Undergraduate Student Fieldwork Program

Recipient of Service:
Undergraduate students majoring in Human Services, Psychology, or Sociology classes and related fields.


Schedule:
Undergraduate interns make a 1 semester commitment to Casa and provide the shelter with 10-12 hours per week of on-site service on 2 separate days. Each student attends group supervision for 1 hour per week. In addition, students pair up for outreach services to promote Casa services in the surrounding communities.


Provider:
Undergraduate students are recruited from California State University at Fullerton, Long Beach, and Dominguez Hills; Cypress College; Saddleback College; and Fullerton College. Each student must be enrolled in an accredited college curriculum and concurrently taking a fieldwork class.


Program Director:
The Undergraduate Fieldwork program is directed by Gary Zager, who holds a Masters degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton, and is licensed as a Marriage Famly Child Counselor.


Service Description:
The program is designed to provide an intensive, hands-on learning experience to the human service providers of tomorrow. In addition, these students give care and support to Casa's at-risk adolescents and are positive role models for these children.


Goals of Service:
The training gives students a strong foundation of knowledge in the helping professions. Students are active in assessing telephone crisis calls, charting daily notes on clients and participating as co-facilitators in group activities. Each student is expected to develop appropriate boundaries and set limitations when dealing with clients; to learn how, as a professional, to separate themselves emotionally from the clients' personal crises; and to provide effective care.