Program Information Internship Days: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
Hours: 16–24 hours per week (unpaid/paid TBD)
Location: WellCat Prevention, ESTM 150P, California State University, Chico
Program Overview
The WellCat Prevention MSW Internship Program offers graduate students the opportunity to gain direct experience in campus-based health promotion, prevention education, and community engagement. Interns play a critical role in supporting student well-being by facilitating evidence-informed programming aligned with harm reduction, trauma-informed practices, and public health frameworks.
This placement is ideal for MSW students interested in macro-level social work, health education, program development, and peer-based prevention strategies. Interns will be supervised by licensed clinical staff and prevention specialists.
Core Responsibilities
1. Facilitation of SMART Recovery
- Co-facilitate the SMART Recovery program (Self-Management and Recovery Training) for students in recovery or seeking support with substance use.
- Provide peer-informed psychoeducation and promote resilience, coping skills, and behavior change strategies.
- Assist in outreach, promotion, and attendance tracking for weekly SMART Recovery meetings.
2. PAWS (Peer Led, Advocacy, Wellness, and Support) Groups
Each intern will co-design and facilitate a peer led education support group based on one of the following focus areas:
- Healthy Relationships & Consent
- Bystander Intervention & Community Accountability
- Health Promotion & Self-Care
- Anti-Hazing & Belonging
- Alcohol, Cannabis, and Substance Awareness
Activities include:
- Curriculum development using trauma-informed and inclusive approaches
- Collaboration with campus partners (e.g., Title IX, GSEC, Student Conduct)
- Facilitation of 4–6 peer group sessions per semester
- Integration of interactive and culturally relevant materials
3. Program Development & Evaluation
- Support the creation and distribution of educational materials
- Collect and analyze pre/post-program survey data
- Assist with event planning (e.g., National Recovery Month, Red Ribbon Week)
- Provide weekly process notes and participate in case consultations
Learning Objectives
- Develop group facilitation and psychoeducational skills
- Apply harm reduction and trauma-informed theory in practice
- Build program planning and evaluation competencies
- Strengthen capacity to engage diverse student populations
Supervision & Support
Interns will receive:
- Weekly 1:1 supervision with a task manager and/or clinical supervision with an LCSW
- Bi-weekly group supervision with other interns and prevention staff
- Access to professional development workshops and campus trainings