Internships

Join the DAIS Intern Team! Interns play a crucial role in the work we do. DAIS offers many possibilities for both undergraduate and graduate students. Interns help support almost every DAIS program – from providing direct services in the DAIS Safe House and Crisis Line, to assisting with community outreach and education.

If you have any questions about the DAIS Internship Program, please contact the DAIS Director of Services at 251-1237, ext. 308.

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Internship Opportunities

Direct Service Internships

Most DAIS Interns assist in the provision of direct services to people in need, through a variety of the crisis intervention programs offered through DAIS. (Please see Internship Requirements for a list of requirements that apply to direct-service internship positions.)

The following direct-service opportunities are available:

  • Crisis line: Interns are trained to answer the 24-hour DAIS Crisis Line. Calls from survivors, concerned family and friends, other health/service professionals, and staff from other organizations are typical.
  • Crisis Response: Interns would be able to meet with clients in face-to-face meetings at a variety of community partnership sites throughout Dane County. Interns would provide support, as well as information to clients on a variety of subjects including: community resources, safety planning, domestic violence,  restraining orders. Students would need to have a car available in order to be an intern in this program.
  • Safe House: DAIS operates a 25-bed shelter. While in shelter, Family Advocates work with residents on issues such as transitioning to a new living situation, receiving assistance with an AODA or mental health issue, and helping parents understand the effects of trauma on their children. Interns learn how to conduct intakes and needs-assessments with residents, as well as provide case management services.
  • Children’s Program: Children of all ages are involved in both structured and free play through the DAIS Children’s Program. Interns help lead group activities, as well as assist individual children.
  • Community Support Group: DAIS clients (both from the shelter and the community) are invited to attend weekly support groups. Interns act as co-facilitators, alongside a trained staff person.
  • Legal Program: Depending on previous experience, interns may be able to gain experience in the Legal Program. Legal Advocates assist victims with restraining orders, accompany clients to court, and assist victims in navigating the legal system. Interns assist in these efforts. Under the direction of one of the Legal Advocates, interns may become involved in the Court Watch program, which requires attending court one morning a week for an academic year. All interns desiring to do direct client work must attend the DAIS new advocate training. Court Watch can start prior to the training. Supervisory duties of the intern may be shared by other DAIS staff, depending upon the academic program the student intern is from.

Other Internship Opportunities

DAIS offers several non-direct-service internship opportunities, as well. These internships are perfect for students who are unable to attend the New Advocate Training required for Direct-Service Internship positions, but who still want to intern with DAIS. In addition, non-direct-service positions can be a better fit for some academic areas, such as marketing, communications, and nonprofit management.

These opportunities include:

  • Community Awareness and Prevention Education (CAPE): The CAPE program is our primary vehicle for community education and prevention efforts. CAPE Interns present education and prevention messages to school groups, community organizations, faith-based groups, and others. Common topics include the warning signs of abuse, dating violence, and many more.
  • Marketing and Media (M&M): Marketing and Media interns assist with DAIS-related event-planning, fundraising efforts, and publicity. M&M interns provide support to the annual DAIS Community-wide Luncheon, staff tabling events at farmers’ markets and community fairs, produce and disseminate brochures and other outreach information, and help expand DAIS’ presence online and in the media.

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Internship Requirements

Internships are available for undergraduate and graduate students. Most of our interns come from any of the following degree programs: Social Work, Law/Pre-Law, Health-related fields, Women’s Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Early Childhood Development, Business/Marketing, Communication Studies, and Nonprofit Management. DAIS internships can be tailored to meet the academic needs of a wide variety of students, and the experiences gained through the DAIS Internship Program can benefit a wide variety of disciplines.

Direct Service

Direct-service interns are required to commit to a two-semester placement. Students who wish to complete a one-semester internship placement are asked to commit to volunteering for an additional semester after their internship has formally ended.

Direct-service interns must attend the comprehensive DAIS New Advocate Training required of all direct-service volunteers. Training is typically offered during the early spring and early fall. Any student wishing to complete an internship during the summer would need to make arrangements to attend the training in the spring.

Legal Advocates Only

Legal interns who wish to participate in Court Watch must receive approval from the DAIS Legal Systems Coordinator and be available to attend court one morning a week for one year. Interns can begin Court Watch prior to the completion of the New Advocate Training.

Everyone

All interns are required to complete the Internship Application, submit to a criminal background check, and allow DAIS to contact references.

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