San Bernardino County’s Children and Youth Collaborative Services (CYCS) contracts with agencies throughout the county to offer an array of services for seriously, emotionally disturbed children who are not benefiting from traditional mental health services. Services range from crisis intervention to life skills and educational services for children and youth aged 0 to 26 years old. As an intern, Raeanna engages with clients and families to link them with essential mental health and community resources, while maintaining regular progress visits to ensure goals are being met and services remain effective.

San Bernardino County’s Re-Integrative Supportive Engagement Services (RISES) provides support for justice-involved individuals in custody with mental health and substance use disorders. RISES provides support services, such as mental health care and help with daily living and social skills, to help these individuals transition back into the community. As an intern, Gabriella meets with potential clients, assesses for eligibility of services, and assists in linking them to mental health, substance use support, housing and other resources to aid reintegration. 

Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy’s (YVYLA) vision is to provide the tools necessary to succeed, deliver innovative programs, services, and resources, that help guide youth and young adults into making positive life choices while building a healthier community. YVYLA offers a wraparound delivery service approach (both short-term and long-term) which allows youth and young adults who are experiencing multiple challenges to receive personalized collaborative support and establish a strength-based relationship, which will increase retention, resiliency, and completion rates (positive outcomes). As an intern, Raelene helps to facilitate groups, meets individually with youth for 1-on-1 support (if needed), providing crisis intervention services and brief mental health counseling. She also works with at-risk youth, teaching them healthy coping skills and participates in various community events that Young Visionaries hosts. 

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. Clients have access to clinical therapy, educational groups, Kids Court curriculum, and youth mentorship/programming. As a BSW intern, Alina assists with restraining orders, providing moral support, emergency assistance, safety planning, crisis intervention, orienting victims to the criminal justice system and referring victims to needed resources. In addition, she conducts victim intakes and needs assessments, provides community outreach presentations, attends court hearings of clients, and assists with various administrative duties within the Family Justice Center.

The Behavioral Health Department of Riverside County serves a wide variety of clients whose lives are impacted by some form of mental illness. At specific clinics, clients range from very young children through adulthood. As a BSW intern, Staphany works with clients and their families by providing case management services. She also has the opportunity to learn about different strategies for individual and group therapy, actively participating in staff meetings and group planning, and to prepare materials for sessions with clients. The goal of her service is to assist clients in linking to resources and developing better communication/
coping skills that can enhance their quality of life.  

San Bernardino County’s Adult Continuing Care Program (ACCP) provides mental health services for adults with a mental health condition.  ACCP provides a structured level of care after transition from long-term locked residential facilities. As an intern, Alison assists residents at JC Wallace House as part of the team to assess and provide linkage to any resources or services needed as well as regular check-ins to ensure clients are meeting their goals for activities of daily living (ADLS). Alison will also help to facilitate psychoeducational groups and will have the opportunity for macro work by connecting residents with the community. 

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 an intern, Yvonne helps 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. She also has the opportunity to work closely with veterans, supporting their unique needs through individualized care and engagement.

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, Arlette has the opportunity to provide resources to families in crisis 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.

Path of Life is a non-profit organization that aims to support the unhoused population here in Riverside County. Path of Life offers a social work internship through the Love Your Neighbor Collaborative (LYNC), providing intensive case management (ICM) in three Riverside city libraries for those experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. As a BSW intern, Mackenzie meets with clients providing referrals for mental health services, recovery services, employment, housing navigation, immigration needs, essential documents, and homeless prevention. While providing referrals, Social Work Interns are also encouraged to support the library teams with crisis intervention when needed. By providing these services, Mackenzie and the other interns help to ensure libraries are a safe, accepting space for all to utilize community resources, creating genuine relationships with our unhoused neighbors while navigating severe mental illness, substance abuse, and more.