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Socialwork Internships
In their senior year, all students complete a 420-hour internship at an agency setting. Internships take a variety of forms including direct practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and/or communities.
Shantal Munoz
Love Your Neighbor Collaborative (LYNC)
The LYNC program is part of a larger community initiative with Path of Life Ministries, in partnership with the Riverside’s Mayor’s office, to serve our neighbors without homes, and those at risk for losing their housing. The program places social work interns with local faith-based organizations that provide a variety of services to their neighbors in need. As a social work intern, Shantal engages and assesses clients, and provides resources for needs that are beyond food or clothing. She also collaborates with other interns placed throughout the city of Riverside as they seek to bring awareness, create new revenue streams to support our neighbors, and build bridges between churches partnering with the City to meet community needs.
Josselin Gonzalez
NDR Therapeutic Riding
NDR Therapeutic Riding Center is a non-profit agency providing adaptive riding services. As an intern, Josselin assists the agency on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels through activities including working as a case manager to organize the agency’s system for riders, families, and volunteers. She helps to set up secure and efficient rider goal/objectives, documentation, and reviews of progress. In addition, she assists in making connections with the local Alzheimer's Association, Arthritis Foundation, and other non-profit agencies whose members might benefit from NDR's services.
Amy Alonso
ParentChild+ Program, Jurupa Unified School District
The Parent Involvement and Community Outreach (PICO) Department is heavily committed to providing families with resources to build positive parent-child relationships and aid in the child's academic success. The ParentChild+ Program trains Early Learning Specialist’s (ELS), such as Amy, to serve as Home Visitors in this home-based non-directive, didactic approach, where behaviors are modeled to parents. Children served are between the ages of 16 months to 4 years. Twice a week the ELS introduces a Verbal Interaction Stimulus Material (VISM) to the family. VISMs are meant to increase early child literacy, increase parent-child interactions, and prepare the child's school readiness. Utilizing the Ecological and Person-In-Environment approach, interns are able to develop relationships with the families in order to best aid in the parent-child interaction and connect the family to resources in their community.
Aaron Anthony Alonso
Children's Treatment Services, Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health
The Behavioral Health Department serves a wide variety of clients whose lives are impacted by some form of mental illness. At this specific clinic, clients range from very young children through those approaching young adulthood. As a BSW intern, Aaron works with clients and their parents by co-facilitating psycho-educational groups with a licensed clinician. He also has the opportunity to learn about different strategies for individual and group therapy, sit in on assessments, actively participate in staff meetings and group planning, and prepare materials for groups. The goal of his service is to provide treatment and to assist clients in developing better communication/coping skills that can enhance their quality of life.
Ronaldine Lamarre
The Wylie Center
The Wylie Center provides autism interventions, mental health services, and various therapies for children and their families in the Inland Empire. Interns at the Wylie Center are involved in a variety of social work duties on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Ronaldine is currently working on macro level projects and assisting to support children with autism and their families. On the macro level, her time is focused on community outreach, event planning, and possible fundraising opportunities for the agency.
Stephanie Campos and Allessandra Anastasha
Riverside County Department of Social Services - Investigative Services
Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), Children's Services Division (CSD) protects children and youth from abuse and neglect, and partners with families, young adults, and communities to build safety, permanency, and well-being. As interns, Stephanie and Allessandra shadow social workers in every aspect of the agency’s services to the community. They also support staff to help families mitigate their circumstances by offering services that meet the individual, unique needs of each family.
Belinda Bobadilla
Riverside County Department of Social Services- International Liaison Unit & Investigative Services
The International Liaison Unit’s (ILU) main purpose is to increase customer service by assisting Social Service Practitioners (SSPs) with administrative tasks that promote services to undocumented children and families, such as: locating parents and family members in other countries; providing notification to pertaining consulates; scheduling visits; and possibly obtaining important legal documents for eligible children/youth. As an intern, Belinda assists the ILU unit with administrative tasks in the hope to increase services to children, youth, and families. She has assisted with parent locator requests and notifications to consulates. Belinda also interns with Investigative Services (IS) and shadows SSPs regarding referrals of child abuse or neglect to enhance her assessment skills and family engagement. In addition, she assists IS with monitoring children in need of placement or placing children and following-up with families regarding their safety plan.
Cindy Garcia and Sivanna Warren
San Bernardino County Behavioral Health’s Recovery Based Engagement Support Team (RBEST)
The RBEST team provides field-based services in the form of outreach, engagement, case management, family education, support, and therapy for the most challenging and diverse adult clients in the community who suffer from untreated mental illness in an effort to “activate” the individual into the mental health system to receive appropriate services. RBEST targets individuals who repeatedly access treatment at points in the mental health system that do not deliver effective care in meeting the psychiatric needs of that individual. As interns, Cindy and Sivanna work alongside social workers as part of a multi-disciplinary team, offering a holistic approach to the needs of their clients. They provide clients with support, resources, and knowledge on how to navigate the mental health system.
