In working with local universities, we offer 3 different types of unpaid internships.
Please see the following information for our case management program internship, State Health Insurance Assistance Program internship or Community Resource Specialist,
DRCOG’s AAA serves older adults, People 18 with a disability, their families, and service providers in the eight-county DRCOG region: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, and Jefferson counties.
CASE MANAGEMENT
One program of the AAA is the intensive case management program. The case management program provides interdisciplinary care coordination for people 60 and older. The program is devoted to providing telephone and in-home services. Case Managers perform interviews, assessment, and intake of clients to determine needs; develop, explain, and provide follow-up on action plans; coordinate the exchange of information and provision of client services with other agencies; conduct on-site client visits; determine appropriate resources and make referrals to both internal and external programs; document program information; determine the need for crisis intervention, and provide training and community education for groups and individuals.
 
A case management intern performs many functions in coordination with full-time case management staff. In return, interns experience the satisfaction of connecting people with services and resources that will allow them to live independently in the community of their choosing. Additionally, interns learn the resources, government benefits, and systems across Denver’s eight-county area. And, finally, case management interns will gain experience using a person-centered approach and communication style while interacting with the people who need to feel heard.

Functions/Tasks

• Under the case management team’s supervision and support, provide care management utilizing the Denver region’s community-based resources and in-house AAA programs to consumers, their families, and service providers. 
• Provide face-to-face information, consultation, and referral to clients regarding the resources and services available to older persons and their families.
• Working with individual consumers to identify gaps in services, report findings, and advocate for identified needs.
• Providing consultation and care coordination for older adults in-person (during a “home visit”) and over the phone; this may include the following:

1. coordinating with the referral source,
2. conducting individual needs assessments,
3. working with older adults and their families to identify options to address problems,
4. completing care plan detailing service needs,
5. contacting selected agencies to set up service,
6. following up with clients to ensure needs are met.
7. enrolling new clients onto the case management waitlist
8. checking in with individuals while they are on the case management waitlist.

• Utilize interpretation/translation services.

 
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of an Effective Intern

• Basic understanding of issues and concerns facing older adults, their families, and caregivers.
• Understanding of HIPAA privacy rules
• Ability to

- communicate professionally
- work collaboratively with others and receive feedback well
- assess needs and prioritize services
- work with consumers and be sensitive/aware of cultural differences.
- utilize computer/Internet programs
 
Schedule

• The schedule can be flexible within business hours, M-F 8 AM to 6 PM 

 
STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SHIP) 
One program of the ADRC is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) which provides Medicare counseling to beneficiaries in Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties. SHIP Counselors complete a 40 hour certification and training in order to be able to provide Medicare guidance. Calls for the SHIP come in through our SHIP line (303) 480-6835. They may also come through the ADRC Information & Assistance line (303) 480-6700, where they are triaged for other services, and then transferred to the SHIP. At DRCOG, all ADRC staff and Case Management staff are certified SHIP Counselors.
 
A SHIP Counselor Intern performs many functions in coordination with fulltime SHIP staff. In return, SHIP counselors experience the satisfaction of connecting people with services and resources to enable older adults and people with disabilities to access and understand their Medicare coverage and assistance programs. Additionally, interns supplement staff and resources at the AAA as the need for services rises with the dramatic increase in the aging population. Many of the people who turn to the SHIP for assistance are not aware of the networks of providers and services that exist to help people access Medicare benefits. SHIP Counselors can bring their own personal styles of communicating to their interactions with the people whom they are assisting. It is important to connect with people who need to feel heard.

Functions/Tasks

• Under the supervision and support of SHIP staff, provide counseling on Medicare plans, enroll beneficiaries in Medicare plans and benefits, and provide education about Medicare fraud prevention to consumers, their families, and service providers.
• Enter data from consumer interactions in the ADRC Call Center and complete Client Contact forms needed for SHIP reporting.
• Assist with verifying and identifying resources.
• Assist with providing information at community events in DRCOG’s region; events may occur throughout the year on weekdays, evenings and weekends.
• Participate in AAA, ADRC and SHIP staff meetings as needed.
• Assist with providing general administrative support for the SHIP division as needed.

 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities of an Effective Intern

• Working knowledge of issues and concerns facing older adults, their families and persons 18 and older with disabilities.
• Ability to

- communicate professionally
- work collaboratively with others and receive feedback well
- assess needs and prioritize services
- work with consumers in a professional manner and be sensitive/aware of cultural differences
- utilize computer/Internet programs

• Ability to obtain SHIP certification within 3 months of hire

 
Requirements

• Please note that we are unable to utilize anyone as an intern that has an active license to sell insurance in any state. 

 
Schedule

• Schedule can be flexible within business hours, M-F 8 AM to 6 PM 

COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST (CRS)
One program of the ADRC is the Community Resources team, which provides information and assistance and ride coordination for the ADRC region. Information and assistance and ride coordination are provided by ADRC staff and interns over the ADRC Information & Assistance line (303) 480-6700.
 
A Community Resource Specialist (CRS) Intern performs many functions in coordination with full-time CRS staff. In return, interns experience the satisfaction of connecting people with services and resources to enable older adults and people with disabilities to access and understand their community resources. Additionally, interns learn the resources and systems across Denver’s eight-county area. Finally, interns are a valued resource at the ADRC as the need for services rises with the increase in the states aging population. Many people who call our information and assistance line are not aware of the networks of providers and services that exist to help them remain in their homes.
Community Resource Specialist can bring their communication styles to their interactions with the people they are assisting and practice connecting with people who need to feel heard.


Functions/Tasks

• Under the Community Resources team’s supervision and support provide information and assistance on community-based resources in the Denver region, enroll beneficiaries in the ADRC transportation voucher program, and provide education about other in-house ADRC programs to consumers, their families, and service providers.
• Enter data from consumer interactions in the ADRC documentation systems.
• Assist with verifying and identifying community resources
• Participate in AAA, ADRC, and DRCOG staff meetings as needed.
• Assist with providing general administrative support for the Community Resources division as required.
• Periodically assist with coordinating trips requests for the Ride Alliance program by responding to calls and emails and submitting them to an online trip exchange using DRCOG’s Routematch transportation management system.

 
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of an Effective Intern

• Basic knowledge of issues and concerns facing older adults, their families, and persons 18 and older with disabilities.
• Ability to

- communicate professionally
- work collaboratively with others and receive feedback well
- assess needs and prioritize services
- work with consumers and be sensitive/aware of cultural-differences.
- utilize computer/Internet programs
 
Schedule

• Schedule can be flexible within business hours, M-F 8 AM to 6 PM