Allegheny County, Department of Human Services PA
PA
Summary description:
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services has created internship opportunities across four program areas; Children, Youth and Families, Aging Services, Community Services and Administration (including technology support and facilities management). The above URL will include descriptions of each opportunity and candidates are encourage to highlight those they are interested in their cover letters.
Job description:
Office of Aging Services Care Manager Internship The Care Manager internship will support Senior Line staff in the Information and Assistance unit (I&A). The Information and Assistance unit is the “front door” to aging services such as basic needs, caregiver support and protective services in Allegheny County. All tenured Senior Line staff members are AIRS (Alliance of Information and Referral Systems) certified, a nationally recognized credentialing program, and utilize person-centered counseling (PCC). The I&A call center handles around 44,000 calls a year and 100 calls a day. Responsibilities of the intern may include researching providers, following up on referrals, documenting interactions and anything else the Care Manager asks in order to meet the needs of each older adult requesting service. Office of Administration Client Support Team Interns The Client Support Team oversees the IT infrastructure at ACDHS. ACDHS is recognized nationally for its data warehouse built over 20 years ago and continually upgraded to include both a comprehensive view of a client’s history as well as an analytic framework to ensure each client receives the level of support most likely to lead to positive outcomes. The Client Support Team ensures that ACDHS staff and providers have access to that technology at all times. The Client Support Interns will build broad skills across a spectrum of hardware and software solutions used throughout ACDHS. Facilities Interns DHS staff operate from various locations including the headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh as well as regional offices scattered throughout the county. The Office of Administration supports these offices through its Facilities Management Team. The Facilities Management intern will support this team by assisting in coordination with various landlords and suppliers, fielding calls from staff members reporting issues and/or requesting services, and participating in assessments and identifying gaps in services. There are requirements though to be able to work in facilities. 1. They must have a valid driver’s license. 2. They must be able to lift 75lbs. Office of Children, Youth and Families Caseworker Interns (for candidates with 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences)Caseworker Interns will go through the “Foundations Training” (of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, Child Welfare Resource Center) to become certified Child Welfare Caseworkers. Following that training, interns move into field work where the focus turns from the acquisition of knowledge to the application of skills and knowledge to actual practice situations. When an Intern completes their field instruction, they should be ready to enter the profession. The ideal way for Interns to acquire responsibility for meeting casework standards of practice is to use the “shadow, co-lead and lead,” model of learning. Caseworker Aide Interns Candidates without the required credit hours outlined above can apply to become a Caseworker Aide. In this position, they work to assist children and families in the CYF system. Core responsibilities include: Transporting children to medical and mental health appointments, drug and alcohol programming, court hearings and supervised visitations with parents or birth families. Supervising court ordered visitations between children and parents or birth families. Documenting the supervised visits through written summaries Office of Community Services Service Coordinator Interns DHS Service Coordinators serve as the first contact for vulnerable people who need services and support. One avenue to access this support is the Allegheny Link. The Link provides Coordinated Entry as the single access point for the Allegheny County Continuum of Care. Its Service Coordinators strive to simplify and streamline access to any and all homeless and housing services through a fair and equitable lens. Interns will assist the Coordinators in some or all of the following responsibilities: Engage clients and professionals with dignity and respect and to ensure a positive experience. Determine through open conversation and informal needs assessments what immediate needs the clients have and assists with addressing those needs. Provide preliminary eligibility screening for other publicly and privately funded programs in addition to the presenting need. Educate clients about program options available, assisting with planning for success with those options. When needed, advocate on client’s behalf and, when appropriate, assist client to empower themselves to advocate on their own behalf All internships will include time for independent study using the DHS Learning Management System. Background checks for all positions will be required and may include but are not limited to child abuse, criminal and FBI clearances.
