Social Work Unpaid Internship

About Our Job

Denver Human Services offers a structured, unpaid experiential learning internship for college students enrolled in social work or related programs. This internship is an unpaid experience and it does not replace any paid positions. This hybrid educational program is designed solely for student learning, academic observation, and professional development within Child Welfare. Instead of carrying out direct client responsibilities or handling caseloads, students will participate in an experiential learning environment that helps them understand how professionals support vulnerable children, adults, and families through observation, guided activities, and supervised skill-building.

What We Offer

All City and County of Denver emerging talent positions are supported by a trained hiring manager and encouraged to attend up to 4 sessions of professional development each season (Winter/Spring, Summer and Fall).

Location
The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days.

What You'll Do

At Denver Human Services (DHS), we envision a healthy community where people are connected, supported, safe, and well. One in three people in Denver turn to DHS for support at all stages of life. Our employees help children, at-risk adults, families, and individuals navigate social and economic pressures by connecting them to services and experts who support their overall well-being.

About Protection & Prevention

Denver Human Services works to protect Denver's children, youth, and at-risk adults by providing services and advocacy while promoting family stability, respecting diversity, and working to create and strengthen connections to community resources. We work to prevent abuse by providing education, resources, and support to parents, families, and community organizations. Interns will be paired with social case workers located at the main Castro building or at our satellite office.

Within DHS, the Child Welfare Division is comprised of Ongoing Child Protection, Ongoing Youth Services, Intake sections and Adult Protective Services, which includes approximately 30 teams. Each of these sections function with support from other areas including Kinship/Foster Care Support, Independent Living, Placement Support Services, Prevention Services, CORE Services, Family Team Meetings, Visitation, and many others.

Core Learning & Observation Components

• Shadowing & Field Observation: Accompany professional caseworkers during home visits to observe engagement strategies with families and placement providers.
• Structured Group Instruction: Participate in educational group sessions focusing on casework theories, system functions, and safety assessment frameworks.
• Legal and Clinical Observation: Observe the legal process by shadowing staff during court-involved cases and listening to professional interviews with adults and children.
• Collaborative Meetings: Attend multidisciplinary internal and external meetings as a learning observer to understand coordination across systems.
• Specialized System Exposure: Gain insight into unique program areas, including the Bilingual (Spanish-speaking) team, the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program, and the Sexual Abuse Intervention Team.

This internship does not involve completing tasks that replace, replicate, or supplement the responsibilities of paid employees. Interns will engage in observation, participate in educational experiences, and practice relevant skills only under direct supervision, for learning purposes.

This educational internship is unpaid and provides no benefits. The intern is not entitled to wages or other compensation. There is no guarantee of or entitlement to a paid employment position at the conclusion of the internship.

Program Structure & Values

• Hybrid Learning Model: Blends at-home educational modules, office-based instruction, and community-based observations.
• Term: Follows the traditional Academic School year.
• Time Commitment: Twelve to twenty hours per week, as required by their academic programing.
• Academic Credit: May qualify for college or academic credit.
• Academic Flexibility: Scheduling aligns with university requirements and supervisor availability and can accommodate academic schedules and demands.
• Student Status Requirement: Must be currently enrolled as a student in a social work or related program.
• Diversity & Inclusion: In alignment with the City and County of Denver's core values, students will observe and learn about equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) practices that support a diverse urban community.

What You'll Bring

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the…