Amy Rebecca Perez
S.A.F.E. Family Justice Center, District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Division of Victim Services
The primary populations served at the Family Justice Center (FJC) include victims of domestic violence, child abuse, elder or dependent abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The FJC provides access to law enforcement to report crimes or conduct interviews, and District Attorney personnel assistance with victims’ rights information and advocacy. They have access to clinical therapy, educational groups, Kids Court curriculum, and youth mentorship/programming. BSW interns assist with restraining orders, moral support, emergency assistance, safety planning, crisis intervention, orienting victims to criminal justice system, and referring victims to needed resources. Amy will conduct victim intakes and needs assessments, provide community outreach presentations, attend court hearings of clients, and assist with various administrative duties within the FJC.
Ezekiel Pakaphan
Path of Life Ministries
Path of Life Ministries is a non-profit organization (501c3) based in the City of Riverside. They are committed to serving the greater Riverside homeless and poor population with the goal to rescue, restore, and rebuild lives. Through community collaboration they contribute to holistic, community-based solutions that improve the local social, economic, and spiritual health of Riverside County. As an intern, Ezekiel works with the agency’s Behavioral Health Services, providing case management services, group facilitation, and support services to families and individuals accessing Path of Life Ministires.
Jamie Burnett
Preschool 0-5 Programs, Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health
The Behavioral Health Department serves a wide variety of clients whose lives are impacted by some form of mental illness. Preschool 0-5 Programs serves children from the ages of 0-7 who are dealing with social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is the primary treatment offered, which assists children and helps families promote positive parent-child relationships and interactions. As an intern, Jamie works with licensed and pre-licensed clinicians by assisting during sessions and helping clients and parents. While the therapists work with the parents, Jamie works with the children.
Puleaga Neemia
Student and Family Support Services Department, Corona Norco Unified School District
The Student and Family Support Services Department supports families within the Corona Norco Unified School district in a variety of areas including community resources, mental health, counseling, and parent education. With limited resources to meet the needs of such a large school district, interns help families and link them to services. As an intern, Polly has the opportunity to provide resources to families in crises and link them to community agencies; assist with support groups for parents and/or children; become more acquainted with the needs of the community; and develop plans to help families in a variety of unique situations. Polly also works with families whose children are chronically absent and/or have engaged in delinquent behaviors, and links families to mental health resources and support groups.
Ruben Yáñez-Vega
San Bernardino County Children and Family Services
Children and Family Services (CFS) is a division of the Department of Social Services, whose main purpose is to provide family-centered child protective services to aid endangered children in San Bernardino County. CFS strives to reduce risk to children, improve parenting skills, and strengthen social support networks for families. As an intern, Ruben engages with families by shadowing social workers in every aspect of the agency’s services to the community. While his colleagues work to find placement for children, he tends to the children by providing them with games and activities. Ruben has been immersed in parallel training and will be leading investigations and case assessments.
Alexa Mendoza and Mirna Chavez
IEHP/Mt. Rubidoux Manor
Mount Rubidoux Manor is a 16-story apartment complex located in downtown Riverside. They offer affordable housing for seniors 55 and older. IEHP and Mount Rubidoux Manor have partnered to develop programs and activities to help bring residents together as part of a safe and uplifting community. As interns, Alexa and Mirna co-develop programs and activities that meet the needs of the residents. The interns do this by conducting program assessments, researching, tracking metrics, and collaborating with community health representatives and the residential service coordinator to ensure all required staff and materials are available.
Gemma Medina
Parkview Hospital
Parkview Community Hospital is a local medical center in Riverside serving the needs of the Inland Empire. The Social Services program focuses primarily on providing patients and their families with support, resources, and miscellaneous medically-focused needs . As an intern, Gemma collaborates with a team of doctors, nurses, and social workers to ensure patients have a more comfortable and supported admittance at the hospital. She conducts bio-psycho-social assessments, participates in interdisciplinary meetings, and provides support for patients and/or their families.
Rosemarie Escobedo
Loma Linda Adult Day Services
Loma Linda University’s Community Based Adult Services (CBAS) is a licensed community-based day health program that provides services to adults with chronic medical, cognitive, or mental health conditions and/or disabilities that are at risk of needing institutional care. The primary objective of the program is to restore/maintain optimal capacity for self-care for frail elderly persons or adults with disabilities, and delay or prevent inappropriate or personally undesirable institutionalization. As an intern, Rosemarie helps to monitor and assess clients at the agency; engages with clientele through meaningful activities such as crafts, games, and music; and provides community resources to clients and their families.
Melanie McKay
Domestic Violence Services District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Division of Victim Services
The Division of Victim Services provides crisis intervention, emergency assistance, referrals, direct counseling, victim compensation applications, orientation to the criminal justice system, court accompaniment, public presentations, restitution assistance, assistance obtaining protective orders, and funeral arrangements for victims and witnesses of crimes. The mission of the Division of Victim Services is to empower these individuals through advocacy and support services, while also promoting successful prosecution. As an intern, Melanie guides victims through the criminal justice process and helps them overcome the effects of crime.
