What are the responsibilities and job description for the Masters Level Social Work Intern position at YSS?
Job Details
Job Location: Jacobson Center Headquarters - Ames, IA
Position Type: Internship
Education Level: Masters
Salary Range: Undisclosed
Travel Percentage: Up to 50%
Job Shift: Day
Job Category: Behavioral Health/Therapy
We are YSS!
YSS Social Work Interns have the opportunity to work with a diverse and committed team while gaining valuable experience in both independent and collaborative work. YSS staff are passionate about serving others and making a difference in the communities and lives of the youth and families we serve and are ready to provide a quality learning experience. Each Intern has an identified supervisor, and numerous colleagues, who provides feedback, guidance, assistance, and support. Supervision is focused on integrating classroom knowledge with authentic application in a professional work setting, putting theory into daily practice.
Upon completion you will be proficient in:
- completing assessments and treatment plans
- utilizing multiple treatment modalities with children, adolescents, and adults
- providing trauma informed treatment and crisis resolution
- performing professional, real-world, field work
- using electronic medical records systems
Please note that this description is not intended to be a complete list of the responsibilities required for this position. Duties may change at any time, with or without notice.
What you can expect in return...
We believe in your potential, we meet you where you are, and we invest in your future.
At YSS, you’ll be part of a team that’s passionate about creating hope and opportunity. Working here means engaging in meaningful work that makes a real difference in the lives of youth and their families. You’ll thrive in a supportive, fun, and safe environment, surrounded by colleagues who share your commitment to positive change.
As a YSS Intern, you will have a remarkable impact on the community while gaining valuable experience to build your resume, extend your professional network and jump start your career. We offer flexible scheduling, a casual dress code, fun coworkers, and are generally able to accommodate school credit requirements. Having worked directly with YSS clients and experienced professionals in the field of behavioral health, you will be prepared to obtain employment in a variety of settings; maybe even a full-time role at YSS!
What we ask...
We want to create a world where youth are valued and empowered to stand strong. To do this, we ask our staff to embrace YSS core values - Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a “Can Do” Spirit.
MUST HAVES - Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Social Work or degree in progress.
- Possesses general understanding of the issues facing at-risk youth and their families.
SHOULD HAVES - Preferred Qualifications
- Possesses excellent observational, listening, verbal, and writing skills and fluency in English.
- Compassionate, patient and, empathetic with the ability to relate to diverse populations.
- Proficient with the majority of Microsoft Office applications and basic database use.
- Able to resolve complex problems using creative/critical thinking, resourcefulness, and tact.
- Maintains confidentiality and establishes appropriate boundaries.
- Takes initiative, seeks out opportunities for growth and professional development, and effectively manages one’s own time and work.
The IDEAL Candidate:
- Curious and eager to learn.
- Remains calm under pressure, and able to deal with challenging situations with a good attitude.
- Speaks a language(s) in addition to English.
About YSS...
One of Iowa's oldest and largest, youth-serving, nonprofit organizations, YSS's mission is to create hope and opportunity by putting kids first. Our programs impact tens of thousands of youths and families each year. We offer education to build healthy minds and bodies; counseling to overcome life’s challenges; and stability to focus on the future. Our diverse leadership team brings together a wide range of specialties and expertise, all dedicated to our mission.
Headquartered in Ames and located across Iowa, our sites are not cookie-cutter models—we tailor our services to fit the highest needs of each community. And we are still growing. YSS is constructing Ember, a 50-acre recovery campus in Central Iowa that will offer shelter, crisis stabilization, and residential addiction treatment for youth and young adults.
Our goal is to create a continuum of care—together, with programs that give youth the tools they need to succeed their entire lives. Work for YSS and you too can have a positive impact in the lives of young people.
Helpful to Know
YSS is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We believe that our strength lies in the unique perspectives and backgrounds of our employees. We strive to create an environment where all individuals are treated with respect and have equal opportunities to succeed. Our ongoing efforts to promote diversity and inclusion are central to our mission, and we are dedicated to continuous improvement in these areas.
YSS is a nicotine-free workplace.
YSS’s Hiring Process
Communication with applicants is done primarily via email from our Paycom system. Please check your messages regularly. If you don't see messages in your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder. If you have questions about your application, please email recruitment@yss.org.
1. Application - All applicants are required to complete an online application. The application is considered complete when all questions have been answered, all required documents (resume, waivers) have been submitted, and the application has been electronically signed.
2. Assessment – As they are received, applications are reviewed for education, experience, and licensure (if required). If the required qualifications are not met, the application will likely be declined.
3. Interview – Depending on the number of applications received, we may choose to do initial phone interviews. Otherwise, we will move directly to in-person or Zoom interviews.
4. References – Applicants moving forward after their interview are asked to submit three references, which YSS then contacts.
5. Pre-employment Screening – Applicants are required to submit background check waiver forms at the time they apply. YSS conducts a Single Contact Repository (SING) background check on all final candidates. All offers of employment at YSS are contingent upon clear results of the SING. The SING provides authorized organizations online access to Iowa Criminal History and Sex Offender Registry information held by the Department of Public Safety/Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Department of Human Services (DHS) Central Abuse Registry for Child Abuse (CA) and Dependent Adult Abuse (DAA), as well as Professional License information. YSS also requires a clean driving record for positions that provide transport. Verification will be done through the records of the state that issued the individual’s current license.
6. Offer – Applicants selected for hire will receive a formal offer of employment via email with instructions of how to reply.
7. New Hire Meeting - The offer email will provide details on how to set up this meeting. You must schedule and attend this meeting before you can begin working or getting paid.