Sample Learning Plans for each internship as well as a general internship are pasted below: Sample SkillBridge Internship Detail Learning Plans. Casework Support Intern Basic Responsibilities Ongoing Enrichment Activities. Week One Orientation to DHS. Orientation to Program Area. One on One with Program Managers. Review of regulations/guideline/funding materials. Introduction to data systems supporting program area. Complete Online Personal Safety and Wellbeing training. Planning for the PA State Civil Service Internship process Attend relevant meetings as they occur DHS wide Department specific Community Meetings. Week Two Shadow Supervisor and attend all meeting with caseworker staff. Develop a curated online training schedule with Learning Team. Introduction to all other offices using caseworkers. Become more familiar with the data systems. Introduction to provider network Complete online learning opportunities weekly. Week Three Begin supporting caseworker staff members. Review relevant files and develop questions Meet with Veteran’s Employee Resource Group. Week Four - Ten Support caseworkers by doing some or all of the following: Home visits with caseworkers to assess safety and risk Make phone calls to schools, doctor’s offices to gather info needed Attend family meetings to witness collaboration Scribe Conferencing and Teaming Meetings Assist caseworkers in preparing for hearings Observe court proceedings Take notes during home visits and other calls Prepare case reviews for entering into database Share with supervisory any observations while in the field Continue progress on Pa Civil Service application. Week Eleven Complete PA Civil Service Application. Complete Evaluation forms for DOD. Meet with any providers where an opportunity exists. Continue caseworker support Week Twelve Complete performance evaluation with supervisor Finalize interview/hiring process Service Coordinator Intern Basic Responsibilities Ongoing Enrichment Activities. Week One Orientation to DHS. Orientation to Program Area. One on One with Program Managers. Review of regulations/guideline/funding materials. Introduction to hotline and data systems supporting program area. Planning for the PA State Civil Service Internship process Attend relevant meetings as they occur DHS wide Department specific Community Meetings. Week Two Shadow Supervisor and attend all meeting with service coordinators. Develop a curated online training schedule with Learning Team. Introduction to all other offices using service coordinators. Become familiar with the hotline protocols and data system access. Introduction to referral network and services Complete online learning opportunities weekly. Week Three Begin supporting service coordinators through shadowing. Review relevant files and develop questions Meet with Veteran’s Employee Resource Group. Week Four - Ten Support caseworkers by doing some or all of the following: Observe how coordinators assess need Learn how to perform eligibility screening for services Understand different program options Develop skills to advocate for and/or empower Expand knowledge of all support services available Act as a liaison between client and provider network Learn the requirements of mandatory reporting Develop crisis management skills Assists in completing benefit/program related paperwork Provides follow-up for client contact Support coordinators in updating database Identify and communicate opportunities to improve processes and services, Continue progress on Pa Civil Service application. Week Eleven Complete PA Civil Service Application. Complete Evaluation forms for DOD. Meet with any providers where an opportunity exists. Continue caseworker support Week Twelve Complete Performance Evaluation with Supervisor. Finalize any interview/hiring processes Service Coordinator Intern Basic Responsibilities Ongoing Enrichment Activities. Week One Orientation to DHS. Orientation to Program Area. One on One with Program Managers. Review of regulations/guideline/funding materials. Introduction to hotline and data systems supporting program area. Planning for the PA State Civil Service Internship process Attend relevant meetings as they occur DHS wide Department specific Community Meetings. Week Two Shadow Supervisor and attend all meeting with service coordinators. Develop a curated online training schedule with Learning Team. Introduction to all other offices using service coordinators. Become familiar with the hotline protocols and data system access. Introduction to referral network and services Complete online learning opportunities weekly. Week Three Begin supporting service coordinators through shadowing. Review relevant files and develop questions Meet with Veteran’s Employee Resource Group. Week Four - Ten Support caseworkers by doing some or all of the following: Observe how coordinators assess need Learn how to perform eligibility screening for services Understand different program options Develop skills to advocate for and/or empower Expand knowledge of all support services available Act as a liaison between client and provider network Learn the requirements of mandatory reporting Develop crisis management skills Assists in completing benefit/program related paperwork Provides follow-up for client contact Support coordinators in updating database Identify and communicate opportunities to improve processes and services, Continue progress on Pa Civil Service application. Week Eleven Complete PA Civil Service Application. Complete Evaluation forms for DOD. Meet with any providers