Naomi Freeman
Center Against Sexual Assault of Southwest Riverside County
The Center Against Sexual Assault (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to providing education to the public and support to survivors of sexual assault. Since its beginning, CASA has worked diligently to increase types of services based on the needs of the community. As an intern, Naomi provides telephone and in-person crisis counseling, support, referrals, advocacy, and accompaniment services to survivors of sexual assault, their families, and their significant others; she also conducts empowerment groups for both girls and boys at local high schools in the Hemet Valley area.
Jasmin Sajjadi & Adeline Borno
Riverside County Department of Social Services: Investigative Services
Children’s Protective Services is a division of the Department of Social Services, whose main purpose is to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect. As interns, Jasmin and Adeline shadow social workers in every aspect of the agency’s services to the community. They also help families mitigate their circumstances by offering the correct preventative services.
Maria Hunt
The Wylie Center
The Wylie Center provides autism interventions, mental health services, and therapies for families in the Inland Empire. Interns are involved in a variety of social work duties. Maria is currently working on macro level projects and training as a Behavior Interventionist in order to support children with autism and their families. She is also focused on community outreach, event planning, and fundraising opportunities.
Danyarel Crespo
Children’s Treatment Services Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health
The Behavioral Health Department serves clients whose lives are impacted by mental illness. At this clinic, clients range from young children to those approaching adulthood. Danyarel works with clients and their parents by co-facilitating psycho-educational groups with a licensed clinician. She also has the opportunity to learn about different strategies for therapy, sit in on assessments, and participate in field in-home services. The goal of her service is to provide treatment and to assist clients in developing better communication/coping skills to enhance their quality of life.
Katherine McGill
Love Your Neighbor Community
La Sierra University Church
La Sierra University Church (La Sierra UniversityC) is a local faith-based organization that provides a variety of services to those living in the 92505-zip code, and collaborates with the Riverside’s Mayor’s office to serve those without homes and those at risk for losing their housing. Interns work with pastors, the finance director, and the volunteers at community services who run the weekly food bank. Katherine engages and assesses clients, and provides resources for needs that are beyond food or clothing. She also collaborates with other interns placed throughout the city of Riverside as they seek to bring awareness to the needs of the homeless and facilitate churches partnering with the city to meet community needs.
Sean Jackson
Path of Life Ministries
Path of Life Ministries is a non-profit organization based in Riverside. They are committed to serving the homeless population and the poor with the goal to rescue, restore, and rebuild lives. Through community collaboration they contribute to a holistic, community based solutions that improve the local social, economic, and spiritual health of Riverside County. As an intern, Sean works with their Behavioral Health Services providing case management services, group facilitation, and support services to families and individuals.
Kylie Heinrich
Parent Enrichment Program Jarupa Unified School District
As part of the Parent Enrichment Program, Kylie serves as a Home Visitor in this home-based non-directive, non-didactic approach where behaviors are modeled to parents. Twice a week, interns visit with each child served who is between the ages of 16 months to 4 years of age and introduce Verbal Interaction Stimulus Materials meant to increase early child literacy, increase parent/child interactions, and prepare children for school. Utilizing the ecological approach, interns are attentive to the needs of the family and suggest any necessary referrals.
Denise Darling
Homeless Outreach Support Team (HOST)
San Bernardino County Behavioral Health
The HOST program provides outreach and engagement services to individuals and their families in an effort to obtain permanent supportive housing. Case managers assist individuals through wrap around services, as they seek to maintain housing and become resilient in the community. Services include outreach, intensive case management, advocacy, and empowerment for self-sufficiency, as well as linkage and referrals. HOST collaborates with the Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement (HOPE) team to conduct outreach events, go out into the field, and engage the most difficult and hard to reach clients.
Wesley Martins & Sophia Conde
Inland Housing Solutions
Inland Housing Solutions (IHS) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to break the cycle of homelessness for families. As interns, Sophia and Wesley act as Family Stability Advocates. Their duties include: conducting intakes and assessments; providing case management, including developing service plans, connecting households to mainstream benefits and community resources, providing education in areas such as goal-setting and money management; and empowering and supporting households on their path to self-sufficiency. They also have ample opportunity for multidisciplinary collaboration and complete a macro project addressing an identified need or service gap.
Pingkan Simauw
Preschool 0-5 Programs Set-4-School Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health
The Behavioral Health Department serves clients whose lives are impacted by mental illness. The Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) program serves children from the ages of 0-5 who are dealing with severe behavioral problems. The treatment program assists children and helps families promote positive parent-child relationships and interactions. As an intern, Pingkan works with licensed clinicians by assisting during sessions with the clients and parents. While the therapist works with the parents, Pingkan works with the children
Magaly Macias
Student and Family Support Services Department Corona Norco Unified School District
The Student and Family Support Services Department supports families within the Corona Norco Unified School district in a variety of areas including community resources, mental health, counseling, and parent education. Magaly has the opportunity to provide resources to families in crises and link them to community agencies; assist with support groups for parents and/or children; become more acquainted with the needs of the community and develop plans to help families in a variety of unique situations; work with families whose children are chronically absent and/or have engaged in delinquent behaviors; and link families to mental health resources and support groups.
