Germaine Lawrence Undergraduate Interns

As a Germaine Lawrence undergraduate intern, you will encounter many new challenges and opportunities to learn new skills during the time that you work as part of the milieu or school team. We are excited about your interest in learning how to be part of a team that works together daily to provide a structured, consistent, and nurturing environment to at-risk adolescent girls. We recommend that you make the most of your time here, that you strive to achieve your learning goals, and ask for any additional assistance and support when you need it. We want you to be successful during your internship with us, and we thank you for your interest in our organization.

We are holding information sessions for undergraduate students interested in fall internships on:

Friday, May 2 at 3:00 pm
Friday, May 9 at 3:00 pm
Friday, June 6 at 3:00 pm
Friday, July 11 at 3:00 pm
Friday, August 22 at 3:00 pm
Friday, August 29 at 3:00 pm

Undergraduate Intern Job Descriptions

At Germaine Lawrence, we generally train undergraduate interns in two areas: the Residential Counselor and the School Counselor.

Residential Counselor in Training

Responsibilities:

• Works as a member of the team on shift in the residence with the students
• Assists residents in daily living tasks and building independent living skills
• Is coached toward effectively giving direction to residents, and setting clear limits and expectations; monitoring consequences
• Facilitates positive interactions among the girls in the program
• Is coached to provide students with helpful praise and corrective teaching in accordance with the program’s behavior management system
• Provides residents with helpful feedback both with words and points
• Assists residents in developing pro-social behaviors
• Participates in student check-ins as needed
• Assists the students in maintaining a clean and organized environment
• May assist in the planning and running of therapeutic activities
• Demonstrates a caring attitude and individual attention to residents as needed
• Represents the agency in a positive and professional manner
• Participates in weekly supervision
• Performs other duties as assigned

  Qualifications/Skills:

• A psychology, sociology, counseling, or social work major is preferred, but not required
• Experience working with adolescent females is preferred, but not required
• Ability to work in a busy, sometimes stressful, environment
• Ability to manage a variety of changing duties
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Leadership skills are an asset
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• A willingness to learn
• A willingness to commit to a minimum of a two month internship

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School Counselor in Training

Responsibilities:

• Works as a member of the day team on shift in residence during wake-up and after school
• Assists residents in daily living tasks and building independent living skills
  Works as a member of the school day team in the school environment
• Is coached toward effectively giving direction to students, and setting clear limits and expectations; monitoring consequences
• Is coached in behavior management of students who are having difficulty functioning in the day program
• Works with students to develop pro-social behaviors
• Assists the Head Teacher, Teaching Assistant, and School Counselor as needed
• May assist in the planning and running of educational activities
• Counsels students in order to help them develop plans and strategies to participate positively in the day program
• Is coached to provide students with helpful praise and corrective teaching in accordance with the program’s behavior management system
• Demonstrates a caring attitude and individual attention to residents as needed
• Participates in student check-ins as needed
• Demonstrates a positive attitude toward students and learning
• Focuses on student strengths in giving feedback
• Assists with student coverage during lunch and break times
• Assists with lunch preparation as needed if in a self-contained unit
• Assists the students in maintaining a clean and organized environment
• Represents the agency in a positive and professional manner
• Participates in weekly supervision
• Performs other duties as assigned

  Qualifications/Skills:

• A psychology, sociology, counseling, or education major is preferred, but not required
• Experience working with adolescent females is preferred, but not required
• Experience working in a classroom setting is preferred, but not required
• Ability to work in a busy, sometimes stressful, environment
• Ability to manage a variety of changing duties
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Leadership skills are an asset
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• A willingness to learn
• A willingness to commit to a minimum of a two month internship

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Germaine Lawrence Graduate Interns

Masters level students are welcome to intern at Germaine Lawrence!
Before considering an internship here, however, please make sure that you are clear about your particular school’s internship requirements. Some Masters level internships require that you carry your own caseload and have direct individual and family contact. These internships often require 20-30 hours per week of direct clinical work under the supervision of a Masters level, or licensed, staff person.

If this is what your school requires, please contact the Director of Clinical Services, Beth Everts at 781-648-6200 x115.

You may be a Masters level student whose program requires a less clinical training experience, and emphasizes more direct care work in a residential or academic setting. If this applies to you, you may be a candidate for our Residential Counselor or School Counselor internships. Please have a look at the descriptions of these internships under Germaine Lawrence Undergraduate Interns.

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GERMAINE LAWRENCE INTERNSHIP QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q: I am interested in becoming an intern at Germaine Lawrence. What do I need to do?
A: Contact the Intern Coordinator at Germaine Lawrence.
You may call, write, or send an email. You should be prepared to provide a copy of your
resume, have an interview, and provide as clear an intended work schedule as possible.

Q: What hours will I have to work?
A: Internship hours vary greatly. We are aware of the hectic schedules of most students, so we are very flexible with regard to internship hours.
If working as a School Counselor, hours can be anywhere between 7am and 4 pm.
If working as a Residential Counselor, hours can be anywhere between 2 pm and 11 pm.
Being able to work for a complete shift, from its beginning to its end, is ideal, but we understand that this may not be possible due to school commitments.

Q: Will I be paid during my internship at Germaine Lawrence?
A: All Germaine Lawrence Internships are unpaid.

Q: Are students at Germaine Lawrence ever physically restrained? If so, why?
A: Students at Germaine Lawrence are physically restrained as a last resort if they are exhibiting behaviors that render them a danger to themselves or to others.

Q: Will I have to physically restrain students?
A: No. Interns are not required to participate in the physical management of students.

Q: Is there a dress code?
A: Interns, as well as direct care staff, dress casually and comfortably. Jeans or track pants are acceptable dress. Sneakers or comfortable shoes are recommended. Staff, interns, and students are not permitted to wear provocative clothing.

Q: Will I have a supervisor at Germaine Lawrence?
A: Yes. Interns are assigned a dorm supervisor who will meet with them a minimum of a half hour per week.

Q: What is the Germaine Lawrence Orientation? Can interns participate?
A: Orientation training occurs every month.
Orientation takes place over the course of 2 weeks.
Interns are encouraged to participate in Orientation. Due to school commitments, we understand that most interns cannot attend the entire Orientation session, so we often make special training plans with interns who are interested in participating. Once an intern has completed Orientation, he or she may be eligible for paid relief shifts at Germaine Lawrence.

Q: Can I intern at Germaine Lawrence just for the summer? If so, when should I apply?
A:Absolutely. For an internship starting early June, for example, it would be best to apply by early May.

Q: Do I choose which dorm I’d like to intern in?
A: No. Although we try to place interns in their dorms of choice, placement
is most determined by need and availability, as well as an intern’s prior training
and experience.

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