Elder Justice Advocate InternAt — Empowered Aging
Are you passionate about human rights and the dignity of senior citizens and dependent adults? An internship at Empowered Aging is the opportunity to work alongside seasoned professionals who are devoted to the rights, justice and respect of all seniors and dependent adults residing in Solano County. The Elder Justice Program at Empowered Aging gives interns hands-on experience working with victims of crime and helping them navigate through the criminal justice system. The Elder Justice Advocate Intern will become an integral part of the client's journey as the intern provides both practical assistance and emotional support to each client. The intern will be supervised by a very close knit team of professionals who have experience working with interns. The team at Empowered Aging feels strongly that training the next generation of senior advocates is crucial, and everyone at Empowered Aging is committed to helping each intern learn and thrive during their internship.
Posted by 07/11/23
1) Ethical and professional behavior such as: following the agency's code of ethics; teamwork, written and oral communication; punctuality; appropriate attire; ethical use of technology; use of supervision; confidentiality, and professional boundaries. 2) Students will learn about and participate in legal systems and processes such as obtaining restraining orders, applying for victim compensation programs, completing police interviews and speaking with law enforcement. 3) Students will learn to identify and address community issues by participating in multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) with community partners such as Adult Protective Services, the District Attorney's office, local police and sheriffs, and other community partners. 4) Students will engage in practices that advance human rights and protect vulnerable populations such as the elderly and dependent adults. Students will learn how to educate clients and family members on legal rights and how to provide information and referrals to community services. 5) Students will learn how to interview and support people who are in a high stress situation. Students will learn how to assess a client's capacity, use effective interviewing techniques, obtain informed-consent, and conduct trauma-informed interviewing. 6) Students will learn how to plan and implement mutually agreed on intervention goals and objectives based on the strengths, needs and challenges of each client. 7) Students will discuss and demonstrate cultural awareness and respect. Students will learn to use empathy and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients.
Students will have an on-boarding training that introduces them to the agency and team. Then, students will train under the tutelage of the Elder Justice Program Manager who will use a variety of training modalities including webinars, group discussions, reading materials and shadowing. Shadowing an experienced Elder Justice team member is a large component of the training.
Since Empowered Aging team members work with elderly clients who are sometimes frail, we ask that interns do not report to the internship if they feel ill, not even with the slightest of sniffles.
| Type | Frequency | Amount | Explanation | Show to students? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stipend | once | TBD | Stipends are usually in the range of $500-$1,000 | Yes |
If interested, students can submit a current resume and cover letter to the Internship Coordinator (dhealy@empoweredaging.org). The application process includes an in-person interview, a shadowing event, and a reference check.
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 400 | hours per academic term |