Susana Garcia
Family Justice Center District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Division of Victim Services
The primary populations served include victims of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and sexual assault. Savanna assists with restraining orders, moral support, crisis intervention, orienting victims to criminal justice system, and referring victims to needed resources. She also conducts victim intakes and needs assessments, provide community outreach presentations, and assists with various administrative duties within the Family Justice Center.
Morena Melendez
La Sierra Academy
La Sierra Academy is a local TK-12 Christian School in Riverside. The counselor’s office provides assistance for students with their academic, behavioral, mental, and/or emotional success. Morena works alongside the school counselor serving the needs of students in elementary, junior high, and high school. In addition, she assists the school with their annual events that strive to help students gain more knowledge about potential careers and college readiness.
Raquel Lopez
Academic Recovery Intern Office of Academic & Career Services (OACS), La Sierra University
The Academic Recovery Intern (ARI) works to provide assistance for at-risk students who may be on Academic Probation, on Critical Academic Probation, or who are not making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Other student populations served may include students referred by their instructors, those who are not in good citizen standing, or students who are not earning the GPA necessary for their majors. Raquel supports students in developing the skills necessary to be successful scholars and lifelong learners.
Sha’von McKnight
Patton State Hospital
Patton State Hospital (PSH) provides in-patient treatment to over 1,500 patients from ages 17-91 who exhibit a wide range of severe mental disorders. PSH is the largest maximum-security forensic hospital in the nation that houses male and female criminally insane patients. The hospital’s mission is to provide comprehensive clinical services within the context of a biopsychosocial rehabilitation model in an environment of safety, security, dignity, and respect for all patients, staff, and the community. The objective of PSH is to emphasize the potential for each patient to learn new skills, develop adaptive coping mechanisms to enhance the quality of the patient’s life, prepare patients for Community Outpatient Treatment, and to design specialized treatment plans to help patients gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be competent in court. As an intern, Sha’von engages with the patients by assisting in the in-take process, monitoring on-going assessments, advanced directives, teaching psycho-educational courses, and co-facilitating groups.
Sarai Camacho
Juvenile Court:
Specialized Investigations
Riverside County Department of Public Social Services
The Juvenile Court division is a division of the Riverside Superior Court handling both dependency and delinquency matters. As an intern Sarai is currently working with youth and families who have open cases with Children’s Services and Probate Court. Additionally, Sarai will assist the Parent Locator Unit in completing active search efforts to locate absent parents on open cases. She will also learn the role as a liaison between the department and the court. Sarai’s primary duties include meeting with youth and families to assess safety and risk in their current placement and/or future placement.
Alicia Esparza
Mt. Rubidoux SDA Church
Mt. Rubidoux Seventh-Day Adventist church is a religious organization that looks to provide spiritual care to all its members and the community. It offers Bible study classes, Sabbath school, and a variety of groups that focus on addressing individual and family concerns through a spiritual viewpoint. The church collaborates with a variety of agencies and influential people in the community to provide services that empower their church and community members, such as health clinics, food donations, and a variety of activities for the youth. As an intern, Alicia will be meeting with church and community members to provide assistance in finding resources for their needs. She will also assist in group facilitation for the youth.
Andrew Liu & Jennifer Murillo
La Sierra Academy
La Sierra Academy is a TK-12 Christian School in Riverside, CA. The counselor’s office provides assistance for students with their academic, behavioral, mental, and/or emotional success. As interns at the academy, Andrew and Jennifer will be working alongside the school counselor serving the needs of students in elementary, junior high, and high school. In addition, they will be assisting the school with their annual events that strive to help students gain more knowledge about potential careers and college readiness.
Kiley Chagnon
Patton State Hospital
Patton State Hospital (PSH) provides in-patient treatment to over 1,500 patients, ages 17-91, who exhibit a wide range of severe mental disorders. PSH is the largest maximum-security forensic hospital in the nation that houses male and female criminally insane patients. The hospital’s mission is to provide comprehensive clinical services within the context of a biopsychosocial rehabilitation model in an environment of safety and security for all patients, staff and the community in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. The objective of Patton State Hospital is to emphasize the potential for each patient to learn new skills, develop adaptive coping mechanisms to enhance the quality of the patient’s life while at the hospital and prepare them for Community Outpatient Treatment, and to design specialized treatment plans to help patients gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be competent in court. As an intern, Kiley engages with the patients by assisting in the in-take process, monitoring on-going assessments, advanced directives, teaching psycho-educational courses, and co-facilitating groups.
