We are a "one-stop-shop" for all things volunteer-related for individuals, organizations, and businesses. It should be easy to find out when and where your skills are needed. We are committed to doing the legwork so you don't have to. Each year we collaborate with over 500 community partners to support their effort to recruit and welcome new volunteers and we partner with local businesses that want to invest their resources in building a more connected community. We connect people with volunteer opportunities on the web, by phone, or in-person via our match-making appointments. We additionally invite every person to be a part of our work through our family of 19 programs.
Program Information Key Responsibilities: Our Empowered Aging Division is seeking interns to work with our 6 programs that are targeted at seniors with the goal of empowering seniors to get involved with their community and their health so that they can age in place and retain independence and dignity. Seniors are the fastest growing population demographic, and as this population expands, so does the need for specialized services that address the needs of older adults. We connect seniors with resources including transportation, groceries, fall prevention resources, and home safety modifications. This division is about so much more than aging, though -- it's about creating community through the mutual acknowledgement that aging can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be, and we are here to help!
Interns will have the exciting opportunity to work across several of the programs under the Empowered Aging Division. Fall prevention, Transportation, and Helping Hands (home repair) are the 3 largest programs we run, and thus afford many different opportunities to learn from and engage with our staff, volunteers, and participants.
Tasks that interns may perform include:
-coordinating and scheduling transportation for seniors through our Transportation Hub
-coaching Fall Prevention Workshops
-doing intake/onboarding participants into our programs
-connecting seniors with community resources both at and outside of the Volunteer Center
-serving as a locus of information for seniors or social workers seeking resources for seniors
-recruiting volunteers for our programs
-doing program outreach in person and/or on social media
-assisting with program events
Desired Intern Characteristics: Do you love your grandparents? If you answered any variation of "yes", this position would be a great fit for you! Serving our older adult population is some of the most fulfilling and heart-warming work in the social service and non-profit sectors, and it can be disheartening to see how many seniors are in need. For example, did you know that seniors are the fastest-growing demographic of the houseless population, and approximately 13% of seniors in Santa Cruz County live below the poverty line? The ideal intern will be someone who is ready to abandon doom-scrolling for action and understands that being the change is a collaborative effort. Experience with Google Workspace or other office systems is a must. Good communication, ability to work well on a team, and being solution-oriented are also essential to this position.
Special Considerations: Being bilingual and biliterate in Spanish is a very strong plus!
Interprofessional opportunities available for the student: Students will be given the opportunity to work across multiple programs and expand their skills by both performing direct service and coordinating volunteer service. We also offer extensive professional development opportunities and are willing to work with interns to help develop skills that they are most interested in learning.
All staff meetings occur once per month on Tuesday from 3-4pm
Empowered Aging team meetings are Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30am.
Concentration:
- Social Work
- Community Health
- Public Administration/ Non-profit Management
Format of Service: In-Person Service
Type of Service:
- Direct Client Service
- Indirect Service
The following CHHS Competencies that the student will be exposed to:
- Collaboration
- Cross Cultural Competency
- Knowledge of Health & Human Services (SW or CH)
- Leadership
- Personal & Professional Communication
- Statistics and Research Methods