MSW Level Clinical Internship: Acute Response Family & Child Program (WARM)

Washburn Center's Master’s level Interns gain professional development and a solid foundation of clinical knowledge as they build careers in mental health therapy. Our unique program offers collaborative and direct field placements to graduate students exploring careers in children’s community mental health.

Use your internship to actively improve the lives of MN kids

Regardless of where Interns are placed, each student will get first-hand experience working with children accessing mental health services, and will support families alongside both peers and independently licensed Therapists and Case Managers.

Our field placements offer hands-on training in individual, family and/or group therapy, as well as case management, and Interns will focus in on center-based, home-based or school-based therapy. While most placements stem out of Washburn Center’s Minneapolis office, majority of interns will spend much of their time in the community.

Gain knowledge you'll use for the rest of your career

In addition to case consultations and in-service workshops, learning opportunities for master’s level internships include: diagnostic assessments, case management, development of treatment plans, progress notes and discharge summaries. Internships are typically a nine month experience from Aug/Sept to May.

Pathways Fellowship for BIPOC Interns:

Washburn Center for Children’s Pathways Fellowship aims to support people of color pursuing a career in the mental health field by reducing social, economic and racial barriers. Pathways builds upon Washburn Center’s clinical internship program and its long-time commitment to training professionals in children’s mental health. This fellowship supports the pathway to independent licensure for interns pursuing their Masters degree in Social Work, Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy and Psychology.

Fellows receive:

• mentoring with an experienced clinician of color

• a cohort experience to build comradery and support with other Pathways Fellows (twice monthly, 90 minute meetings)

• a fellowship grant in the amount of $7500 to assist with expenses while pursuing graduate education or licensure

BIPOC Interns who are hired as interns for the 2025/2026 co-hort can apply for a Pathways Fellowship during the Pathways Interview Process in Summer 2025.

The Washburn Acute Response Model focuses on children/adolescents referred through the emergency department or inpatient unit(s) at area Children’s hospitals. The purpose of this program is to assist in transitioning clients to less intensive services, actively work on safety planning, engage other service providers, make referrals for longer-term care, and improve or maintain children and families’ overall functioning to reduce future out-of-home placements and improve stability over time. The program provides short-term, culturally based, and individualized services in the client’s home, school, community and/or hospital premises. The services provided are in person and include assessment for appropriateness of services, crisis intervention, care coordination, case management, bridging to other services, therapy, parent psychoeducation and skills trainings. 1-5 sessions are provided, based on client/family needs. If short-term services are not appropriate for the client, the intern would assist the family in identifying other community resources to better suit the client’s mental health needs.

Responsibilities

Clinical Treatment - The Intern will educate, support, and empower families to self-advocate and navigate various systems with more confidence and skill, as well as provide specialized direct services to children and their families in their homes, schools, and communities. The following clinical services are included:

· Conduct brief diagnostic addendums

· Develop and implement treatment plans, safety plans, and goal setting based on the client’s diagnosis and the needs of the family

· Provide individual and family therapy designed to improve the child’s functioning across settings. Some solutions the intern may provide could include the following:

o Enhanced family communication strategies

o Problem-solving strategies

o Home and family management

o Navigating available community resources

o Utilization of trauma-informed practices

o Provide individual and family therapy designed to improve the functioning of the child in daily and community living

o Provide parent education and support

· Care coordination of social and other services designed to help the child and family gain access to all service providers and interdisciplinary services and to make further referrals as needed, including but not limited to the areas of volunteer services, advocacy, transportation, and legal services

· Provide consultation with school, recreation, and other community programs to encourage the child’s successful participation

· Provide therapy and teach families and others within the treatment team about trauma-informed practices

· Create a discharge plan

Documentation – All interns are to ensure Minnesota and HIPAA data privacy requirements are followed. Interns will be expected to maintain documentation as specified in our Clinical Policy Manual, including:

· Diagnostic assessments

· Treatment plans

· Session progress notes

· Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument (CASII)

· Documentation of all case activities

· Discharge or transfer summaries

· Collaborate with the billing department to maintain current, timely authorizations, for all therapeutic services from required insurance policies

· Timely communication with the supervisor and program support team

Supervision and Professional Development - Interns are expected to:

· Attend weekly supervision to support clinical and professional skills development, monitoring of client progress and treatment needs, reflect on the therapeutic process and factors that contribute to progress or barriers, and ensure documentation is completed and timely

· Attend case consultation; identify questions for consultation and present case information; provide and receive support from other team members

· Interns are welcome to participate in Agency trainings and in-services as their schedule permits

· Attend team consultation/meetings held on Tuesdays from 9:00am – 10:00am.

Requirements

· Must be enrolled in a Master's program in Social Work

· Must be earning academic credit for an internship placement

· Applicants should be flexible, resourceful, and demonstrate knowledge of cultural diversity and the role of culture in the therapeutic process

· Applicants should bring curiosity about family systems, as well as an openness to learning different therapeutic approaches

· Must be available at least two nights a week for home visits ending as late as 7:00 PM

· Must have a vehicle in operating condition, a valid driver’s license, and car insurance