OCCTAC Summer Intern Program 2025At — ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN'S THERAPEUTIC ARTS CENTER

The Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center Internship Program is a holistic and rigorous professional development program designed to elevate the next generation of leaders in the arts, therapeutic arts, special needs, and non-profit fields. Through the program, students will have the opportunity to develop office skills, gain qualification for future jobs, and cultivate social capital by developing connections with leaders at a renowned and established arts organization in Southern California. Each intern will be placed in a department based on their interests and career aspirations where they will identify objectives and project goals with their direct supervisor.

• Shadow staff members in multiple departments.
• Assist instructors in the Therapeutic Arts classes and in Preparatory Academy Arts classes with classroom management
• Assist with administrative work for the Executive Director which includes helping organize documents, filing documents, and doing research on potential grants

Training:

Throughout the program interns will:
• Participate in an initial general OCCTAC orientation
• Participate in trainings and meetings with senior staff members on a variety of therapeutic arts topics
• Attend cross-departmental meetings to understand the workings of a matrix organization
• Receive training on various software and hardware used at OCCTAC

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to:
• Support the operations of a matrix organization with general office and research skills learned here
• Support an Executive level employee or department with current data hygiene standards and complete research on potential grants
• Support Therapeutic Arts instructors and practitioners with strong classroom management and group management skills learned at OCCTAC
• Engage in a meaningful way with participants in a counseling or therapeutic setting using tools and skills learned at OCCTAC
• Utilize skills learned at OCCTAC regarding software and hardware such as: Excel, Word, Microsoft Suite, and industry specific software such as IClass Pro