Crystal Acuna
Mariposa Community Counseling Clinic
County of San Bernardino Department of Behavioral Health
Mariposa Community Counseling Clinic is an Outpatient Mental Health Facility in Ontario, CA. Services offered include: crisis intervention, ongoing assessment, referral individual and group therapy, medication support case management, drug/alcohol services, and psycho-educational groups. Services are provided for children, youth, adults and older adults who suffer from a serious and persistent mental illness and meet medical necessity for specialty mental health. As a BSW intern, Crystal assists with case management by providing clients with individual rehabilitating and daily activity therapy. Sessions consist of goal setting, skill teaching, barrier detecting, and documenting progress. As an intern, she also has the opportunity to provide and educate clients on resources available in served area, and to co-facilitate a number of groups including anger-management, coping and wellness.
Ashley Nolan
MFI Recovery Center
Social work interns at MFI Recovery Center function as case managers for both adolescent and adult clients struggling with drug and alcohol dependency. They work in conjunction with therapists and counselors to ensure a collaborative relationship is promoted among all systems to which the clients are connected. The interns also work to assist clients in removing barriers to treatment such as enrolling in school, finding employment and finding housing. Additionally, social work interns facilitate substance abuse groups in the Intensive Outpatient Program.
Vanessa Barragan
Children's Treatment Services
Riverside County Department of Mental Health
The Department of Mental Health serves a wide variety of clients whose lives are impacted by some form of mental illness. At this specific clinic, clients are very young children through those approaching young adulthood. As a BSW intern, Vanessa works with clients and their parents by co-facilitating psycho-educational groups with a licensed clinician. She also has the opportunity to learn about different strategies for individual therapy. The goal of her service is to provide treatment and to assist clients in developing better communication/coping skills that can enhance their quality of life.
Jessica Portis & Michelle Teruel
Loma Linda Adult Day Services
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Loma Linda University’s Community Based Adult Services (CBAS) is a licensed community-based day health program that provides services to adults with chronic medical, cognitive, or mental health conditions and/or disabilities that are at risk of needing institutional care. The primary objectives of the program are to restore or maintain optimal capacity for self-care to frail elderly persons or adults with disabilities and delay or prevent inappropriate or personally undesirable institutionalization. As interns, Jessica and Michelle help to monitor and assess clients at the agency; engage with clientele through meaningful activities such as crafts, games, and music; and provide community resources to clients and their families.
Melissa Tripet & Carleta Dover
Community Services
La Sierra University Church
La Sierra University Church is a faith-based organization that provides a variety of services to those living in the 92505 zip code. BSW interns work with pastors, the finance director, and the volunteers at community services who run the weekly food bank. As social work interns, Carleta and Melissa engage and assess clients, and provide resources for needs that are beyond food or clothing. They are also responsible for organizing and facilitating a resource fair.
Bryana Rogel
David L. Long Learning Center
Riverside County Office Of Education
The Riverside County Office of Education places Social Work interns in schools with students who are struggling academically due in part to environmental issues and/or stressors. As an intern, Bryana provides individual and group supportive behavioral counseling to students who have been identified as having academic and/or behavioral problems. The main goal of the Social Work intern is to assist the student in resolving the personal issues that are preventing them from succeeding academically. Bryana works in collaboration with the school to afford the students the opportunity to succeed.
Myriam Calderon
Palliative Care Unit
Parkview Community Hospital
Parkview Community Hospital is a local medical center in Riverside serving the needs of the Inland Empire. Interns are assigned to the Palliative Care Program that specializes in providing support for patients with serious diagnosis. The Palliative Care program focuses primarily on providing patients and their families with support and relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of their diagnoses. As an intern, Myriam collaborates with a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and a chaplain to ensure that patients will have a more comfortable, supported, relaxed treatment during their admittance at the hospital. She conducts bio-psycho-social assessments, participates in interdisciplinary meetings, and provides support for patients and/or their families.
Melissa Banuet & Debbie Molina
Parent Enrichment Program
Jurupa Unified School District
The Parent Enrichment Program utilizes the Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP). Melissa and Debbie serve as Home Visitors in this home-based non-directive, non-didactic approach where behaviors are modeled to parents. This program is committed to providing families with resources to build positive parent-child relationships. Twice a week the interns visit with each child served who is between the ages of 16 months to 4 years of age and introduce Verbal Interaction Stimulus Materials (VISMs). VISMs are meant to increase early child literacy, increase parent/ child interactions and prepare children for school. Utilizing the ecological approach, the interns are attentive to the needs of the family and suggest any necessary referrals.
Anneliese Erebholo
The Wylie Center
The Wylie Center provides autism interventions, mental health services and various therapies for children and their families in the Inland Empire. Interns at the center are involved in a variety of social work duties on the micro, mezzo and macro levels. Anneliese is currently working primarily on macro level projects. Her time is focused on community outreach, event planning and possible fund raising opportunities for the agency.
Kimberly Morquecho
Investigative Services
Riverside County Department of Public Social Services
Children’s Protective Services is a division of the Department of Social Services, whose main purpose is to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect. As an intern, Kim assists in assessing clients with the Global Assessment and engages clients during the interview process. She assists in making proper referrals to families and observes the process of an investigation. She also helps families mitigate their circumstances by offering the correct preventative services that are available to them.
