Safe Haven Intern, On The Rise, Inc., Cambridge, MA

Safe Haven Intern

Posted on: March 20, 2013
Posted by: On The Rise, Inc.

DESCRIPTION
On The Rise, Inc. (OTR) is a dynamic, Cambridge, MA-based non-profit founded in 1995 that serves women in crisis and homelessness throughout the region.
OTR's Safe Haven is a low-threshold day program in which women may participate – usually without changing their behavior, without disclosing private information, and without committing to a schedule of future achievements or benchmarks. The program is intended for women whose histories of trauma and chronic difficulty engaging with the social service system indicate the need for a longer period of engagement with low barriers to entry.
The Safe Haven provides a dignified and respectful community in which women can receive tangible goods and services – meals, clothing, toiletries, laundry, bathing, housewares, telephone and voice mail, access to health and legal services, strengths-based opportunities for artistic expression like painting, writing and theater groups, and more. These activities provide the framework in which program participants may, over time, establish relationships with OTR's staff of Community Advocates. When these relationships reach a level of trust and confidence that meets a woman's needs, she may (and often does!) choose to use the support and skills of the Advocates to take on more complex challenges, like physical and mental health concerns, addiction, criminal histories, domestic violence, etc.
For more information, please visit our website: www.ontherise.org

POSITION
OTR's Safe Haven Interns provide direct service in OTR's flagship program, helping to deliver the goods and services available through the Safe Haven and fostering a supportive community in which program participants can progress beyond their immediate tangible needs and begin to gain access to the broader social service network through OTR's team of Advocates. In the Safe Haven, interns begin to develop hands-on experience with the population OTR serves, learning about the variety and complexity of the women's challenges, and the cumulative impact of trauma in their lives. Working with OTR's Community Advocates, interns learn effective techniques and practices of providing holistic services, using a relational model informed by the philosophy of harm reduction.
OTR's internships are unpaid.

QUALIFICATIONS
The Safe Haven Internship requires a minimum commitment of 16 hours per week for the academic year. College juniors, seniors or graduates are preferred. Interns are supervised by OTR's Safe Haven Advocates.
Interns will have interest in the mission of On The Rise and a desire to further this mission through direct service to women. Coursework in trauma, substance abuse, mental health, homelessness and other relevant topics are a plus. Excellent active listening skills are needed as well as an empathetic non-judgmental perspective, ability to work well with a wide range of populations, good problem-solving skills, and a sense of humor!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct service to women:
  • Provide general support for program participants through nonjudgmental, empathic active listening.
  • Provide referrals and advocacy to help program participant gain access to resources offered by other providers
  • Be a liaison between women in the Safe Haven and the goods and services available through the program. Answer questions, give access to secured goods as directed by Advocates, maintain generally available supplies.
  • Facilitate the daily offering of breakfast and lunch in the Safe Haven, helping with set-up, breakdown, and other logistics of meals.
  • Assist with Safe Haven communications – create and post informational signs and sign-up sheets,
  • Work with staff to plan and execute occasional special activities and trips

• Other programmatic services
  • Participate in organization's data collection and performance measurement and evaluation activities.
  • Attend semi-weekly Advocates Team meetings and weekly staff meetings to develop responses to individual cases, and develop understanding of program participants' challenges.
  • Attend occasional trainings on specific topics, as recommended by staff.
  • Accompany staff on visits and appointments with program participants.
  • As appropriate accompany women on outside appointments.

• Fundraising, Administrative and Other:
  • Support staff in supplying, organizing and maintaining program needs, offices and facility: food and supplies, files, tools, donations, etc.
  • Assist with occasional Development projects – publications, mailings, volunteer events, fundraisers, etc.
  • Like all OTR employees, Interns will be flexible and open to "pitching in" as needed with other duties that arise in the course of a small organization's day-to-day operations

On The Rise is partially supported by MOVA through the 1984 VOCA grant from the Office of Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
On The Rise recognizes the importance and benefits of diversity in the workplace and the community. We are an AA/EOE, and we strongly encourage people of color to apply. Individuals who have experienced homelessness or overcome other significant life challenges are strongly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume and a cover letter addressing the questions below:
1. What excites you about On The Rise's mission?
2. What are your strongest skills and qualifications that will help you in this internship?
3. What do you hope to learn?

Please submit your materials to:
Academic Year Safe Haven Internship
Attn: Becky McDowell Operations Coordinator
On The Rise, Inc.
341 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139

You may also apply on-line by submitting your résumé and cover letter as attachments to: becky.mcdowell@ontherise.org with "Academic Year Internship " in the subject line.