.
*Compensation will not apply to students who are placed with our agency through a paid arrangement with a university.
Un-Paid Internship Opportunities
The Center for Youth and Family Solutions Child Welfare and Youth, Family, and Community Outreach Programs offer applied learning un-paid internship experiences that compliment the internship requirement for many Social Work, and other related fields of study. In addition, our Communications, IT, Accounting and Human Resources Departments also at times will accept internship applications.
For more information on Internship Opportunities, contact MaggieLin Detwiler, Training Specialist & Internship Coordinator:
Phone: 815-223-4007
Email: mdetwiler@cyfsolutions.org
If you are interested in applying for an internship position at The Center for Youth and Family Solutions, complete our application by going HERE.