Sandra Serra
Juvenile Court
Riverside County Public Defender’s Office
The Juvenile Court is a division of the Riverside Superior Court handling both dependency and delinquency matters. As an intern, Sandra is currently working with youth who are involved with the delinquency court. This court’s proceedings involve children under the age of 18 alleged to have committed a delinquent act, which would be a crime if committed by an adult. Sandra’s primary duty includes meeting with youth to assess their bio-psycho-social needs and then consulting with the youth’s attorney, providing a summary of her assessment findings and suggesting topics and/or services for future meetings to best meet the needs of the youth served. Additionally, she works with youth who have fulfilled terms and condition of probation and are exiting the delinquency system.
Mei-Fung Huang & Crystal Villegas
Loma Linda Adult Day Services
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Loma Linda University’s Community Based Adult Services (CBAS) is a licensed day health program that provides services to adults with chronic medical, cognitive, or mental health conditions and/or disabilities that are at risk of needing institutional care. The primary objectives of the program are to restore or maintain optimal capacity for self-care to frail elderly persons or adults with disabilities and delay or prevent inappropriate or personally undesirable institutionalization. As interns, Mei-Fung and Crystal help to monitor and assess clients at the agency; engage with clientele through meaningful activities such as crafts, games, and music; and provide community resources to clients and their families.
Angela Chavez
Office of Cultural Competence and Ethnic Services (OCCES)
San Bernardino County Department of Behavior Health (DBH)
The OCCES is responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring cultural competency throughout all levels of the Department of Behavior Health in San Bernardino County. Services provided by OCCES include: multicultural education and training, coordination of language services such as translation and interpretation, assistance and consultation in the development of linguistically, and culturally appropriate, recovery oriented services. As in intern, Angela’s role and responsibilities include: assisting with trainings to medical staff, DBH employees, and community service providers; data collection, evaluation, and reporting of demographic and other relevant information for compliance purposes; and public relations efforts with consumers, providers, community stakeholders, employees, and others.
Jessica Romo & Stephanie Guix
TEAM House Consumer Clubhouse
County of San Bernardino Department of Behavioral Health
San Bernardino County’s Clubhouse program provides peer support for people 18 years and older who with live mental health challenges. Consumers run various work groups with topics such as clerical skills, nutrition/cooking classes, social activities, education, and job training. The main objectives of the Clubhouse Program includes assisting consumers in making their own choices, re-integrating them into the community as contributing members, and achieving a satisfying and fulfilling life. As interns, Jessica and Stephanie help provide informal counseling, facilitate support groups, teach psycho-educational courses, and assist with vocational training and clubhouse projects.
Kimberly Senee
Juvenile Court
Riverside County Public Defender’s Office
The Juvenile Court is a division of the Riverside Superior Court handling both dependency and delinquency matters. As an intern, Kim is currently working with youth who are involved with the Delinquency Court. In this court, proceedings involve children under the age of 18 alleged to have committed a delinquent act, which would be a crime if committed by an adult. Kim’s primary duties include meeting with the youth to assess their bio-psycho-social needs. She consults with the youth’s attorneys, provides a summary of her assessments, and suggests topics and/or services for future meetings to best meet the needs of the youth served. Additionally, she works with youth who have fulfilled terms and conditions of probation and are exiting the delinquency system.
Michelle Alvarez & Flavia Macias
Community Services Program
La Sierra University Church (La Sierra UniversityC)
The La Sierra UniversityC Community Services Program is a weekly food bank providing support services for those in the 92505 zip code. BSW interns work with pastors, the finance director, and the community services volunteers who administer the program. As social work interns, Flavia and Michelle assist with the community service project and look for ways to expand it. They meet with community members coming to the food bank or church office who have needs greater than food and clothing, and work to find resources to assist them.
Chenoalani Davis
The Wiley Center
This center provides autism interventions, mental health services, and various therapies for children and their families in the Inland Empire. Interns at the Wylie Center are involved in a variety of social work duties on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Chenoalani is currently working primarily on macro level projects. Her time is focused on community outreach, event planning, and possible fund raising opportunities for the agency.
Angela Johnson
Office of Student Life
La Sierra University
The internship in the Office of Student Life provides support for the Dean of Student’s office. As an intern, Angela will conduct research on behalf of the Division of Student Life, assist with program evaluation, develop a list of relevant community resources, review policies, and provide case management services on behalf of the Dean of Student’s office to students needing extra support and resources. Angela will also collaborate with the Counseling Center on behalf of the Dean of Student’s office where appropriate.
Eleanor Silva
Koinonia Family Services
Koinonia Family Services is a foster and adoption agency that specializes in providing programs and services that are designed to address the special challenges faced by abused and neglected children. Agency services include therapeutic foster care, adoption, day treatment, medically fragile foster care, residential group homes for chemically dependent adolescents and post adoption supportive services. As a BSW intern, Eleanor assists social workers in ensuring the safety of children and supporting foster families and families who are working on reunification.
