Center for Children with Special Needs

CCSN Social Work Internships: Goals and Objectives 

For both BSW and MSW interns:

• Exposure to the field of developmental disabilities (DD) in pediatrics;
• Develop an understanding of the categories of Neurodevelopmental Disorders per DSM5;
• Understand the impact on individuals and families of various types of DD and comorbid emotional and behavioral conditions.
  • Further development of a sense of professional identity as a social worker working in a teaching hospital as part of a multi-disciplinary team with other health care professionals.
  • Development of case management strategies including: researching and providing community resource information; reaching out to families and providing them with culturally competent support, advocacy and follow-up. 

Additional goals in skill development and training for MSW interns:

• Conduct culturally competent bio-psychosocial assessments of children with DD, and their families; Providing a written assessment; Delivering findings and recommendations to families.
• Exposure to, and opportunity to practice evidence-based counseling interventions with, children/ adolescents and their parents affected by DD and co-existing mental health concerns such as: anxiety, depression, emotional and behavioral dysregulation.