Internship Information
Earning Credit... Gaining Experience
Undergraduate/Graduate Students
If you are seeking an excellent learning experience in human services related fields such as Criminal
Justice/Criminology, Psychology, Social Work, or Sociology the Greene County Family Court - Juvenile
Division and/or Domestic Relations Division may have an opportunity for you.
There are a variety of intern opportunities within the Family Court: Juvenile and/or Domestic Relations
Division for those interested in completing intern hours as part of the required curriculum at participating
universities. These opportunities include placement in the following units: Abuse/Neglect, Law/Status
Violations, Greene County Youth Academy (GCYA), Community Based Services, Detention, Domestic Relations,
Diversion, and Probation.
It is the practice whenever practical or possible to honor internship or student field placement requests.
Interns attend orientation sessions and receive supervision and consultation from staff members. We believe
interns play an essential role in the effective implementation of our programs. It is recognized that their
skills and abilities benefit the Court, the Family, and the community. Interns make direct contributions to
staff effectiveness, provide families with intensive direct services, and through their added awareness of
juvenile and family issues, benefit the community at large. Our services are expanded and strengthened by
using interns in a variety of ways depending upon individual interests, knowledge, skills and talents.
Intern with the Juvenile Division, Abuse and Neglect Unit (Undergraduate)
The Child Abuse & Neglect Unit works with families whose children have been removed from the parental
home due to abuse and/or neglect.
Internship learning opportunities: Shadow DJO's throughout daily activities
Observation
- Court preparation process
- Court Hearings
- Family Support Team Meetings
- Mediation
- Specialized programing for youth and families involved with the courts and foster care system
- Community presentations, boards, panels
Interaction
- Throughout the internship there will be opportunities to meet a variety of individuals involved in cases including parents, children, social workers, attorneys, therapists and others.
Assistance
- Court preparation
- Coordinating witness
- Attend meetings in DJO absence, if needed, and provide report to DJO
- Maintaining case files
There will be opportunity for ongoing discussions with the DJO's to assist in understanding Abuse & Neglect issues and the legal process involved.
Intern with the Juvenile Division, Law/Status Violation Unit (Undergraduate/Graduate)
The Delinquency Unit serves as the Juvenile Office's front line in dealing with youth allegedly involved in
committing delinquent acts and status offenses. Deputy Juvenile Officers (DJOs) within the unit are assigned
referrals concerning youth who while less than 17 years of age committed or are suspected of committing an
offense. The role of the Juvenile Officer is to advise a juvenile of their rights during an investigation
conducted by law enforcement. If a referral is legally sufficient, a DJO can make recommendations for
disposition that may include diversion, informal, or formal services.
Learning opportunities:
- Observe the investigative process that involves juvenile suspects
- Observe and assist DJO in gather social history information and administering assessments
- Learn about the screening instruments utilized to determine risk/needs of juvenile offenders
- Observe, assist, and participate in discussion with DJO and legal staff to determine an appropriate disposition for a referral
- Become familiar with a variety of services and programs offered within the community for youth
- Learn about the informal and formal programs available through the Juvenile Court system
- Gain an understanding of the structure of the Juvenile Court and its various programs and processes
- Assist DJO in preparing social investigative summaries, summons, subpoenas, court orders, and investigative reports
- Observation in courtrooms on various kinds of cases and types of court hearings
- Opportunity to work with a DJO on cases of supervision, probation and progress reporting
- Accompany and/or assist DJO on field contact with delinquent youth through home visits and/or school visits or office check-ins
- Observe and learn about a variety of specialized programs for youth such as: GEMs, HAP, Community Engagement Events, VIP/VOM, and more
Intern with the Juvenile Detention Unit (Undergraduate)
Learning Opportunities:
- Gain an understanding of the role and functions of a Detention Juvenile Officer
- Provide short-term care and secure custody pending court hearings to juvenile offenders who meet confinement criteria
- Address juvenile needs and perform basic routine care
- Intervene and assist in detainee problem solving
- Maintain a daily schedule leading or directing groups of youth
- Function under staff supervision to involve detained youth in constructive activities by providing direction as well as positive interaction.
Intern with the Family Court Domestic Relations (Graduate)
Learning Opportunities:
- Gain an understanding of the structure of the court and its various programs and processes
- Observation in the courtroom of various kinds of cases and court hearings
- Observe and assist officers with investigations regarding allegations and/or concerns regarding either parent
- Observe and assist at the Supervised Access Program
- Observe and assist with petitions filed for child or adult orders of protection
- Observe the court ordered Alternative Dispute Resolution class
Intern with the Juvenile Division, Greene County Youth Academy (Undergraduate/Graduate)
Learning opportunities:
- Engage youth in community-based events/activities
- Create programming ideas/concepts and assist in facilitating groups
- Interact with all other sections of the Juvenile Office, including attending court hearings
- Collect/complete statistical data to evaluate programming at GCYA
- Assist in documenting youth performance while at GCYA
- Provide supervision for youth throughout the school day or during evening programming hours
- Assist in transporting youth to various programming activities, including possible evenings and weekends
- Most importantly, have an opportunity to help youth grow and achieve more than he or she ever imagined possible
Intern with the Juvenile Division, Diversion Unit (Undergraduate/Graduate)
Learning opportunities:
- Assist diversion officers with processing of diversion referrals
- Assist in contacting families by phone/mail with resource information
- Assist in reaching out to community partners to better understand their services and what they can offer for families/youth
- Assist with school presentations on various topics that cause youth to have contact with the Juvenile Office
- Assist in compiling Diversion Unit statistics
- Participating in/facilitating group programming with youth and their families
Intern with the Juvenile Division, Community Based Services (Undergraduate/Graduate)
Learning opportunities:
- Assist in scheduling community service group projects for youth
- Participate in community service group projects with youth
- Participate in/facilitating gender responsive (GEMs/Spartans) group programming with youth
- Attend community meeting to network with existing and potential partners
- Research and identify new community partnership opportunities
- Internship has varied hours (evenings specifically, some weekends)
- Assist with Diversion and GCYA as it relates to community based services
Obtaining an Internship
The Greene County Family Court - Juvenile Division and/or Domestic Relations Division offers many
opportunities for students to earn college credit, professional experience, and exposure to career
opportunities while participating as an agent of change in the lives of youth and families.
What you need to do to become a student intern:
- Check with your school's Internship Coordinator to determine internship eligibility and placement requirements.
- Request an application for Internship by calling (417) 868-4008, or Intern Application 2024.
- Schedule an interview to discuss areas of interest, possible internship positions and location.
- Complete the Child Abuse or Neglect record check, FBI criminal background check and other forms to be completed prior to the start date of the internship.
Deadlines for intern applications:
- Fall semester deadline - June 1st
- Spring semester deadline - November 1st
- Summer semester deadline - March 1st