Students interested in human services or clinical psychology careers can explore these options through community placements. You can enroll in Psyc 3592, Field Internship, for a community service internship supervised by a psychology professor—Contact Dr. Sharon Lambert, slambert@gwu.edu . You work with an organization like NAMI or a host of other human service organizations, allowing you to appreciate how psychological theory and research inform practice.
Here are just a few of the places where undergraduates interested in mental health services or clinical psychology can get exposure to individuals with mental health concerns or to practitioners who work with mental health issues:
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Undergraduates can work on the call line for individuals with mental illness or family members of individuals with mental illness. https://www.nami.org/
Clinical field research (e.g., interviewing, administering a test battery)
You may find clinical research opportunities at a university and/or a federal agency like NIH; however, even those opportunities are easier to get for someone with a bachelor’s degree who is getting additional experience before applying to grad school. https://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/volunteers/opportunities.html
Children's National Medical Center (CNMC)
Hospitals may have volunteer opportunities but few have patient care/patient interaction. CNMC in DC has some opportunities for special category volunteers who interact with patients at the hospital for medical procedures. This type of option is best for someone interested in working in a hospital setting. https://childrensnational.org/giving/get-involved/volunteer
Remote Volunteer Opportunity at MindRight: Mental Health Coaching for Youth over Text Message
Do you want to advance access to mental health support, educational equity, and social justice? Join our fight to make trauma healing services accessible to millions of youth. We're a 501c3 nonprofit on a mission to help youth recover from trauma. We provide mental health coaching over text message. Each day, our coaches work in teams to check in with youth and help them build positive coping skills guided by evidence-based cognitive behavioral practices.* As a coach, you become someone our students can count on. You implement our Empathize-Normalize-Stabilize coaching framework to support youth through their hard times and celebrate them during their good times. Your role is at the core of what we do. Learn more and sign up here: http://getmindright.org/volunteer/
*You do not need a licensure or clinical background to be a coach. We take coaches through 20 hours of training.
Rape Abuse Incest National Network [RAINN]) Sexual assault hotline
Provide support for individuals who have experienced or are at risk of assault https://www.rainn.org/
Crisis Link (Northern VA)
Answer suicide and crisis prevention hotline calls - https://prsincvolunteers.applicantpro.com/jobs/410830.html
Violence liaison at Metropolitan Police Department (DC)
This opportunity will allow MPD citizen volunteers to ride along with patrol officers and provide victims of domestic violence with resources and information https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/domestic-violence-liaison
Life Pieces to Master Pieces (LPTM) through EngageDC
EngageDC operates to “address the needs of an organization, build its capacity and expand its outreach” (engageDC). Student volunteers are required to volunteer 3 to 6 hours a week and attend a volunteer meeting that meets once every two weeks. This year engage DC also offers FWS. Students who qualify for FWS should contact engaged@gwu.edu to obtain the correct form and then apply on Handshake. There will be a community service fair September 12th in the Marvin Center’s Grand Ballroom for students would like to stop by and ask questions about LPTM. Students who are interested in volunteering can apply any time. Students who volunteer with engageDC build leadership skills that will inspire them to delve into other serious issues of social injustices that plague the District of Columbia and, more broadly, the United States.
LPTM is an after-school program for young African American men ages 3 to 14. LPTM students, apprentices, are primarily from District wards 7 and 8. To ensure apprentice safety, LPTM students are bused to Drew Academy, an elementary school that houses LPTM. LPTM creates and ensures an emotionally and physically safe environment that encourages young African American men to activate, develop and express their innate artistic ability. LPTM’s principles of “leadership, spiritual principles, love, language, discipline, meditation, giving and arts” solidify a lasting bond between teachers and students. These principles and bonds encourage apprentices to remain in the program and become mentors. “For the past 7 years, 100% of the seniors in our Saturday Academy program have graduated from high school and continued on to pursue secondary education or career training programs” (Life Pieces to Master Pieces, 2018, August 26). 33 percent reflects the public high school graduation rate in wards 7 and 8.
Once at site, GW volunteers will tutor, scholastically and socially engage with apprentices and affirm the principles of LPTM. GW students who committedly volunteer cultivate relationships with these young men which will ultimately enhance engageDC’s outreach for both individuals. GW students who are also interested in indirect service opportunities and non-profit management should also apply. All students are encouraged to apply.
Students interested in any service opportunities can fill out this interest form.
