Brightpoint (formerly known as Children’s Home & Aid) provides students with the opportunity to apply their theoretical learning within a practical setting. We aim to offer deeply meaningful and individualized learning experiences for those entering early childhood education and social service fields. Interns are required to be pursuing college credit towards a degree.

As a leading child and family service organization with more than 20 locations across Illinois, Brightpoint advances the well-being of children by investing in families to disrupt the systemic and multi-generational cycle of racial, social and economic inequality. 

Gain experience working with expectant parents and supporting the delivery process. Doula interns learn about prenatal development, preparing for labor and delivery and postpartum care by shadowing in-home sessions, assisting with comprehensive assessment and service planning processes, helping connect clients with local resources, and providing education on a variety of parenting and child development topics.

This internship will be with our Butterfly Project that provides therapy, case management, and other services to children and families who have been impacted by domestic violence with a goal of keeping children safe and helping families heal. Butterfly Project interns learn from passionate staff how to provide trauma informed care to caregivers, create treatment plans and provide referrals using assessments and rapport building techniques. This internship is suitable for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in social work or counseling related programs.

Learning opportunities include:

• Shadow staff case managers as they provide in home services and referrals to youth and families who have been impacted by violence.
• Learn client interviewing, assessment, crisis intervention, advocacy, service planning, and case management skills.
• Gain knowledge about the profound impact trauma can have on child and family functioning.
• Gain knowledge of relevant referrals, local resources, and community supports available to program clients.
• Engage in community outreach and education about domestic violence.
• Participate in staffing and team meetings.
• Learn about required documentation and proper filing systems.
• Learn about the history and services of Brightpoint in an orientation to the agency, including introduction to policies & procedures and safety practices.
• Participate in regular supervision with assigned supervisor.
• Complete the following required and recommended trainings: Mandated Reporter, HIPAA, Sexual Harassment Awareness and Prevention, LGBTQIA , Safety, Trauma 101, ARC 101

Internship Supervisor Qualifications:

• Bachelors of Social Work

Student Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Development, Family Studies, or a related field.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license and automobile insurance.

Additional Details:

• Pass a fingerprinting background check including CANTS and LEADS.
• Brightpoint does not provide compensation to interns.

Where you complete your internship matters.

We believe that by building diverse and inclusive teams of passionate advocates for youth and families, we can continue to show up for Illinois families, putting those families at the center of every decision, and strengthening the communities where we all work, play, and live together. (More about who we are here.)

We invite you to become an active member of a team that supports, inspires, and challenges each other, and grow your career in an organization that celebrates emerging leaders and provides development and learning opportunities aligned with your individual goals and aspirations. If you are looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work, including raising your unique and authentic voice to disrupt the systemic inequality impacting children and families, we encourage you to apply today.

Click here to review our agency’s Blueprint for Impact.