Referral & Resource NavigationAt — Human Works Foundation

The Referral & Resource Navigation internship allows students to support vulnerable populations, especially justice involved individuals, veterans, and those in recovery, by connecting them to community services. Interns will gain experience coordinating referrals, maintaining updated resource networks, and working collaboratively with both clients and partner agencies.

Tasks:

Interns will:

Assist in referring clients to housing, employment, mental health, and legal support services

Maintain an up-to-date community resource database

Follow up with clients and providers to ensure referral completion

Participate in outreach and intake events to assess client needs

Document services provided and maintain accurate case notes

Collaborate with case managers, outreach teams, and agency partners

Training:

Interns will receive:

Orientation covering referral protocol, systems navigation, and HWF client services

Weekly mentorship meetings for guidance and supervision

Training on tracking software, community resource databases, and intake flow

Shadowing opportunities during interagency meetings or client consultations

Resource binder access, directory tools, and system navigation checklists

Learning Outcome:

By the end of the academic internship, students will be able to:

Coordinate and document resource referrals using internal tracking systems

Communicate effectively with clients and agencies to support service access

Understand local systems related to housing, employment, and social services

Demonstrate trauma-informed and client-centered referral practices

Apply ethical standards related to confidentiality and service coordination