Internship, Neighbor Services

Description

Feeding Tampa Bay serves ten counties in West Central Florida and is a leader in hunger relief across our region. Just last year, we served 85M meals to our neighbors through direct service and through our network of 400 food pantry partners. 

But, we know food alone won’t solve hunger — that’s why we’re redefining what it means to feed our region. By creating pathways to possibilities for nearly 1 million people, Feeding Tampa Bay connects and convenes solutions, partners and resources that nourish long-term stability. As a member of the Feeding America network, we will work to dismantle barriers for individuals, families and seniors across our area — because it’s possible.

SUMMARY

Feeding Tampa Bay’s Neighbor Services program helps with more than just food. We know that surrounding hunger are often challenges with meeting other basic needs; like finding adequate housing, understanding health care options, locating transportation help, or accessing services to support individuals and families. Our trained team cares about our community and works one-on-one to help neighbors navigate an often complicated social services system. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a foundational core service of our programming. 

We aim to empower our community to utilize resources and services that reduce challenges caused by financial crisis. We equip neighbors with knowledge, resources, and opportunities to advance economic mobility; empowering neighbors to have a brighter, healthier future. 

Full-time and part-time placements are available depending on the intern’s degree program and educational requirements. Interns are expected to complete hours in-person under the supervision of their assigned MSW or Task Supervisor. Virtual and work-from-home opportunities are only available on a case-by-case basis with the prior approval of the student's supervisor. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application assistance- all training and certification will be provided by FTB Staff
• Provide food navigation to clients as needed through the FTB Find Food tool and connections to other Feeding Tampa Bay programs
• Monitor Neighbor Help Desk calls and requests to Feeding Tampa Bay and respond to inquiries regarding FTB programming and services.
• Learn the various day to day roles of the FTB Empowerment Center from Neighbor Entrypoint, Intake, FTB Service Provision, and referral to onsite Community Partners
• Learn to use FTB’s online Empowerment services database UniteUs, including creating client profiles and sending and receiving service referrals
• Maintain detailed notes in FTB’s internal data collection system and report relevant data for program improvement
• Provide SNAP outreach support as needed for Feeding Tampa Bay partner agencies, at Trinity Cafe, and Mobile Pantry distributions, etc. as needed
• Participate in Weekly or Bi-Weekly supervision with MSW Supervisor
• Assist other Feeding Tampa Bay staff on special projects
• Demonstrate a pleasant, professional and helpful attitude at all times
• Commit to upholding FTB’s “Grow Code”, workplace policies and principles, and best practices for food safety.
• Proficiency in languages other than English are a plus.

Requirements

To perform this internship successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

• While clinical aspects of social work are utilized, this internship does not classify as a “clinical placement.”
• Must be currently enrolled in an educational program focusing on social work, social services, human services, or  counseling 
  • Other educational fields will be considered on a case by case basis depending on student placement needs, degree requirements, and FTB current program capacity
  • Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and PhD students are eligible for placement in Feeding Tampa Bay’s internship program, but job responsibilities will vary based on level of experience and requirements of individual programs. 
• Our program is flexible when possible with students outside schedule requirements, but depending on program requirements cannot guarantee hours outside of the traditional work day
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and writing
• Ability to communicate comfortably with clients both in person and over the phone including making cold calls to initiate services
• Ability to work in low-income, culturally diverse, community settings and a basic understanding of the challenges and barriers faced when individuals and families seek assistance
• Ability to work well with non-English speaking populations, in low-income areas, and with children and families, or seniors, etc. 
• Ability to manage and document deliverables and data from a number of sources. Spreadsheet skills a must. 
• Ability to work constructively with individuals (agency staff, the public, and volunteers) from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds in culturally diverse work environments. 
• Demonstrated skills with Microsoft Word Office Suite of applications, ability to learn and use Google Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to be timely in terms of handing in deliverables and maintaining agreed upon work hours. 

HOW TO APPLY: If interested in field placement with the Feeding Tampa Bay Empowerment team please submit a copy of your resume and personal statement to the FTB recruitment team and you will be contacted for an interview and/or other next steps.