Our Mission:  Arapahoe County Department of Human Services (ACDHS) builds strong communities by promoting the safety, independence and stability of individuals and families.

Our Vision: To end the cycle of poverty and prevent abuse and neglect of children and vulnerable adults (using an integrated Two-Generation approach)

ACDHS uses an integrated Two-Generation (2Gen) approach to address all of the basic human services needs of the entire family unit. The 2Gen approach begins with a mindset focused on family-centered program design, continues with the alignment of services and resources within the department as well as across multiple organizations, resulting in coordinated services to children and adults together (family) in order to create long term stability and sustainability.

The 2Gen approach builds well-being for families by focusing equally and intentionally on high-quality services in five areas of focus: early childhood education, adult education and employment pathways, economic security, health and well-being and social capital. This approach will help us achieve our core mission of breaking the generational cycle of poverty, preventing neglect and abuse and building strong communities.

This internship is intended for college students and recent college graduates with less than one year of experience that have a passion and commitment to helping others and are interested in Child Welfare and enrolled in a social work program or a related field requiring an internship. Students will have the opportunity to learn how caseworkers engage and support the most vulnerable children and families within the community and then practice those learned skills with clients. We are committed to providing a rich, educational experience for students to observe and eventually participate in the day-to-day work of caseworkers engaging with families.

Child and Adult Protection Services is comprised of three primary sections, Intake, Permanency and Services. The Intake section is responsible for the investigation and assessment of child abuse and neglect referrals that meet the statutory requirements for response. The Permanency section is responsible for the case management, treatment and continued assessment for children and families who require longer term involvement with child protection. The Services section provides supportive services such as Kinship/Foster Care Support, Placement Support Services, Prevention Services, CORE Services, Family Engagement, Family Time and many others. Adult Protection Services provides assessment and case management services for at-risk intellectually/developmentally disabled adults and at-risk elderly adults. An intern may be placed in any one of these areas.

Interns will have the opportunity to shadow caseworkers managing caseloads, conducting home visits, preparing for, and attending court, interviewing adults and children, attending and participating in internal and external meetings related to parents and/or children, assessing the safety of children, supervising family time, documenting comprehensive reports, etc. There are opportunities for interns to shadow and support staff in various roles areas across the CAPS division. All sections will work collaboratively to provide opportunities for students to become familiar with these systems as a whole and its impact on children, families, and adults.

Interns may have the following experiences working alongside caseworkers:

• Home visits with children, adults, and their families
• Supervising Family Time
• Court involved cases
• Interviews with adults and children
• Internal and external meetings related to adults, parents and children
• The processes to assess the safety of children
• Documentation requirements
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) work internally & within the community

REQUIREMENTS:

Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Ability to adapt to fast-paced and high-volume work environment and be able to handle high stress and complex situations while remaining calm and professional.
• Ability to handle conflict and challenging situations. 
• Ability to effectively communicate in a positive and professional work environment.
• Establish and maintain professional working relationships with parents, foster parents, relative care providers, staff, peers, supervisors, providers, state officials, and other community partners.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong ability to prioritize tasks, take initiative, and multitask. 
• Ability to effectively present information, write reports and business correspondence and respond to court, managers, customers, other agencies, co-workers, and the public via fax, telephone, and email. 
• Ability to clearly articulate concepts, directives and goals to employees, professionals and state and community representatives.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and state and county computer systems. 
• Ability to learn and apply new computer skills on a regular basis.
• Ability to follow directions under general supervision and/or independently.
• Ability to adapt to different environments & people from all walks of life.

Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):  

Accountability                   Accessibility                    Inclusivity                      Integrity

Education and Experience: 

• A completed degree or current enrollment in an accredited college program leading to a bachelor’s or master’s degree. 
• A completed degree or pursuing a degree in Social Work or a related human services field including:

1. Psychology 
2. Sociology 
3. Social Work 
4. Counseling 
5. Child Development 
6. Criminal Justice courses relevant to child welfare: This includes courses covering topics in juvenile justice, family law, family conflict, general court procedures, interviewing techniques, dispute resolution, and mediation. 
7. Foreign language courses 
8. Anthropology courses relevant to cultural development and history, linguistic development, and communications. Physical anthropology courses do not count toward minimum requirements. 
9. History courses relevant to family and cultural development  

• No substitution of experience for education is permitted.
• License/Certification Requirement: By position, may require a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:

• Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check. 
• Possession of a valid Class “R” Colorado Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within two weeks of appointment. 

Post-Employment Requirements:

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  

• Internships will be completed mainly in the office and in the field. 
• Interns must commit to eight months and will work at least 16 hours and no more than 20 hours a week. 
• The internship is flexible with hours based on the student's school schedule and the schedules of the field and task supervisors (typically around 2 days per week). However, summer-only internships are not offered at this time.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• Spends 80% of the time sitting and 20% of the time either upright or walking.
• Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
• Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.
• Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work- related equipment.

Below, please list any special physical demands associated with this position.  For instance, exposure to hazardous environments, blood borne pathogens, extreme heat/cold, use of power equipment or machinery, wearing of PPE (personal protective equipment).  

Definitions:

Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.

Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.

Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.