About the role#
This paid internship offers hands-on experience in mental and behavioral health. You will work within our community-based programs to support children and families. We coordinate with your academic program to ensure the placement meets your practicum requirements and credit needs.
What you'll do#
- Shadow counselors during home and community-based family sessions.
- Carry a reduced caseload and implement specific interventions.
- Facilitate individual, group, or family therapy sessions using evidence-based practices.
- Attend three weekly meetings focused on individual, team, and clinical consultation.
- Access clinical trainings to build your professional skills.
- Provide transportation to various locations as needed.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation in our electronic medical record system.
What you'll need#
- You must be actively pursuing a Master’s degree in a social services discipline. This includes fields such as social work, psychology, criminal justice, drug and alcohol counseling, guidance counseling, or marriage and family therapy.
- A current, valid driver’s license.
- Access to an automobile for work purposes.
- Proof of auto insurance.
Location & details#
- Location: Paducah, Kentucky.
- Term: Winter 2027.
- Modality: On-site.
- Employment: Part-time.
- Note: The schedule is flexible and non-traditional, as it is based on the availability of the families we serve. Mileage reimbursement is provided for community-based travel.
About Youth Villages
Youth Villages is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986. It provides mental and behavioral health services to children, families, and young adults. The organization operates from its headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. With a staff between 1,001 and 5,000 employees, it focuses on areas including foster care, adoption, and crisis counseling.
How to get in at Youth Villages
Securing an internship at Youth Villages requires speed because early applicants often reach the recruiter before the candidate pool becomes unmanageable. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first. This gives you a clear advantage over those who wait for the posting to circulate on larger job boards. You can use this extra time to refine your application materials to match the specific needs of their behavioral health programs. Beyond the initial application, you should aim to connect with the people actually managing the hiring process. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the role or a referral. Reaching out directly materially improves response rates compared to submitting your resume into a general queue. A brief, professional inquiry shows you have done your homework on their work in child welfare and mental health.
