My last semester at Old Dominion University, I had the wonderful experience interning at Forkids Inc. Forkids is a family emergency shelter and services program. They help provide stable housing and case management for families who are homeless. Most families enter the Forkids family shelter program by attending the Forkids Emergency Overnight Shelter program. Once a room becomes available and depending on space, a family is then entered into the program. The program is a six to nine-month program that provides the client and their family with case management. During this program, the case manager helps provide housing, employment, education for children, and mental health. Forkids also helps with veteran assistance. They provide veterans with case management services.
I interned in the Regional Housing Crisis Hotline. The Regional Housing Crisis Hotline is the first stop into getting into the Forkids program. The Regional Housing Crisis Hotline provides Shelter resources for homeless families and singles. They also provide utility and rental assistance resources. They do not provide the direct resources. When a client calls into the Regional Housing Crisis Hotline they are taken through an intake process where confidentiality is strictly enforced. The questions that are asked during the intake help provide the Intake Specialist with the information they need to provide the client with the proper resource.
It was big difference from interning and learning in class. Being able to use what I have learned in class has helped me be a good Human Services Professional. I have used the skills that we talked about in each of my Human Services Courses to help the clients when they call in the hotline. It allows me to work on my skills continuously and figure out ways that I can do better. This experience has allowed to learn my own ways of doing things. I have an opportunity to work part-time for the company and would love to continue to learn and grow in the agency.