Intern Youth Services

*Project Oz has 3 types of internships:  Youth Services and Prevention Education and Administrative (see below for job descriptions)*

YOUTH SERVICES INTERN provides weekly provides crisis intervention, counseling, and case management to runaway, locked out, homeless, and street youth.

Duties and Responsibilities

Role Specific:

• Assist youth in crisis or youth who are runaways, locked-out, homeless, or living on the street.
• Teach clients basic life skills to gain and maintain self -sufficiency (e.g. safety, health, decision making, communication, money management, and anger management).
• Supervise the educational or vocational efforts of a client to obtain basic knowledge such as GED, diploma or trade certification needed obtain marketable skills.
• Attend school or community activities that involve a client.
• Help youth obtain gainful employment by providing interviewing skills, training and guidance in resume preparation, completing job applications, and job retention.
• Teach clients basic job skills to obtain and/or maintain employment (e.g. communication, timeliness, responsibility, valuing diversity, work ethic, honesty, teamwork, and positive employee relations).
• Provide parenting skills and education to youth with children.
• Function as neutral advocate to address parent and/or youth concerns.
• Confirm clients are addressing their physical and mental health and, if applicable, the health of the clients’ child(ren).
• Reduce or prevent drug use through substance prevention training and harm reduction approach.
• Identify problematic behaviors to avoid criminal activity, domestic abuse, and child abuse or neglect.
• Conduct site visits to assess living conditions and track client progress as well as program compliance.
• Build positive relationships with landlords, neighbors, employers, and family members.
• Provide documentation of case management activity including preparing and monitoring individual case plans and assisting in data collection as needed.
• Is available, as scheduled, to provide 24-hour crisis intervention services.

• Meet weekly for supervision with assigned mentor/supervisor. 

Youth Services Specific:

• Assume rapid response duties to crisis calls at all Safe Place locations by carrying a pager and cell phone on designated weekdays and weekends. The rotation schedule varies. 
• Communicate with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and others, understanding that someone may have been exposed to trauma.
• Provide referrals and linkage to appropriate agencies as needed.
• Debrief appropriate staff on cases opened, interventions utilized, case status, case plan, and case documentation at the completion of on call duties.
• Provide appropriate documentation of care contact through case notes and monthly data entry and service reports.
• Complete all required forms and progress notes and submit agency reports, forms, and logs by agreed upon dates.
• Participate in community outreach, panels, and other committee meetings as directed by leadership.
• Act as a representative of Project Oz and as a community resource person.
• Attend all required staff meetings and weekly Youth Services meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor, Program Manager or executive team.
• Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.

 Qualifications

• In good academic and behavioral standing with current college/university social work or related field.
• Related professional experience working with youth in a human services program preferred.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft® Teams software and/or Outlook, Excel, and Word.

Additional Details

• Background checks – Must pass required criminal and character background checks. Must possess valid Illinois driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving history along with documentation verifying current automobile insurance. May transport clients in own vehicle.
• Mandated Reporter - Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.
• Travel – Job may require travel via commercial transportation and/or driving motor vehicles. Must occasionally drive in heavy traffic and/or inclement weather conditions.
• Physical Requirements – Must be able to stand, walk, and sit. May occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Hours – Job may require irregular work hours and travel outside of normal business hours. Must be flexible and able to respond to crisis calls within designated time frames.

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PREVENTION EDUCATION INTERN provides classroom and online instruction to students, professionals, employees, and community groups in drug prevention, drug education, and life skills training.  Assists in the research, design, development, and presentation of new curricula requested by schools, clients, and grantors.

Duties and Responsibilities

Role Specific:

• Present drug education, drug prevention and life skills training to McLean County 4th – 8th graders through traditional classroom and online delivery systems.
• Train and educate various professionals and community organizations in drug prevention, drug education, and life skills training.
• Coordinate school-based media communication campaign and potential related youth group.
• Develop and update drug and life skills education programs.
• Conduct research for new program material and alternative delivery systems.
• Coordinate presentation materials for teaching and training programs.
• Function as a neutral advocate to address student and/or faculty concerns when assigned to schools.
• Refer students to other resources or activities that provide a positive influence in behavior and/or character development.
• Attend school or community activities, as necessary.

PED/Oz Specific:

• Complete all required forms and progress notes and submit agency reports, forms, and logs by agreed upon dates.
• Participate in community outreach, panels, and other committee meetings as directed by leadership.
• Act as a representative of Project Oz and as a community resource person.
• Attend all required staff meetings and weekly program meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor, Program Manager, or executive team.
• Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.

Qualifications

Required:

• In good academic and behavioral standing with current college/university social work or related field.
  

• Reliable personal transportation, valid Illinois driver’s license, and satisfactory driving history along with documentation verifying current automobile insurance. 

Preferred:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft® Teams software and/or Outlook, Excel, and Word.

Additional Details

• Background checks – Must pass required criminal and character background checks. Must possess valid Illinois driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving history along with documentation verifying current automobile insurance.
• Mandated Reporter - Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.
• Travel – Job may require travel via commercial transportation and/or driving motor vehicles. Must occasionally drive in heavy traffic and/or inclement weather conditions.
• Physical Requirements – Must be able to stand, walk, and sit. May occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Hours – Job may require irregular work hours and travel outside of normal business hours. Must be flexible and able to respond to crisis calls within designated time periods.

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 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES INTERN

Job Description in process