Melanie Harris
La Sierra Academy
La Sierra Academy is a TK-12 Christian School in Riverside, CA. The counselor’s office provides assistance for students with their academic, behavioral, mental, and/or emotional success. As an intern at the academy, Melanie will be working alongside the school counselor serving the needs of students in elementary, junior high, and high school. In addition, Melanie will be assisting the school with annual events that strive to help students gain more knowledge about potential careers and college readiness. She will also participate in a project that will help students locate community service opportunities.
Marquita Grattan
Path of Life Ministries
Path of Life Ministries is a non-profit organization (501c3) based in the City of Riverside, CA. They are committed to serving the greater Riverside homeless population and the poor with the goal to rescue, restore, and rebuild lives. Through community collaboration they contribute to a holistic, community-based solution that improves the local social, economic, and spiritual health of Riverside County. As an intern, Marquita works with the Behavioral Health Services provided by the agency, providing case management services, group facilitation, and support services to families and individuals accessing the services of the agency.
Eulah Filio
Palliative Care Unit
Parkview Community Hospital
Parkview Community Hospital is a local medical center in Riverside serving the needs of the Inland Empire. Interns are assigned to the Palliative Care Unit that specializes in medical care for patients with serious diagnosis. The Palliative Care program focuses primarily on providing patients relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of their diagnosis. As an intern, Eulah collaborates with a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and a chaplain to provide additional support, and help to ensure that patients will have a more comfortable, relaxed treatment during their admittance at the hospital. She conducts bio-psycho-social assessments, participates in interdisciplinary meetings, and provides support for patients and their families.
Aimee Jones
The Family Justice Center
District Attorney’s Office, Riverside County Division of Victim Services
The Family Justice Center provides the following direct services for victims and witnesses of crime: crisis intervention, emergency assistance, resource and referral counseling, orientation to the criminal justice system, court support, case support, case status, case disposition information, and technical assistance from the Victims of Crime Compensation Programs. The mission of the Family Justice Center is to minimize the impact of the criminal justice system upon the lives of victim’s witnesses and their families. As an intern, Aimee serves as an advocate by helping victims overcome the effects of crime and guides them through the criminal justice process.
Larcenia McDaniel & Sarah Martin
Children's Treatment Services
Riverside County Department of Mental Health
The Department of Mental Health serves a wide variety of clients whose lives are impacted by some form of mental illness. At this specific clinic, clients range from very young children to those approaching young adulthood. As BSW interns, Sarah and Larcenia work with clients and their parents by co-facilitating psycho-educational groups with a licensed clinician. They also have the opportunity to learn about different strategies for individual therapy. The goal of their services is to provide treatment and to assist clients in developing better communication/coping skills that can enhance their quality of life.
Laura Castellanos Martin
United Way Family Support Service (FSS)
United Way Family Support Services serves victims of domestic violence in Corona and the surrounding areas. FSS focuses on providing crisis intervention, needs assessment, psycho-education, advocacy, and community referrals to individuals and families who have been adversely affected by intimate partner and child abuse. As in intern, Laura assists in advocating for women, men, and children to help break the family system of violence. She also helps minimize potential language barriers for clients by assisting in translation services for Spanish speakers.
Felicia Galindo & Mayra Melgoza
Parent Enrichment Program
Jurupa Unified School District
The Parent Enrichment Program utilizes the Parent-Child Home Program (PCHIP). Felicia and Mayra serve as Home Visitors in this home-based non-directive, non-didactic approach utilizing modeling behaviors for parents. PICO is committed to providing families with resources to build positive parent-child relationships. Twice a week the interns visit with each child served who is between the ages of 16 months to 4 years of age and introduce Verbal Interaction Stimulus Materials (VISMs). VISMs are meant to increase early child literacy, which prepares the child for preschool. As interns utilizing the ecological approach, they are also attentive to the needs of the family and suggest any necessary referrals.
Zaida Espericueta
Office of Accessibility Services
La Sierra University
The Office of Accessibility Services (ODS) at La Sierra University strives to provide academic support for students with disabilities in higher education. Accommodations are available to students with the following types of disabilities: physical, psychological, learning, visual, auditory, hearing, mobility impairment, and temporary. While learning about the federal and state laws that mandate provision of academic accommodations, as an intern Zaida will participate in case management services on behalf of students and assist with determining the appropriate accommodations and type of delivery of services available to students.
Colbi Pickl
San Bernardino
Department of Behavioral Health
Homeless Outreach Support Team (HOST)
The HOST program assists the chronically homeless and severely mentally ill with permanent housing. Once our clients are housed, they are provided with case engagement services that include linkages with resources and consultation. As a BSW intern I am involved in every
level of service to the clients including field visits and case management services.
Toya Dodd
Riverside County District Attorney’s Office,
Division of Victims’ Services, Family Justice Center
The Family Justice center provides services to victims of crime. The primary populations served are victims of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and sexual assault. BSW intern duties include assisting with restraining orders, court accompaniment and moral support during court proceedings, crisis intervention, orienting victims to the criminal justice system and referring victims to needed resources. In addition, as an intern I am able to conduct victim intakes and needs assessments, provide community outreach presentations, and assist with various administrative duties within the Family Justice Center.
