Social Work Unpaid Internship

About the role#

Denver Human Services offers a structured, unpaid experiential learning internship designed for students enrolled in social work or related programs. This program focuses on academic observation and professional development within Child Welfare. Interns engage in guided activities and supervised skill-building to understand how professionals support vulnerable children, adults, and families. This role does not involve carrying out direct client responsibilities or handling caseloads and does not replace paid positions.

What you'll do#

• Accompany professional caseworkers during home visits to observe engagement strategies.
• Participate in educational group sessions focusing on casework theories, system functions, and safety assessment frameworks.
• Attend multidisciplinary internal and external meetings as a learning observer.
• Observe the legal process by shadowing staff during court-involved cases and professional interviews.
• Gain insight into unique program areas, including the Bilingual team, the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program, and the Sexual Abuse Intervention Team.

What you'll need#

• Current enrollment in a social work or related program (such as Psychology, Sociology, Human Resources, Nursing, Public Health, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Administration, or Criminal Justice).
• Must be in the final year of a Bachelor's program or currently enrolled in a Master's program.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• A demonstrated commitment to family preservation.
• A valid Driver's License.

Location & details#

• This is a hybrid role requiring work at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed; off-site work must be performed within the state of Colorado.
• The internship follows the academic school year on a rolling application basis.
• Time commitment is 12 to 20 hours per week, depending on academic requirements.
• This position is unpaid and does not offer benefits or a guarantee of future employment.