At NYFS, our commitment to youth and families goes beyond the services we provide. It also includes cultivating the next generation of mental health and social services professionals. Each year, we welcome a cohort of dedicated undergraduate and graduate interns who are passionate about making a difference in our communities.
Undergraduate interns contribute across several departments within our organization, including development and communications, diversion services, and client services administration. Graduate-level interns, who are training to become clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, or professional counselors, receive hands-on experience grounded in a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach.
“It’s one thing to learn the steps and elements of the therapy process; it’s another thing entirely to actually engage in it,” explains Trisha Sargent, Internship Program Supervisor. “By providing a robust, curated internship for our clinical trainees we are able to equip them with skills and guide them through experiences that they cannot truly grasp in the classroom setting.”
Our interns not only gain valuable experience, but they also help shape and strengthen our programs. Over the past year, intern-led initiatives have included:
- Developing a peer shadowing process to support training in trauma-informed intake assessments
- Creating detailed feedback forms to enhance learning and reflection during the intake process
- Launching an Intern Book Club to deepen understanding of cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed care
In addition, we expanded our academic partnerships by collaborating with two new institutions, increasing access to internship opportunities for students in the field.
We are especially proud to share that last year, NYFS hired five of our six graduating interns. This group included all of our interns from the STEPS Program (Steps Toward Equitable Practices Scholar Program), an initiative designed to promote equity in the mental health field by providing stipends, mentorship from BIPOC clinicians, and specialized training for graduate-level BIPOC interns.
Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome seven new interns this fall who will contribute across a range of settings, including clinical, school-based, psychology practicum, youth pathways, and our Restoring Power initiative. We currently have three internship openings available! If you’re interested or would like more information, please contact Trisha Sargent at [email protected].
Click here to learn more about our Internship Program.