Patti Melendez & Victoria Aguilar
Parkview Community Hospital
Palliative Care Unit
Parkview Community Hospital is a local medical center in Riverside serving the needs of the Inland Empire. Interns are assigned to the Palliative Care Unit that specializes in medical care for patients with serious diagnosis. The Palliative Care program focuses primarily on providing patients relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of their diagnosis. Interns collaborate with a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and a chaplain to provide additional support, and help to ensure that patients will have a more comfortable, relaxed treatment during their admittance at the hospital. We are conduct bio-psycho-social assessments, participate in interdisciplinary meetings, and provide support for patients and/or their families.
Julie Graham
Koinonia Family Services
Koinonia Family Services is a foster and adoption agency which specializes in providing programs and services that are designed to address the special challenges faced by abused and neglected children. As a BSW intern, I assist social workers in ensuring the safety of children, supporting foster families and families working on reunification.
Samantha Gray & Dylan Tayag
Riverside County
Department of Mental Health
Children's Treatment Services
The Department of Mental Health serves a wide variety of clients whose lives are impacted by some form of mental illness. At this specific clinic, clients are very young children through those approaching young adulthood.
As BSW interns, we work with our clients and their parents by co-facilitating psycho-educational groups with a licensed clinician.We also have the opportunity to learn aboutdifferent strategies for individual therapy.
Our goal is to provide treatment and to assist our clients in developing better communication/coping skills that can enhance their quality of life.
Stephanie (Ashley) Mata
La Sierra Academy
La Sierra Academy is a K-12 Christian school in Riverside CA. As an intern at the Academy I will be working alongside the school counselor serving the needs of students in Elementary, Junior High, and High school. The counselor’s office provides assistance for students with their academic, behavioral, mental and or emotional success. In addition, I will also be assisting the school with their annual events that strive to help students gain more knowledge about potential careers and college readiness.
Alexa Rolden
Riverside County Dept. of Public Health HIV Department
The goal of the HIV Department is to promote healthy sexual behaviors and reduce the impact of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Riverside County. The program offers diagnosis, treatment, counseling, partner notification and referrals to those suffering from STDs and for anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to an STD. As a BSW interns I collaborate with a team of doctors, nurses, social workers to serve our clients. I am able to shadow professionals on my team, and participate in education and case management services.
Patrice Madere & Lori Washington
The Wylie Children’s Center
This Center provides autism interventions, mental health services and various therapies for children and their families in the Inland Empire. Interns at the Wylie Center are involved in a variety of social work duties on the micro, mezzo and macro levels. Lori is working primarily on macro level projects. Her time is focused on working with organizations and communities evaluating policies that affects vulnerable populations. Patrice’s work is focused on the outreach services the agency provides. She conducts intake sessions with individuals and groups that are seeking agency services. In addition, she is helping the agency with marketing and public relations by managing their social media.
Julia Vaughn
La Sierra University Office of Accessibility Services
The Office of Accessibility Services (ODS) strives to provide academic support for students with disabilities in higher education. Accommodations are available to students with the following types of disabilities: physical, psychological, learning, visual, auditory, hearing, mobility impairment and temporary. While learning about the federal and state laws that mandate provision of academic accommodations, as an intern I will participate in case management services on behalf of University students and assist with determining the appropriate accommodations and type of delivery of services available
to students.
Celena Torres
La sierra University church (La Sierra UniversityC) Community Services Program
The La Sierra UniversityC Community Services Program provides a food bank every week as well other support services for those in the 92505 zip code. BSW interns work with pastors, the finance director, and the Community Services volunteers who administer the program. As a social work intern at the church, I assist with the Community Service project and look for ways to expand it. In addition, I gather resources for walk- in clients that come to the church each week.
Let’e Thomas & Yvette Izquierdo
Parkview Community Hospital
Palliative Care Unit
Parkview Community Hospital is a local medical center in Riverside serving the needs of the Inland Empire. Interns are assigned to the Palliative Care Unit that specializes in medical care for patients with serious diagnosis. The Palliative Care program focuses primarily on providing patients relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of their diagnosis. Interns collaborate with a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and a chaplain to provide additional support, and help to ensure that patients will have a more comfortable, relaxed treatment during their admittance at the hospital. We are conduct bio-psycho-social assessments, participate in interdisciplinary meetings, and provide support for patients and/or their families.
Ebony McEnnis
Loma Linda Adult Day Services
Loma Linda Medical Center Adult Day Services provides day services to adults with severe autism, traumatic brain injury, dementia, mental health disabilities, and learning disabilities. Social Workers support clients and their families by providing therapeutic day services for patients, monitoring client progress and provide resources as needed. My role as a social work intern includes working one-on-one and in groups with clients, assisting with client care plans and daily activities and helping social workers with agency paper work.