Program Information Description update: April 3, 2013
Program Approved for: BASW [X] MSW 1st Year [X] MSW 2nd Year [x] Title IV-E [X]
Parent Agency Name: San Mateo County Human Services
Agency Name: San Mateo County Children & Family Services
Program Name: Multidisciplinary Internship Program
Name of Internship Contact Person:
Tamara Hornsey
Contact‘s E-mail:THornsey@co.sanmateo.ca.us
Contact’s Phone Number: 650-802-5142
Contact’s Mailing Address:
1Davis Drive, Belmont, CA 94002
County Agency is in:_San Mateo County_________.
Program Description:
Every year, the Multidisciplinary Internship Program provides placements throughout the Human Services Agency, including Children and Family Services. The interns consist of undergraduate and graduate students of various backgrounds from local universities including UC Berkeley, San Jose State University, San Francisco State University, Cal State Easy Bay, and Notre Dame de Namur University and others. These students enter as BA, BSW, 1st year MSW and 2nd year MSW. Some MSW students are Title IV-E recipients.
The Multidisciplinary Internship Program extends its support by also training field instructors so that they can better assist the student and meet the academic needs the intern wants to achieve during the internship.
After a two week training, the interns are placed in various locations throughout San Mateo County. There, the interns receive weekly supervision from their field instructor and attend monthly support group meetings led by the Coordinator of the Multidisciplinary Internship program. Our interns express that they gain a wealth of knowledge from their internship. One student, stated “I have been able to take a little piece of every intern, social worker, supervisor and manager I have interacted with and apply something positive from their style, approach, or framework to improve myself and my practice”. Another intern stated, “This internship produces Super Interns”, he continued, “I have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience as a social work intern...I’ve gained the confidence and courage to continue empowering families, youth, and communities in this work”.
Clientele Served:
San Mateo County children and families. Our Agency serves the residents of San Mateo County. We work with many families of color.
Issues Program Addresses:
San Mateo County sponsors several initiatives including the Disproportionality Project and a committee that targets the specific needs of Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth. The Agency is currently working with Code America to address the needs of underserved populations.
Intern Assignments:
Interns are placed throughout the Human Services Agency. Specific to San Mateo County Children & Family Services, interns are placed in a variety of areas, including the Team Decision Making meeting unit, Adoptions, Emergency Response, the County Receiving Home, Family Maintenance/Family Reunification, Permanent Placement, Home Finding Unit.
Intern Training & Educational Opportunities:
Interns have the opportunity to participate in an intensive two-week orientation. Interns also receive ongoing supervision from their field instructor and attend monthly support group meetings led by the Coordinator of the Multidisciplinary Internship Program. Our interns express that they gain a wealth of knowledge from their internship.
Intern Benefits: (Include stipend, conferences, car, food, etc.)
San Mateo County is a county that is small enough to give each intern the opportunity to meet the Human Services Division Directors. Additionally, interns are also provided with both one-on-one and group ongoing professional development opportunities. Interns are encouraged to attend the variety of training opportunities available to employees.
Other Special Placement Procedures or Requirements (Including Dates of Internship, Special Application Forms and Deadlines):
Interns are required to attend a two-week orientation the first two weeks of September, as well as monthly intern support groups. Typically, student internships begin in September and end in May or June.
4. Student Field Travel (please mark all appropriate items):
a. Public transportation available and possible: Yes __X___ No _____
b. Agency car available for students: Yes __X___ No _____
c. Agency pays mileage for use of personal cars: Yes __X___ No _____
d. Personal car required: Yes __X___ No _____
5. Please indicate any specials skills that you desire in a student, such as fluency in a
foreign language, sign language, computer literacy, etc.
_Foreign languages, ability to effectively work with diverse populations, good writing skills, genuine interest in children and families.
6. How many students do you feel your agency can adequately supervise?
_Three to ten students (BSW/MSW)