Community Partners Intern – Summer 2020

CARDINAL INTERNSHIP: Middletown, CT. Laura Patey, Dean for Academic Advancement here at Wesleyan, would love to see some Wes students intern at Gilead this summer. There are two spots open. Gilead is an excellent organization and could provide terrific experience for students interested in clinical psychology, mental health, or nonprofit mental health services.

TO APPLY: apply through Handshake with your approved resume and a cover letter addressed to Dan Osborne, CEO. [Dear Mr. Osborne, ... ]. In your letter, explain your interest in and fit with the position.

Gilead Community Services is a mental health nonprofit which provides a broad spectrum of mental health services to over 700 individuals living with chronic severe mental illness in Middlesex County (see gileadcs.org). Gilead is expanding its services to a broader population through the creation of a community-based Resource Center. The Resource Center will serve as a starting point for individuals and their families looking for mental health services, information, resources and support.

 

The Resource Center provides direct support as well as connecting individuals with clinical services, associated medical care, respite care, wellness supports, family education and support, a dedicated pharmacy, benefits coordination, short-term inpatient care, and private pay residential services. 

 

This unpaid internship offers an opportunity for students to become an integral part of this innovative approach to addressing a critical need for mental health services that are accessible to the broader community. The community-based collaborative approach could serve as a model for other communities looking for ways to address unmet mental health needs.

A central feature of the Resource Center is helping individuals navigate access to existing community supports as part of a personalized, integrated, mental health treatment plan. This internship will focus on working with potential community partners to assess interest, types of services, capacity and funding for a collaborative relationship with the Resource Center.

·     Meet with potential community partners such as the local hospital, state mental health services, police, housing, homeless shelter, substance abuse providers, etc. 

·     Assess interest in participating in the Resource Center

·     Identify potential services available

·     Identify possible funding sources and opportunities

·     Meet with Resource Center Planning Committee

·     Consult on organization of a Resource Center Advisory Group

·     Current student or recent graduate with background in sociology, psychology, community service, or health and human services

·     Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

·     Skilled writer and researcher

·     Self-motivated

·     Organized

·     Able to work independently and collaboratively