About the role#
This is a paid, full-time internship for students pursuing a degree in Therapeutic Recreation. You will work on-site in Douglasville, Georgia, during the Winter 2027 term. The schedule is flexible and non-traditional to match the needs of the youth and families we serve.
What you'll do#
- Work under the direct supervision of an NCTRC certified staff member.
- Shadow recreation therapists as they interact with youth across multiple programs.
- Facilitate group sessions, typically held 3 times per week, for 1 to 2.5 hours at a time.
- Participate in treatment planning, including evaluating, setting, and implementing recreational goals for youth.
- Complete accurate and timely documentation in our electronic medical record system.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
What you'll need#
- Active enrollment in a Therapeutic Recreation degree program.
- Undergraduate applicants must be entering at least their junior year.
- Prior experience working with children or adolescents.
Location & details#
- Location: Douglasville, Georgia.
- Term: Winter 2027.
- Modality: On-site.
- Compensation: This is a paid position.
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.
