Interns Matter: Maximizing Integration of Interns into Community Agencies

Hope Services is a non-profit agency serving individuals with developmental disabilities in six counties. Over the years, there have been many agencies that have formed connections with Hope Services. One of these collaborative partnerships has been with CSU Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) integration of interns through their field placement program. However, recently former Hope Services South District Manager, Greg Dinsmore, witnessed a lack of utilization and integration of interns across all Hope Services agencies. Through firsthand experience as a mentor, he witnessed the benefits of utilizing interns and saw the need for further advocacy and support for the integration of interns at all field offices. As a means of informing managers about the benefits of utilizing interns a PowerPoint presentation, “Interns Matter: Maximizing Integration of Interns into Community Agencies,” was created and presented November 1st to twelve Hope Services managers and supervisors from five different offices. The presentation included an overview CSUMB’s Field Placement and Capstone Program, an overview of the Collaborative Health and Human Services (CHHS) Major Learning Outcomes (MLO), information about the benefits of intern integration, and personal testimonies from former and current field placement students. Increased awareness and interest in the requirement of interns was measured by a post survey. Based on the results from the survey, the presentation was deemed successful. Of the twelve managers present at the training, eight completed the post survey and four of those who completed the survey agreed to recruit and utilize interns at their individual field sites