Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services
(NEDFYS)
Field Placement Opportunities
2021 – 2022
NEDFYS is a community-based, non-profit agency located in Addison, Illinois. We are licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as a child welfare agency. Our staff consists of highly trained, caring counselors and crisis interventionists. Our main office is located in Addison, IL. We also have satellite offices in the Addison, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Itasca, and Glendale Heights police departments. Additionally, NEDFYS works closely with area schools and partner agencies to provide services in off-site locations that minimize service barriers, and provide much-needed resources to clients in diverse settings. In some cases, home-based services may be provided.
Our Philosophy:
We are committed to providing a safe and supportive clinical environment in which individuals and families can address their needs and regulate their thoughts and actions by tapping into their personal strengths.
Our Services (English and Spanish) include:
● Crisis Intervention – implementation of state-wide CCBYS crisis intervention program for 11 – 17 year-olds. Assist NEDFYS staff with implementation of law enforcement CIT training and response programs.
● Community Service – an eight-week diversion program for youth who have police contact. Youth spend time in both a classroom setting and completing community service.
● SPARCS – Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress: a 12-week program for youth experiencing stress and trauma. Parents and teens attend together.
● Step-Up – Stop, Time out, Evaluate, Prepare, Use Patience: a 21-week program that offers an alternative to detention for adolescents arrested for domestic battery against a parent. Parents and teens attend together.
● School/community-based group work – social/emotional learning, skill-building, and prevention groups provided in community-based settings such as schools, juvenile probation, public libraries, community centers, health dept., etc.
● Community mental health services – individual, couples and family short-term counseling at no cost to residents of Addison, Bensenville, Glendale Heights, Bloomingdale, and Itasca.
● CYS - Community Youth Services grant program: is to develop, and implement, strategies, activities, and services that are intended to prevent delinquency and violence among Illinois youth who are 11 to 24 years of age. The CYS program focuses on community engagement, strategic planning, services (coordination, linkage, and/or delivery) and referral.
Role of Master’s and Bachelor’s level Interns:
Over the past 10 years, NEDFYS has hosted master’s and bachelor’s level students from over a dozen colleges and universities. Our students come from various fields of study including social work, clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, criminal justice, and mental health counseling. As an agency, we are committed to providing our students with a meaningful and diverse clinical experience that includes work with adolescents, adults, families, couples, and groups. Our professional staff includes experienced clinicians with both LCSW and LCPC licensure. Consequently, we are able to provide clinical supervision that meets the accreditation requirements for most colleges and universities at the bachelor’s and master’s educational level.
On-Call and Crisis Intervention Responsibilities of Interns:
All master’s level interns gain experience in crisis intervention work through the CCBYS crisis intervention program in conjunction with various police departments in DuPage County. A training protocol is provided for all interns prior to being placed on the on-call schedule and a “back-up” supervisor is available at all times while interns are on-call. Interns provide crisis intervention coverage either weekly (24 to 48-hour period) or on weekends. Crisis coverage begins at 6:00 a.m. and continues until 6:00 a.m. the following morning. Interns also provide on-call coverage for holidays (whether on weekends or weekdays), with coverage being rotated amongst the master’s level interns for the year.
Information and Referral Casework Responsibilities of Interns:
A primary function of the agency is to provide casework services at the police departments we have offices in for “walk-in” clients. Appropriate information and referrals are given to any client in need. Interns are expected to respond to “walk-in” requests whenever they are present in the office. An extensive information and referral resource is available in the NEDFYS office for assisting these clients.
Part of the agency training and orientation will include an introduction to available community resources; however interns will be expected to familiarize themselves with additional resources throughout their time at the agency.
Administrative/Business Internship Responsibilities:
Masters-level interns will provide general program and administrative support and will work closely with the leadership team. Interns will assist with various aspects of communications, including community outreach, social media campaigns, newsletters, annual reports, and website maintenance. Additionally, interns will assist with resource development, including event planning, donor engagement, and grant research and writing. Interns may also help with program tasks such as data tracking and analysis, project coordination, and other duties as assigned.
This internship should be of interest to students seeking a background in macro social work, communications, development, and program administration. Interns will gain broad exposure to the inner workings of a nonprofit organization. Interns are expected to maintain a regular schedule and complete internship requirements. Interns are allowed to work remotely or have a flexible schedule if needed.
Intern Scheduling:
Interns will develop a weekly schedule based on their availability and the agency’s programming needs. NEDFYS is able to provide a certain amount of flexibility to interns in developing their weekly schedules, however interns are required to have availability during normal business hours, as well as 1 -2 evenings per week, in order to meet the needs of our clients and maintain our services.
Weekly supervision will be provided to every intern and will be scheduled during normal business hours at a mutually agreeable time for the student and the supervisor. The agency will also attempt to facilitate a group supervision time for all interns; however this will be dependent on intern and supervisor availability.
While completing hours, interns may be asked to assist with administrative tasks, research, other agency programs, and other duties as assigned by the supervisor. However, the agency remains committed to providing interns with clinical experience and will prioritize clinical responsibilities for all interns over other agency tasks.
Intern Application Process and Background Checks:
Our unique setting as an independent 501(c)3 licensed child welfare agency, collaborating with local police departments (as the Social Services provider), necessitates a more detailed application process than might otherwise apply to most internship positions.
Interested students may apply for internship positions by submitting a current resume and scheduling an in-person interview with the appropriate NEDFYS personnel. In addition to an in-person interview, NEDFYS requires each applicant to complete documentation necessary for compliance with the agency’s child welfare license. Part of the application process involves two separate background checks which include fingerprinting (through DCFS and the Addison Police Department) to establish whether or not there are any former or current criminal, child abuse, or child neglect charges on file for the applicant. Due to our setting and licensure, some criminal charges automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position at our agency – including internship positions.
Applicants are encouraged to disclose at the outset any history of criminal charges so that a determination may be made as to whether or not it is appropriate to continue in the application process. Failure to disclose previous charges may result in a student starting an internship but not able to complete. In all cases, NEDFYS will follow the mandates necessary to maintain our setting inside the police department as well as our child welfare license.
Application Requirements:
● Police ride-along - with an Addison police officer as a way to familiarize interns with the community. A ride-along can be scheduled at the convenience of the intern and police department, and should be completed within the first 30 days of the internship.
● DCFS Mandated Reporter training – completed online and copy of certificate of successful completion placed in personnel file.
● Official Transcript – from last degree completed. Must arrive sealed and can be sent directly to the NEDFYS Office Manager.
● Valid ID and proof of auto insurance
● Other personnel forms as required by the agency
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply on our website:
https://www.nedfys.org/copy-of-clinical-internships
Questions: 630.693.7934