Recreation Therapy InternshipAt — VA Palo Alto Health Care System - Creative Arts & Recreation Therapy Serviceer
VA Palo Alto's recreation therapy service provides exciting internship opportunities throughout the year for students who are pursuing a degree in recreation therapy. We offer interns unique opportunities to gain both personal and professional growth in a dynamic environment. VA Palo Alto recreation therapy service has more than 70 staff members with valuable experience who can help guide the interns during the internship. Internship opportunities vary each semester and are available within many programs, including mental health, polytrauma, rehabilitation, fitness/wellness clinic, and long-term care settings. Please note: The internships at VA Palo Alto are full-time jobs with 40 hours of work each week for 16 weeks.
At the conclusion of the program, the goal is for interns to feel confident and prepared to start their career in recreation therapy in a clinical setting.
Students will be oriented to the Creative Arts & Recreation Therapy Service as well as complete orientation and training to program of placement.
Students will be oriented to safety procedures of program of placement.
Complete at least 400 practicum/work hours in a therapeutic recreation setting or a related area Make sure you complete all the therapeutic recreation coursework outlined by the university Please make sure that all of the following documents are included in your application packet: Cover letter with resume Two letters of recommendation. One should be from a professor and one should be from someone who works professionally in the field of recreation therapy. Unofficial current class transcript, or a class guide detailing completion of all required coursework Completed application for RTS internship (download form below) Email or mail application packet to: Lindsay Conner, MS, CTRS VA Palo Alto Health Care System Recreation Therapy Service (11K) 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 Lindsay.Conner@va.gov Deadline for internship applications: June 1 for a fall internship (September – December) October 1 for a winter/spring internship (January – May) February 1 for a summer internship (May – September) Procedure for the selection of an intern: The internship coordinator will review all the necessary paperwork submitted by students as listed above, and arrange internship interviews if appropriate. The student will complete an interview with potential internship supervisors. If a student is accepted for an internship with VA Palo Alto, the internship supervisor will contact them via email or phone to notify and congratulate them. The internship is only confirmed when the university has officially accepted them for placement with our agency. Once accepted into the program, the student will need to arrange for a physical exam, TB testing, and fingerprinting / background check by VA Palo Alto or a VA in their area (we will arrange for this). PLEASE NOTE: We require that interns work for a minimum of 16 weeks, but if the university has its own requirements for the length of an internship, we are willing to meet them. Interns are responsible for finding a place to stay. We can offer recommendations for housing in "safe" neighborhoods or areas. Unfortunately, we cannot offer a stipend.
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 40 | hours per week |