Americorps - Elder Services Intern

Program Mission and/or Goals:

Civic Works Cities for All Ages program strives to ensure that older adults live healthy and successful lives within their Baltimore communities. Free services are offered to adults (ages 65 ) living in Baltimore City. These services include Home Repair, Home Safety Modifications, Occupational Therapy, Case Management, Community Outreach and Education, and Information and Referral. According to AARP, the Census Bureau estimates that close to 8 million people in the United States will be over the age of 85 by 2020. One of the most common problems facing older adults is living in a home that no longer matches their needs and abilities. By assessing home safety risks, addressing fall hazards, installing rails, and improving lighting conditions, CAA helps prevent accidents at home. While improving the home environment, the CAA team can also evaluate additional potential needs of seniors, including occupational therapy. CAAs occupational therapists can adapt environments, modify tasks, and teach new skills, all of which help seniors improve their ability to perform daily activities. CAA also provides older adults with free resources that help save money on energy costs, such as energy-saving light bulbs, low flow water faucets and more. Additional information is available through the program to help connect seniors with benefits and services around the city.

Position Summary:

The Intern positions will include providing ongoing support and expertise to older adult client through comprehensive assessment, planning, intervention, and overall evaluation of individual client needs. The member will also be responsible for attending community meetings and events to become aware of resources available for older adult clients and training opportunities available that would benefit themselves, engaging with senior groups to learn about the needs of older adults in the community, creating seasonal educational newsletters, organizing social engagement opportunities for older adults in the community, and engaging the older adults connected to the Cities for All Ages program in community and program activities as well.

Members will organize two events per semester. Members will learn to write a proposal for their event, engage with other organizations to find an appropriate location and solicit donations as they relate to the events, and educate the community about Elder Services Programs.

Members will participate in at least 8 outreach events per term to share information with community members about the programs available within Elder Services. This opportunity will allow interns to become familiar with the needs of community members while also learning about additional resources available to them through networking with other exhibitors.

Social Work Interns will do research on different community-based organizations and groups to create a resource binder at the completion of their term. The binders will help to connect the older adults of our program to the resources that each group provides. Past projects have included information about senior centers, community organizations, and best practices for community outreach.

Members will create and distribute two to three newsletters to over 2000 of our clients. Newsletters are the best way to keep in contact with past clients and to provide updates on the most recent resources and community events.

Members will also shadow other program staff to enhance their skill-set. These experiences will include shadowing social workers to conduct home visits, door to door resource distribution, assisting with the Housing Upgrades to Benefit Seniors intake line, and attending various planning and advisory board committee meetings.

By the end of this service term, the member will have a grasp of:

community based resources

• aging in place
• links between housing and health
• outreach strategies
• program management
• building rapport with clients
• engaging community members
• creating proposals

• Civic Works strengthens Baltimores communities through education, skills development, and community service. Civic Works goals are to Build Brighter Futures through education and job training, grow Healthy Food and Green Communities, and create Safe and Affordable Housing.

Required Academic and Experience Qualifications: 

Members must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at a four year college or university, preferably in one of the following areas: human services management, social work, health systems management, social sciences (e.g., anthropology, sociology, political science, etc.), public administration, and non-profit management.

Other Requirements:

• Background Check & Drug Test Required
• Must have reliable independent transportation
• Submission of a Resume