*C Human Services InternAt — StandUp For Kids

StandUp for Kids – Orange County is seeking a compassionate, motivated Human Services Intern to support youth and young adults experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Interns gain hands-on exposure to nonprofit human services, youth advocacy, case management, outreach, and program operations — working alongside experienced staff while building skills relevant to coursework in human services, social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, public health, or related fields.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with client intake, needs assessments, and resource navigation
• Support case managers with documentation and service coordination
• Help connect youth with housing, employment, education, food, healthcare, and transportation resources
• Research and maintain referral information for local services
• Support outreach efforts to youth experiencing homelessness
• Assist with employment-readiness activities (résumé help, mock interviews, goal setting)
• Participate in client meetings, program activities, and community partnerships
• Help organize donations and basic-needs supplies
• Maintain accurate, confidential program records
• Participate in supervision, training, and professional development

Training:

Interns begin with a mandatory general orientation covering agency policies, confidentiality, and onboarding requirements (including background screening where applicable), followed by training in trauma-informed practices and professional boundaries before starting client-facing work. Throughout the placement, program staff provide direct supervision and task-specific training for responsibilities like intake, resource navigation, and documentation, along with regular one-on-one supervision meetings, shadowing opportunities, and hands-on guidance in employment-readiness activities — all tailored where possible to the intern's academic learning goals.

Learning Outcome:

Program Goals
1. Build foundational human services skills — Gain practical experience in case management, client support, and resource navigation within a nonprofit setting.
2. Develop professional competency working with vulnerable populations — Practice ethical, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive engagement with youth and young adults facing homelessness or instability.
3. Strengthen community outreach and advocacy abilities — Participate in outreach efforts and build skills connecting individuals to housing, employment, education, and other essential resources.
4. Gain exposure to nonprofit program operations — Understand how a human services organization functions day-to-day, from documentation to community partnerships.
5. Prepare for a career in human services or a related field — Apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting and clarify long-term career and academic goals through mentorship and hands-on work.