Students interested in volunteering can apply here.
Students who receive FWS should email engagedc@gwu.edu to obtain the form then apply on Handshake.
Education-related internship at Fit Learning (Dupont Circle)
Fit Learning is opening a brand new learning lab near Dupont Circle in DC to help transform education! We are looking for undergraduates who want to learn about how to combine the best learning science with a passionate team to get out of this world results. We are looking for fast-paced, passionate people who want to learn about this science and are looking for an extremely rewarding career path. We have a paid internship that begins as an hourly, part-time position with the possibility of turning into a full-time position to launch your career.
The perfect candidate possesses high energy, wants to learn about how to turn children’s lives around and, of course, enjoys working with kids. Interns would get on-going training and supervision (which can count towards certification!) under a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has more than a decade of experience working in the education system.
Contact: Marc D’Antin, MA, BCBA, Director
Ph: (202) 505-5304
1875 Connecticut Ave NW, 10th Floor
Washington DC 20009
Intern (Shadowing position) at Pathways Behavioral Health
My name is Amber Shriver and I am the Clinical Director at Pathways Behavioral Health. We are an in home ABA clinic that serves patients who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emotional Disability, Intellectual Disability, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and their families. I am writing to you because we are looking for college students to join our program in the Fall of 2019 as a shadowing intern seeing families in Montgomery County, MD; Prince George's County, MD; Fairfax County, VA; Prince William County, VA; Washington DC, Arlington County, VA; and Alexandria City, VA.
Shadowing interns in our company shadow experience therapists, Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT), Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), and Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA). They also attend weekly rounds and weekly didactics with RBTs, BCaBAs, BCBAs, other therapists, Developmental Psychologists, Clinical Psychologists, Neuropsychologists and educational specialists. Additionally, they have a chance to work with us on various research projects. Currently we are implementing an Emotional Disability pilot program in a local public school system, as well as establishing a university partnership for a longitudinal study of the outcomes of the 100+ patients and families enrolled in our program. We also offer opportunities to attend national conferences as well as relevant seminars at local universities.
If you are a students who may be interested in this position, please contact us at mcasper@pbhaba.com.
Ayuda Social Services Intern
Job Title: Social Service Intern (Virginia Office)
Immediate Supervisor: Ayuda’s Case Manager for Anti-trafficking program
Ayuda is a non-profit organization assisting immigrants, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area. Ayuda provides social services and legal services to their clients. Social services include therapy, case management, and advocacy.
Position Description:
Ayuda’s Social Service internship is designed for a student/volunteer who is interested in social work, psychology, vulnerable populations, and community advocacy. The internship provides opportunities to learn about immigrant experiences and trauma; and practice cultural humility, critical thinking, direct practice with individuals and families, collaborating with other organizations, and program planning. The Social Service intern will have the opportunity to work with the Social Service team in implementing Ayuda’s programs, and assisting case managers, and social workers who aid and support clients.
Interns work in a busy environment. Ability to maintain focus and adjust to unexpected situations, as well as a strong comfort level working with survivors of trauma from difficult backgrounds are required. Spanish language fluency strongly encouraged.
Must be able to commit for at least 6 months/semester
Responsibilities:
- Provide supportive services to case managers and to clients
- Research and provide referrals for clients in needs of services
- Follow-up with clients after meetings
- Provide accompaniment for clients during appointments
- Assist in gathering and organizing client data and documentation
- Assist in planning outreach events and potential groups
- Obtain knowledge of Ayuda and its programs and services
- Attend and participate in supervision
- Support the functioning of the Food Pantry.
Required Qualifications:
- Emotional maturity, stability, and resilience
- Excellent social skills that facilitate authentic, empathetic, and friendly communication
- Demonstrated experience, comfort, and sensitivity working in multi-cultural environments
- Positive, flexible and energetic attitude
- Experience, competence, and confidence working independently and as part of a team
- General ease of movement between multiple projects and priorities
- Ability to follow directions, work well under pressure, and maintain composure during stressful situations
- Ability to abide by professional boundaries and strict confidentiality rules
- Willingness to learn new skills and ability in working with survivors of trauma
- Ownership and initiative, natural self-starter
- Demonstrated resourcefulness and strong research skills
- Strong verbal and written communications skills
For more information and to apply for this position, contact Ayuda’s Case Manager for Domestic Violence at (202) 688-5773 or Fatima.monastiriotis@ayuda.com
