Dakota County Social Services


Social Services Internship Opportunities: Children and Family Services - Children and Family Services - Family Dependency Treatment Court Internship

Children and Family Services staff deliver a variety of mandated and voluntary services to support families and keep children safe. In all that we do, we strive to ground our work in the guiding principles of equity; trauma-informed responsive practice; integrated service delivery; and safety, permanency, and well-being frameworks.

Dakota County welcomes, and is inclusive of, diverse people, backgrounds, and perspectives. The County aims to reflect the community and clients it serves and fosters an equitable and respectful working environment where everyone is empowered to be their authentic selves.

INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION

· Section: Children and Family Services

· Work Unit: Struthers - Family Dependency Treatment Court

· Education level/Degree sought: Bachelors

· Preferred Academic Program: Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, etc.

 

HOURS: The specific hours and schedule will be mutually agreed upon by the supervising Social Worker and the intern, with as much flexibility as possible based on the educational requirements of the undergraduate institution and the current Dakota County hybrid work protocols.

LOCATION: Western Service Center (14955 Galaxie Avenue, Apple Valley, MN 55124). Other designated sites, fieldwork, and telework may also apply depending on specific assignments and county policies.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Duties of the intern will vary depending on the skills and interest of the individual and the needs of the agency. The following list illustrates some of the duties an intern might be expected to perform under supervision, but is not all-inclusive:

  1. Complete agency, state, and federal required documentation as related to client activity according to mandated timelines.
  2. Participate in inclusion, diversity, and equity educational opportunities.
  3. Complete Dakota County Data Practices Training and adhere to required data privacy policies.
  4. Complete all administrative tasks related to undergraduate institution’s internship program requirements.
  5. For social work students, the internship will focus on meeting a candidate’s core nine competencies, including:
  • Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  • Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  • Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  • Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
  • Engage In Policy Practice
  • Engage With Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

 

Note: Not all competencies will be covered to the same degree in each internship, but efforts will be made to address each one through county work or partnerships with others.

 

POTENTIAL PLANNING: Start time for this position will be fall 2024.

 

For general questions about the application process please contact:

 

Garrett Zaffke

Community Relations & Volunteer Services Coordinator

Email: Garrett.zaffke@co.dakota.mn.us

Phone: 651.438.4635

 

This opportunity is a great pathway for a current student or recent graduate to further explore their interests and gain work experience in the field. This position is unpaid and does not include benefits. We reserve the right to deny placement on the premise that we do not have the capacity of time to complete the contractual process or if the applicant is determined to not be in the best interest of the health, safety, and/or general welfare of the program or the individual applicant.

Schedule Summary

This activity occurs between Tuesday, February 06, 2024 and Friday, March 22, 2024