Social Caseworker Intern - Child Welfare Practice

Overview

Adams County Human Services Department Division of Children and Family Services serves a broad geographic and culturally diverse community, located to the north and east of the Denver metropolitan area. The mission of the agency is partnering with families to build protective capacities, providing quality services to promote stability/opportunity, building communities of support to promote well‑being and finding safe, permanent homes if children/youth cannot safely be with family.

Our vision here at Adams County is to protect children and youth by providing effective services of the highest quality through family engagement and community. We are committed to safety, permanence, culturally responsive, family preservation, fostering a supportive workplace, quality staff, family engagement and community collaboration.

The internship program at ACHSD is designed to provide a unique, educational, and real‑world human services experience. The primary goal of our program is to prepare you for a career in child protection. Adams County strives to place interns in their area of interest, while also providing an opportunity to learn about child welfare as a whole, so that you can get a well‑rounded experience.

You will observe assessments, attend court, and participate in home visits. Interns will meet as a group from all schools and areas of practice in Child Welfare as needed for support groups, educational trainings, and group supervision.

• Assessment Response Section
• Permanency

• We believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect, valuing their input, and striving to do no harm.
• Honoring all people’s unique expertise and perspectives includes collaboration, shared decision making, and providing a safe environment.
• The best interest of children, families, and our community will always inform our approach, perspectives, and decisions.
• Children and youth belong in families and have a right to sibling, family, and community connections.
• Families have the inherent capacity to safely care for their children.
• We hold ourselves and our system accountable to each other, our families, and our community.

• Extensive case documentation, including preparing court reports and social histories, and utilizing family engagement skills to mitigate risk and enhance safety.
• Assessing the safety of a child, youth, or at‑risk adult and making decisions based on available information, which may include removing a child from their home.
• Advocating for families and children, testifying in court, and de‑escalating potentially volatile situations.
• Daily travel around the Denver Metro area and periodic travel throughout Colorado.
• Working with families dealing with substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, multi‑generational poverty, child abuse, child neglect, and sexual abuse.

• Respond to reports of child abuse and requests for assistance.
• Address safety issues, determine the level of risk to the child, and make decisions to address safety and reduce risk.

• Address primary abuse and neglect issues that compromise child safety.
• Use a network of supportive services to assist parents in developing skills and resources.
• Create a safe home environment and increase parental protective capacities.
• Help children achieve permanency within two to twelve months, whether with parents, kin, or an alternate permanent family setting.

• Computer skills and the ability to research the internet to obtain specific information.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Models positive, professional behaviors for others; confronts behaviors in a non‑judgmental, effective manner.
• Ability to establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships.
• Must be enrolled in an accredited social work program in Colorado and completing a required internship.
• Must have a valid Colorado driver’s license, or the ability to obtain one within 30 days, and have regular vehicle access.
• Must pass a criminal background check.
• Must use a personal vehicle to attend appointments…