2nd Year MSW Social Work Internship- Grief Therapy

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

East Bay Agency for Children’s (EBAC) mission is to improve the well-being of children, youth, and families by reducing the impact of trauma and social inequities. EBAC strives to reduce barriers that contribute to disparities in wellness for socio-economically disadvantaged and racially marginalized families and to create communities where all children and families have support systems to reach their full potential.  

EBAC was established in 1952 when a group of parents of children with autism wanted to give their children the same educational and recreational opportunities that contribute to the physical well-being and social growth of all children. From this was born the first day-treatment program west of the Mississippi and was the foundation of growth in meeting the needs of children and families living in the San Francisco Bay Area, and especially in Alameda County.  

Today, EBAC’s programs serve over 10,000 children, youth and families throughout Alameda County each year with the goal of giving each child and family the specific resources, skills, and support they need to help them reach their full potential. The organization has strategically grown its program offerings to include a wide variety of supports and services to the community. For more information about our organization, please visit the website at www.ebac.org.

POSITION OVERVIEW  

EBAC’s 2nd year Social Work Intern is responsible for providing brief, grief-focused individual play therapy for youth and families (ages 7-18) who have experienced the loss of a loved one. In addition, the 2nd year Social Work Intern provides the following services as needed to address the family needs: clinical assessment, grief specific assessment, individual play therapy, caregiver support and psycho-education, clinical case management, and crisis support as needed.  Interns may have the opportunity to co-facilitate grief education workshops for community partners as well.

Position Reports To: Practicum Supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS and COMPETENCY FACTORS 

1. Entering 2nd Year of Masters of Social Work program in next academic year.
2. Experience working with youth and or caregivers preferred.
3. Bilingual/bicultural preferred.
4. Good interpersonal and communication skills.
5. Sensitivity to the needs of the community with genuine desire to work with people in a compassionate and empathetic manner.
6. Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. 
7. Awareness of own grief experiences and ability to self-reflect. 
8. Cultural awareness and the ability to self-reflect. 
9. Ability to learn and utilize technology such as G suite and the agency’s electronic health record.   

RESPONSIBILITIES  

1. Provide EBAC’s short term individual grief therapy model BRIDGES for children and youth (2nd year students only). 
2. Provide weekly check-ins with caregivers and children participating in grief therapy regarding grief triggers and strategies to support the grieving process. 
3. Provide case management to families participating in grief therapy. 
4. Provide grief education groups. 
5. Provide Crisis Intervention as needed. 
6. Record progress notes, grief assessments, Child Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessments (CANS), Child & Adolescent Trauma Screener (CATS), and other charting requirements in the agency’s Electronic Health Record System by required deadlines (training will be provided). 
7. Attend all trainings and appropriate practicum meetings. 
8. Collaborate with team and partnering agencies/schools to strengthen the network of support for participants. 
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS and JOB SETTING 

1. 24 hours per week required for second year students.
2. Ability to be present for required programming hours: Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 10-6 and attend required trainings in August.
3. 2nd year students are required to be present for 1 additional 10-6 workday that works for the agency and the intern. 
4. Opportunity for Hybrid Model, where some services and meetings occur at a site and others are virtual. 
5. Work requires travel to our Hayward site for training and service sites within Alameda county. 
6. Ability to drive, with appropriate driver’s license and insurance; or access to a car. 
7. Periodic lifting up to 25 pounds is required.