When people of any age struggle with addiction, mental health issues, trauma or an unstable home life, they need competent and compassionate care. Our licensed, certified and professional staff brings an exceptional level of expertise in the science and psychology of behavioral health, which is matched by warm, supportive approaches. We love what we do, and it shows at every step.
Program Information A bachelor’s-level social work student completing an internship at Door to Hope would likely participate in foundational, supervised social work activities designed to build skills in client engagement, case management, advocacy, documentation, policy awareness, and understanding substance use treatment systems.
Because the student is at the BSW level, their role would focus primarily on generalist social work practice rather than independent clinical assessment, diagnosis, or psychotherapy.
The student may have opportunities to work within Door to Hope’s residential or outpatient substance use programs and assist staff in supporting adults, families, or adolescents impacted by substance use.
Typical activities could include:
* Engaging clients through supportive, strengths-based, trauma-informed interactions and practicing professional communication and rapport-building.
* Observing and assisting with intake, orientation, screening, and referral processes under staff supervision.
* Supporting case management activities, such as identifying client needs, connecting clients with community resources, helping address transportation, housing, medical, educational, employment, or benefits-related barriers, and following up on referrals.
* Observing or co-facilitating psychoeducational and recovery-focused groups, including topics such as coping skills, healthy relationships, relapse prevention, goal setting, life skills, wellness, and recovery supports.
* Participating in community engagement and outreach activities, including resource fairs, school or community events, substance use prevention activities, overdose education, naloxone awareness, and relationship-building with community partners and referral sources.
* Learning how social workers collaborate with schools, behavioral health providers, healthcare agencies, social service organizations, justice-system partners, and other community stakeholders to improve access to services and continuity of care.
* Assisting with community resource mapping and needs identification to better understand gaps in services, barriers to treatment, and opportunities for advocacy within Monterey County.
* Reviewing agency policies, procedures, and program standards to understand how organizational policy guides ethical and effective social work practice.
* Participating in supervised policy review and policy development activities, such as comparing agency procedures with regulatory, contractual, ethical, or accreditation requirements and identifying areas that may need clarification or revision.
* Exploring how local, state, and federal policies affect substance use treatment, access to care, client rights, confidentiality, funding, and service delivery.
* Developing an understanding of policy practice and macro-level advocacy, including how social workers can identify systemic barriers, communicate community needs, and advocate for policies that improve behavioral health and recovery services.
* Learning how social workers engage clients who may be ambivalent, resistant, mandated, or otherwise unsure about participating in services, including using motivational interviewing and understanding concepts such as psychological reactance.
* Attending multidisciplinary meetings, case consultations, staff meetings, community meetings, and supervision to understand how treatment teams and community partners coordinate services and make decisions.
* Developing introductory skills in professional documentation, including progress notes, case management documentation, referral documentation, and other program records while learning confidentiality requirements such as HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
* Learning about ethical practice, professional boundaries, cultural humility, client self-determination, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and appropriate use of self in the helping relationship.
* Observing how substance use disorders affect individuals and families and how factors such as trauma, mental health, poverty, housing instability, family relationships, justice-system involvement, and community resources influence recovery.
* Participating in advocacy and resource development, including identifying gaps in community services and helping clients navigate systems such as behavioral health, healthcare, education, housing, public benefits, and other social services.
* Completing assigned projects such as developing resource guides, educational materials, outreach materials, group activities, policy summaries, community needs information, or other program-support projects that contribute to Door to Hope’s services.
trainings/ staff meetings offered or required: In accordance with DHCS requirements staff must attend trainings on CFR 42 part 2, Human trafficking, naloxone administration, withdrawal management, law and ethics, DMC ODS (drug medi-cal regulations)
Concentration:
- Social Work
Format of Service:
- Remote Service
- In-Person Service
Type of Service: Indirect Service
The following HHSPP Competencies that the student will be exposed to:
- Collaboration
- Conflic Resolution, Negotiation, & Mediation
- Cross Cultural Competency
- Knowledge of Health & Human Services (SW or CH)
- Leadership
- Personal & Professional Communication
- Professional Development
- Public Policy Analysis
- Statistics and Research Methods