Human Services/Social WorkerAt — Korean American Seniors Association of Orange County

Position Description: Human Services & Community Outreach Intern (Bilingual Korean/English Required)

Organization: Korean American Seniors Association of Orange County (KASA-OC)
Location: Garden Grove, Orange County, CA
Position Type: Part-time Internship (Academic credit available / Unpaid)

About Us:
The Korean American Seniors Association of Orange County (KASA-OC) is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering Korean American older adults. We provide critical bilingual services, including benefits navigation, health access, wellness programs, and social activities, to help seniors age with dignity and combat isolation.

Position Overview:
We are seeking a passionate and empathetic intern to join our team. This role provides hands-on experience in direct client services and community outreach, perfect for students pursuing careers in Social Work, Human Services, Gerontology, Business or Public Health. The intern will serve as a crucial cultural and linguistic bridge, providing direct support to our senior members and helping to expand our reach within the community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide direct, compassionate assistance to seniors, including conducting intake interviews and needs assessments.

• Offer bilingual (Korean/English) translation and interpretation support during one-on-one sessions and group workshops.

• Assist seniors with accessing public benefits (SNAP/Cal Fresh, Medi-Cal, SSI) and social services.

• Support the planning, coordination, and facilitation of wellness workshops, health seminars, and social events.

• Conduct community outreach to identify isolated seniors and connect them with KASA-OC resources.

• Help create and distribute culturally relevant educational materials in both Korean and English.

• Maintain accurate and confidential client records and assist with case

• Marketing and Management Skills.

Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a degree program for Social Work, Human Services, Gerontology, Public Health, Business or a related field.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with empathy for the needs of older adults.

• Cultural competency and understanding of the Korean American community.

• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior volunteer or work experience in a social service setting.

• Familiarity with social service resources and public benefits in Orange County.

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain practical experience in client intake, needs assessment, and case management.

• Develop skills in benefits navigation and community resource coordination.

• Enhance cultural competency in providing services to a diverse aging population.

• Learn effective strategies for community outreach and engagement.

Tasks:

Description of Internship Tasks & Duties
The following duties are designed to provide hands-on, meaningful experience in the human services field. The majority of these tasks are professional or pre-professional in nature, requiring critical thinking, cultural competency, and the application of academic knowledge.

Direct Client Services & Case Support (40% of time)

• Conduct bilingual (Korean/English) initial intake interviews with new senior members to assess psychosocial, economic, and health-related needs using a standardized assessment form.
• Provide ongoing follow-up support to a small, supervised caseload of 2-3 clients through regular phone calls or check-in meetings.
• Assist clients with completing applications for public benefits and social services (e.g., SNAP/CalFresh, Medicare/Medi-Cal, LIHEAP) by providing bilingual translation, explaining complex eligibility requirements, and helping to gather necessary documentation.
• Practice active listening and motivational interviewing techniques during client interactions to build rapport and identify unstated needs.

Community Outreach & Resource Development (30% of time)

• Develop and distribute culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach materials (e.g., flyers, social media posts in Korean) to promote KASA-OC's programs to underserved segments of the Korean American community.
• Represent KASA-OC at local community events (e.g., health fairs, senior festivals) to conduct outreach, answer questions, and identify potential new members.
• Research, verify, and update a resource directory of local social service agencies (e.g., low-cost dental clinics, transportation services, legal aid) that are senior-friendly and accessible.
• Draft a summary report analyzing a specific community need identified through outreach (e.g., lack of transportation for medical appointments) and propose potential programmatic solutions.

Program Coordination & Administrative Support (20% of time)

• Co-facilitate and later lead segments of weekly wellness workshops or social hours, including preparing materials and managing participant engagement.
• Accurately document all client interactions and services provided in case notes within the organization's client database, adhering to strict confidentiality protocols (HIPAA).
• Assist in the planning and execution of a special event (e.g., Lunar New Celebration, Health Fair) by managing logistics, coordinating volunteers, and overseeing activity stations.