where an opportunity exists. Continue service coordinator support Week Twelve Complete Performance Evaluation with Supervisor. Finalize any interview/hiring processes IT Facilities Intern Basic Responsibilities Ongoing Enrichment Activities. Week One Orientation to DHS. Orientation to Program Area. Introduction to technology and data systems used throughout DHS. Planning for the PA State Civil Service Internship process Attend relevant meetings as they occur DHS wide Department specific Community Meetings. Week Two Shadow Supervisor and attend all meeting with IT and Facilities Staff. Develop a curated online training schedule with Learning Team. Introduction to all other offices within DHS Complete online learning opportunities weekly; particularly all software packages used at DHS. Week Three Begin supporting IT and Desktop Techs. Deep dive on technology and data systems. Visit all offices to become familiar with the DHS technology environment Meet with Veteran’s Employee Resource Group. Week Four - Ten Support IT and Facilities Staff by doing some or all of the following: Prepare and deploy IT related equipment Provide in-depth enterprise IT workstation support to end users Resolve problems and answer questions related to the computing environment. Contact vendor support when necessary to resolve issues. Serve as a technical liaison to the user community. Document incidents and escalate issues when necessary Install and update software and Operating Systems. Install and troubleshoots computer equipment and mobile devices at user locations as required. Evaluate and recommend available training to satisfy user needs. Prepare and assist in the preparation of reports. Evaluate and recommend hardware, software, and peripheral equipment. Guide users in hardware and software best practices Assist with equipment inventory, maintenance contracts, and equipment warranties. Continue progress on Pa Civil Service application. Week Eleven Complete PA Civil Service Application. Complete Evaluation forms for DOD. Meet with any providers where an opportunity exists. Continue tech support Week Twelve Complete Performance Evaluation with Supervisor. Finalize any interview/hiring processes Special Projects Intern Basic Responsibilities - Farmer’s Market Initiative - Aging Services Ongoing Enrichment Activities. Week One Orientation to DHS. Orientation to Program Area. Introduction to special project and/or initiative. Planning for the PA State Civil Service Internship process Attend relevant meetings as they occur DHS wide Department specific Community Meetings. Week Two Meet with leadership to understand the significance of the project. Review reports from prior projects or similar initiatives. Meet with all internal partners critical to success of initiative. Create curated education plan with Learning Team Complete online learning opportunities weekly. Week Three Develop a plan to implement the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Develop a timeline with deadlines for delivery and distribution. Create and present training for partner agency staff and volunteers. Develop a nutrition education program pertinent to older adults. Develop a schedule for presentation of this program Meet with Veteran’s Employee Resource Group. Week Four - Ten Support IT and Facilities Staff by doing some or all of the following: Oversee the distribution of Farmers Market checks Organize and update the distribution schedule Develop relationships with local farmers and farmers markets Strategize how to improve distribution and redemption rates Respond to consumer questions via phone and email Audit Farmers Market records and work with partner agencies to remedy issues Present nutrition education to senior centers as requested or assigned by supervisor Provide ongoing technical assistance to Area Agency on Aging and partner agency staff and volunteers Continue progress on Pa Civil Service application. Week Eleven Complete PA Civil Service Application. Complete Evaluation forms for DOD. Meet with any providers where an opportunity exists Week Twelve Complete Performance Evaluation with Supervisor. Finalize any interview/hiring processes DHS SkillBridge Intern Basic Responsibilities Ongoing Enrichment Activities. Week One Orientation to DHS. Introduction to Human Services. Immersion in Allegheny Analytics reports and studies. Introduction to university and research thought partners Attend relevant meetings as they occur DHS wide Department specific Community Meetings. Week Two Develop a curated training list with Learning Management. Schedule immersions with key staff in each office. Prepare cohort presentation on one topic discovered in week one Complete online learning opportunities weekly. Week Three Participate in cohort discussion of human services topics either as a presenter or community member. Begin weekly site visits Meet with Veteran’s Employee Resource Group. Week Four - Seven Begin immersions in each program area. Site visits. Select top three areas of interest Continue progress on Pa Civil Service application. Week Eight through Ten Job shadow DHS staff in each are top three areas of interest. Continue Site Visits. Meet Key providers in each area Week Eleven Select desired positions. Complete PA Civil Service Application. Complete Evaluation forms for DOD. Meet with any providers where an opportunity exists Week Twelve Complete performance evaluation with supervisor Finalize interview/hiring process
Eligibility factors:
All Services
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