Social Work Internship Program 

Program Overview

The Department of Psychiatry at URochester Medicine Strong Hospital is proud to offer a comprehensive Social Work Internship Program for undergraduate and graduate-level social work students. This program provides an excellent opportunity for clinical training and vast exposure within a leading academic medical center, preparing future social work professionals for diverse and challenging roles in mental healthcare. Our interns become included members of interdisciplinary teams, gaining invaluable experience in a supportive and dynamic environment.

Program Objectives

Our internship program is designed to cultivate skilled and ethically grounded social work practitioners. Training objectives will vary based on the training level of the SW intern and placement location. Upon completion, interns may demonstrate increased awareness and competency in the following areas:

• Conduct thorough psychosocial assessments and formulate effective intervention plans for individuals, families, and groups across various psychiatric settings.
• Apply a range of evidence-based clinical interventions, including individual, group, and family therapy, crisis intervention, and case management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of mental health diagnoses, treatment modalities, and the impact of social determinants on mental well-being.
• Collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams, contributing a social work perspective to patient care and treatment planning.
• Practice ethically and with cultural humility, recognizing and addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical practice.
• Engage in critical self-reflection and utilize supervision to enhance professional growth and clinical competence.

Training Experience

Clinical Placements: Interns are placed in various psychiatric settings, offering exposure to a wide spectrum of patient populations and clinical challenges. These may include:

• Acute Psychiatric Programs (Mobile Crisis, CPEP, Inpatient): Providing immediate crisis intervention and assessment in the community, emergency room, and inpatient setting for individuals experiencing mental health crisis across the lifespan.
• Pediatric and Adult Partial Hospitalization Programs: Delivering short term intensive, structured treatment in a group setting.
• Pediatric, Adult, and Geriatric Mental Health Outpatient Programs: Focusing on outpatient mental health services for patients across the lifespan.

Supervision and Didactics: Each intern receives weekly individual supervision from experienced, licensed social workers. This dedicated supervision fosters clinical skill development, ethical decision-making, and professional identity formation. Additionally, interns participate in robust educational opportunities, including Seminars, Grand Rounds, and Case Conferences.

Application Process

We welcome applications from highly motivated and qualified undergraduate and graduate-level social work students.

University Affiliations
We maintain strong affiliations with several esteemed universities, ensuring our program aligns with the highest academic and professional standards. Our current university partners include:

• Nazareth University
• Roberts Wesleyan University
• SUNY Brockport
• University of Buffalo
• SUNY Binghamton

Eligibility 
Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) program and be in good academic standing.

Required Application Materials

To apply for the Social Work Internship Program, all documentation, including your cover letter and resume/CV, needs to be submitted formally through your school's field director.

1. Cover Letter - Detailing your interest in our program, your clinical experience, and your professional goals.
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) - Highlighting your educational background, relevant work or volunteer experience, and any research or publications.

Application Timeline
Applications for internships commencing the following academic year are accepted from March 1st through mid-April. Interviews are conducted during this period. We encourage prospective interns to ensure their materials are submitted by their school's field director within this timeframe, as positions are competitive.

Contact Us

For further inquiries regarding the Social Work Internship Program, please contact:
SW Intern Committee
Email: swinternship@urmc.rochester.edu. 
We look forward to hearing from you!