Engagement and Support InternAt — County of Orange

About CAST

The Child Abuse Services Team (CAST) is a multidisciplinary child advocacy center dedicated to supporting children and families affected by abuse. We provide a safe, child-friendly environment where children can undergo forensic interviews, medical exams, and receive therapeutic support. CAST works collaboratively with law enforcement, social services, and medical professionals to ensure the well-being and safety of children during these challenging times.

Position Summary

The Engagement and Support Intern will play an integral role in supporting CAST’s mission to provide trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate engagement for children and developmentally delayed adults involved in forensic interviews and medical exams. This position will focus on creating a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment for children and families, while gaining hands-on experience in a child advocacy setting.

Key Responsibilities

As a CAST intern, you will be responsible for a variety of duties, including, but not limited to:

• Engage with children: Provide emotional and developmental support to children before, during, and after forensic interviews and medical exams.
• Support playroom activities: Assist with creating and maintaining a positive, child-friendly environment during interviews, breaks, and medical exams.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team (MDT): Work alongside social workers, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and therapists to ensure a holistic approach to each child’s experience at CAST.
• Assist with special events: Help set up for special events, such as creating goodie bags for children, decorating, and other event-related tasks as needed.
• Support new interns and staff: Assist in onboarding new volunteers and interns by providing guidance and answering questions during their training.
• Complete clerical tasks: Provide support with filing, data entry, and managing documentation as required.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled at California State University, Fullerton (for interns, does not apply to volunteers).
• Interest in child welfare, social work, psychology, or related fields.
• Ability to work with children in a trauma-sensitive, empathetic manner.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Punctual, reliable, and committed to a professional work ethic.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
• Flexible availability with the ability to commit to a consistent schedule.

To Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest in the position, relevant skills, and availability. We look forward to hearing how your passion and skills align with CAST’s mission to support children and families in our community.

*Note: This position is open to both interns and volunteers. While interns will be prioritized for learning outcomes to fulfill their learning agreement, volunteers will be expected to perform the same day-to-day tasks, supporting the core operations of CAST. However, volunteers may not be required to participate in all activities that interns are involved in, especially those directly tied to the completion of the internship program's learning outcomes.

Interns will have the added benefit of structured mentorship and training opportunities that are tailored to their educational goals. Volunteers, while not formally enrolled in a learning agreement, will still be part of a supportive learning environment. Although mentorship may not be as formalized, we make efforts to provide guidance and feedback through periodic supervision and informal interactions. We encourage volunteers to ask questions, seek feedback, and take full advantage of the learning opportunities available to them.

Training:

Interns will receive comprehensive training to ensure they are well-prepared to succeed in their role at CAST. The training process is designed to provide ongoing support, mentorship, and hands-on experience in a trauma-informed environment. Training includes the following components:

Initial General Orientation (Mandatory): An overview of CAST, the child welfare system, and the criminal justice system. This includes an introduction to CAST’s mission, values, policies, and procedures, as well as the importance of confidentiality and professional conduct.

Weekly One-on-One Mentor Meetings: Interns will meet regularly with a designated mentor to review progress, discuss experiences, and receive personalized guidance and feedback. These meetings provide an opportunity to address questions, reflect on challenges, and ensure ongoing development.

Job Shadowing: Interns will have the opportunity to shadow experienced staff members to observe day-to-day responsibilities, learn best practices, and gain insight into the multidisciplinary approach of CAST.

Workshops and Skills Training: Interns will participate in workshops designed to enhance their understanding of trauma-informed care, victim-centered engagement, and child development. These sessions will focus on key skills required for effective interactions with children, families, and professionals.

Provision of Work Samples: Interns will review and analyze relevant work samples (e.g., case documentation, child engagement techniques) to help them understand the quality and expectations for their own work.

Overview and Contextualization of Assigned Tasks: Interns will receive a detailed explanation of their assigned tasks, including context on how each task fits into the broader work of CAST and its impact on the children and families served.

Training Literature Reviews and Testing: Interns will engage in literature reviews and research on relevant topics, such as trauma-informed care and child welfare policies. This may be followed by written assessments or testing to ensure understanding and retention of key concepts.

Learning Outcome:

By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to:
• Conduct trauma-informed interactions with children and families, applying developmentally appropriate engagement techniques.
• Understand and apply forensic interview practices, supporting children through their interviews and ensuring their emotional safety.
• Understand the child welfare system and its processes for investigating and protecting children, including shadowing opportunities at Orangewood Children and Family Center (OCFC) to gain insight into emergency care, shelter operations, and the intersection with CAST’s services.
• Understand the intersection of the child welfare system and the criminal justice system, including the role of law enforcement, legal professionals, and courts in child abuse cases.