Internship Program Information

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION

The YWCA of Richmond offers internships during the Fall, Spring, and Summer. The internship program is designed to provide students and recent graduates with an opportunity to assist with carrying out the mission and vision of the YWCA of Richmond. The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. We strengthen our community by creating and advancing opportunities to empower women, children, and families to live their best lives. We accomplish the latter through our programs such as domestic and sexual violence services and our nationally accredited preschool program.

Internship Positions Available: Internship opportunities are available throughout our organization to support our mission and vision to empower women, children and families and strengthen our community. We utilize talented interns to support our Domestic & Sexual Violence Programs, our preschool, and in communication, development, and strategic roles. Internship opportunities and needs vary so please visit the YWCA of Richmond’s website for a list of the specific internships available. The internship descriptions can also be emailed upon request.

Eligibility: A candidate must be an undergraduate student; graduate student; or have graduated from college within 12 months of beginning the internship.

General Information: Interns may receive academic credit if an agreement is made between the YWCA of Richmond and the intern’s college or university. All interns are subject to the applicable YWCA of Richmond employee rules. Generally our counselor interns, family & child specialist interns, hotline interns, and advocacy interns are expected to work a minimum of 14 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters. Other intern roles, including those in the preschool, development, and communication area are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week; however, the hours may vary depending on the specific area of focus. Please refer to the intern description for all details about work requirements. Application Procedures: Candidates must complete an application form and submit it with their cover letter and resume. Some internship positions require additional application items, such as a writing sample. All application items must be submitted as a complete package. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Application Deadlines: Summer internships: applications must be postmarked by April 1 Fall/Spring internships: applications must be postmarked by August 1

Mail or Fax or Email Applications to: YWCA of Richmond c/o: Internship Program 6 N. 5th Street Richmond, VA 23219 Fax: 804.643.1314 Email: [email protected] Where to go for Further Information: please see the job descriptions for more details.

YWCA Internship Program REVISED: 02/27/15

YWCA of Richmond Internship Position Description

Job Title: Government Advocacy Intern Department/Program: Community Outreach and Public Education Reports To: Government Advocacy Bureau Coordinator Prepared By: Government Advocacy Bureau Coordinator Prepared Date: February 27, 2015

GENERAL PURPOSE OF INTERNSHIP This internship consists of working with the Government Advocacy Bureau Coordinator to develop and maintain an effective and sustainable government advocacy program. The intern will be responsible for working with volunteers to advocate for effective policies relating to domestic and sexual violence and early childhood education. The intern will research and develop materials to educate and assist volunteers to provide appropriate advocacy, and educate legislators on the importance of issues concerning domestic and sexual violence, and early childhood education. A component of the internship is providing hospital accompaniment. The purpose of hospital accompaniment is to provide supportive accompaniment services at local hospital emergency departments for people who have experienced intimate partner and/or sexual violence. The intern would offer supportive counseling, crisis intervention, advocacy, and resource and referral information. The intern also connects clients with additional intimate partner and sexual violence services, including counseling, court advocacy, and emergency shelter resources. The student in this placement would primarily work with the Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) in the emergency department.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: Duties may be modified based on individual student learning needs.

REQUIREMENTS  Must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a related field including but not limited to, political science, government, social work, public policy, etc.  Excellent written and verbal communication skills  Proficient in Microsoft Office  Moderate level of policy knowledge and understanding of how local, state, and federal level legislation works.  Summer interns are expected to be at the YWCA for a minimum of 30 hours per week unless otherwise decided upon. Academic year interns are expected to be at the YWCA for a minimum of 14 hours per week.

SPECIFIC TASKS  Complete the YWCA of Richmond’s Advocacy training.

 Assist in training and mentoring of government advocacy volunteers.

 Work with the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and Voices for Virginia’s Children to develop legislative strategy.

 Research and develop communication concerning legislative initiatives for volunteers, donors, and staff including (but not limited to) legislative update newsletters, action alerts, sample materials, and descriptions of the legislative agenda.

 Schedule meetings with legislators at local, state, and federal levels to develop relationships and educate them on issues concerning DVSA and early childhood education. YWCA Internship Program REVISED: 02/27/15

 Research and develop educational and background materials for legislators concerning DVSA, early childhood education, and the YWCA.

 Monitor legislation at the local, state, and federal level pertaining to DVSA and early childhood education and provide updates to necessary staff.

 Complete a learning plan and working contract with supervisor

 Write and submit weekly process recording and conference agenda to supervisor

 Participate in weekly individual supervision

 Attends YWCA and other community trainings that would increase knowledge and skills in providing effective services

 Required to be on call for at least 2 Hospital Accompaniment shifts a month.

 Read (3-5) Domestic and Sexual Violence Scholarly articles

To be submitted with application: In addition to the aforementioned application materials, please submit a summary of the following bill and a letter to a legislator requesting they vote to pass it. The audience of the bill summary is volunteers with little experience in legislative advocacy.

Health insurance; victims of sexual assault; cost-sharing requirement for HIV prevention medication. Prohibits certain insurance policies, subscription contracts, and health maintenance organization contracts from imposing on an insured, subscriber, or enrollee who is the victim of sexual assault any cost- sharing requirement, including a co-payment, coinsurance, deductible, or other dollar limit provision, with respect to any medication prescribed to prevent HIV. If the insured, subscriber, or enrollee does not report the sexual assault to the police, the prohibition shall not apply unless an examination conducted under a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program or equivalent program results in a determination that there is a high probability that the sexual assault has resulted in the transmission of HIV. The prohibition applies to those contracts, policies, or plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after July 1, 2014, that include coverage for the prescribed medication.

YWCA Internship Program REVISED: 02/27/15