Professional Development & Synthesis (10% of time)

• Prepare a final capstone presentation for staff summarizing their internship experience, analyzing a key challenge faced by the population served, and reflecting on their personal and professional growth.
• Participate in weekly one-on-one supervision meetings to review cases, contextualize experiences, and receive feedback on performance.

Intern Training & Supervision Plan

To ensure our interns are fully supported and able to achieve their learning goals, KASA-OC provides a structured, multi-phased training program under the direct supervision of our Program Coordinator.

Phase 1: General Orientation & Foundational Training (Weeks 1-2)

• Mandatory Organization & Safety Orientation: A half-day session covering:
• KASA-OC’s mission, history, and overview of all programs.
• Review of intern handbook, including policies on confidentiality (HIPAA), professional conduct, dress code, and hours.
• Safety protocols, emergency procedures, and location of first-aid kits.
• \\Aging in the Korean American Community\\ Workshop: A 2-hour training providing crucial cultural and contextual background on:
• Common psychosocial challenges (e.g., isolation, acculturation stress, intergenerational dynamics).
• Cultural values (e.g., respect for elders, concept of \\Han\\) and how they impact help-seeking behaviors.
• Overview of the \\model minority\\ myth and its effect on service access.
• Resource Navigation Training: A hands-on, 3-hour computer-based training on:
• How to use and navigate key public benefit portals (CalWIN BenefitsCal, MySSA).
• Introduction to 211OC and how to search for local resources.
• Overview of common application processes for SNAP, Medi-Cal, and utility assistance programs.
• Job Shadowing: The intern will be paired with a senior staff member to observe:
• Client intake and assessment procedures.
• How to conduct a friendly home visit or phone check-in.
• Facilitation of a group workshop or social hour.

Phase 2: Ongoing Supervision & Skill Development (Ongoing)

• Weekly One-on-One Supervision Meetings: A standing 60-minute meeting with the direct supervisor to:
• Review the past week's experiences, contextualize tasks, and discuss challenges.
• Preview upcoming assignments and set goals for the following week.
• Provide continuous feedback on performance and professional development.
• Provision of Work Samples & Templates: The intern will receive:
• Redacted examples of completed client intake forms and case notes.
• Templates for creating community flyers in both English and Korean.
• Scripts and guides for conducting benefits screening over the phone.
• \\Lunch & Learn\\ Workshops: Monthly informal workshops on topics such as:
• Professional Boundaries: Role-playing scenarios to practice setting appropriate limits.
• Compassion Fatigue & Self-Care: Strategies for preventing burnout in human services.
• Crisis De-escalation Basics: Recognizing signs of distress and protocols for seeking help.

Phase 3: Independent Practice & Feedback (Mid-placement onward)

• Gradual Caseload Increase: After demonstrating competency, the intern will begin managing a small caseload of 2-3 clients under close supervision.
• Co-facilitation and Lead Facilitation: The intern will progress from assisting with a workshop to co-facilitating, and finally to leading a segment of a session (e.g., a health seminar activity).
• Final Review and Evaluation: A formal mid-term and final evaluation meeting will be held to review the learning goals, provide structured written feedback, and discuss the intern's overall growth and future career path.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Conduct culturally competent client intake and needs assessments by applying active listening and interviewing techniques to identify the specific social, emotional, and resource-based needs of Korean American older adults.
• Navigate and facilitate access to public benefits and community resources by demonstrating a functional knowledge of systems like Medi-Cal, SNAP/Cal Fresh, and local senior services, and by effectively assisting clients with applications and referrals.
• Develop and implement outreach strategies to promote program services and engage hard-to-reach populations within the Korean American senior community, utilizing appropriate bilingual and culturally relevant communication methods.
• Articulate the unique psychosocial challenges facing immigrant and aging populations, analyzing how factors like language barriers, acculturation stress, and social isolation impact well-being and access to care.
• Operate within the ethical and professional standards of human services, including maintaining strict client confidentiality, practicing professional boundary-setting, and accurately documenting client interactions.