Internships & Service Learning

Internships

Formal, structured placements that integrate academic study with practical experience. Most require a minimum of 15–20 hours per week and are formal agreements between NVFS and your academic institution.

Clinical internships

For master's in counseling and master's in social work students.

Clinical interns work directly with culturally diverse clients — many of whom have experienced trauma — providing individual and family counseling and peer support through a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive lens. Placements are offered year-round on a rolling basis. Interns must commit to a minimum two-semester placement.

Requirements: Must be fluent in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Farsi, or French is required. Applicants must be second-year students in good academic standing with prior counseling experience. No weekend hours; very limited weekday evenings.

Supervision: One hour of individual weekly supervision with a licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical social worker. Some placements include additional group supervision.

How to Apply

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Submit the following to khorowitz@nvfs.org:

Once your application is complete, you'll be connected with your supervisor for an interview. The supervisor makes the final placement decision. Accepted applicants complete additional paperwork and background checks.​

Non-Clinical Internships

For bachelor's and master's students across a range of fields.

Non-clinical interns contribute across NVFS programs and departments in areas like early childhood education, homelessness and housing, program development, grant writing, research, fundraising, and human resources.

Open to students in social work, psychology, sociology, public health, public administration, public policy, nonprofit management, and more. Two-semester placements are available for senior-year BSW and first-year MSW students on a fall/spring cycle.

Requirements: Applicants must be in good academic standing with a genuine interest in working with low-income and culturally diverse populations.

Supervision: Weekly individual and/or group supervision with qualified staff.

How to Apply

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Service Learning

Course-integrated community experiences are available in fall, spring, and summer. Placements are one semester and range from 50 to 150 hours, with more flexibly defined learning objectives than formal internships. Students whose course-integrated community experience requires less than 25 hours can complete hours at the NVFS Thrift Shop or Hunger Resource Center.

Service Learning

Requirements: Applicants must be in good academic standing with a strong interest in engaging with low-income and culturally diverse populations. Some positions require Spanish fluency.

Supervision: Service learners receive informal supervision, with periodic formal check-ins as needed. No formal weekly supervision meetings.

How to Apply: Reach out directly to the Community & Volunteer Engagement Specialist for your area:

ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA & FAIRFAX

Samara Weinstein

GREATER PRINCE WILLIAM & LOUDOUN

Vicky Bonilla

High School Learning Experience