Henrico

Intern Job Title: MHDS Intern II/III
Hiring Department: Mental Health and Developmental Services (MH/DS)
Internship Level:  Current students
Type of Student Eligible: Undergrade or Graduate level student
Preferred Area(s) of Study: Human Services, Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Nursing, Public Health, Sociology or other Social Sciences related behavioral health fields
Desired GPA: 2.50 
Semester of Internship: Fall, 2026
Start Date: August 18, 2026
End Date: By the end of the Fall semester
Note: Start and end dates may vary based on the student’s academic program requirements, required internship hours, and school calendar. Some placements may extend into the spring if required by the students’ program.
Work Hours: Flexible; some evening hours may be required depending on placement and program requirements.
Work Location: Interns will be assigned within Henrico Mental Health Prevention Services or other MHDS programs. Work locations vary based on placement.

 Internship Placement Areas: 

 Prevention Services (Primarily undergraduate students)

Potential experiences include:

• Assisting with community-based prevention programming
• Supporting Henrico Too Smart 2 Start Coalition
• Conducting data collection and program support activities
• Participating in merchant education and store audits with Prevention Coordinators
• Working with youth in after-school or community-based settings

Traditional Adult Outpatient Services (Undergraduate and graduate students)

Potential experiences include:

• Observing individual and group therapy sessions
• Learning evidence-based treatment models
• Assisting with outcome tracking
• Completing documentation in the electronic health record (EHR)
• Providing supervised case management and therapy support

Services for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness (Undergraduate and graduate students)

• Potential experiences include:
• Participating in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings
• Case Management
• Assisting with service coordination
• Completing EHR documentation
• Observing or supporting clinical services under supervision

Lakeside Center

Potential experiences include:

• Assisting with milieu management
• Observing clinical assessments and psychoeducational groups
• Facilitating psychoeducational groups with supervision
• Completing EHR documentation

Vocational Services

• Potential experiences include:
• Observing assessments and service planning
• Supporting employment groups
• Assisting clients with job leads and applications
• Providing follow-along support services
• Completing EHR documentation

Youth and Family Services (Graduate students)

• Potential experiences include:
• Observing therapy and case management sessions
• Participating in treatment team collaboration
• Completing EHR documentation
• Providing supervised case management and therapy services

Emergency Services (Graduate students)

• Potential experiences include:
• Observing crisis assessments in hospitals, community settings, or on-site
• Assisting with psychiatric hospital bed searches
• Supporting crisis response efforts with clinical teams
• Completing EHR documentation

Jail and Jail Diversion Services (Undergraduate and graduate students)

Potential experiences include:

• Observing clinical assessments and crisis interventions in jail settings
• Assisting with community-based or correctional services under supervision
• Completing EHR documentation

Learning Opportunities: Depending on placement, interns may:

• Develop skills in community-based behavioral health services
• Learn prevention and intervention strategies
• Gain experience with evidence-based practices
• Build data collection and documentation skills
• Observe crisis response and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Learn professional standards for clinical documentation
• Gain experience working with youth, families, adults, and community stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Successful candidates should demonstrate:
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Attention to detail and organizational ability
• Professionalism and willingness to accept feedback
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Comfort using technology and common software applications
• Interest in behavioral health and Public Service
• Reliable transportation
• Experience through previous employment, volunteer work, or internships is preferred but not required.
  
  

Internships are intended to provide the intern with basic experiential exposure to a field of interest. The intern must bring a strong interest in the assigned department's mission and operations and be prepared to work in a fast-paced environment. The intern will receive training relevant to the assigned responsibilities and finish the internship having gained basic experience in various aspects of the operations of the assigned department as well as basic skills and industry knowledge. Internships may include extensive public contact. Internships may be an integral part of a team or may require the intern to work more independently. The intern will also learn how to work in a professional environment and have opportunities to network with department leaders and other professionals in the internship field.

The application process requires you to include the following items:

Resume

Cover letter that includes the following:

• Why desired area of placement and why you are interested in this internship position
• Three learning goals related to the internship
• Program requirements for an internship like specifics related to the hours needed, supervision requirement, start/stop date and any other relevant information related to your program's requirements for academic credit.  

Unofficial transcript

Interns are not entitled to a permanent position at the completion of an internship. The internship is designed to benefit the intern with the knowledge and skills gained through experiences provided during the internship.

A criminal history record check and fingerprinting is conducted on all persons conditionally offered employment (including as an intern), including a conditional offer of initial employment, or a conditional offer to promote, demote, or laterally transfer an employee.

Education: Pursuing a graduate (master's) or undergraduate degree in a field relevant to internship; GPA of 2.50 or better;

Experience: Completion of college-level program in relevant degree program; relevant job, volunteer or previous internship experience;

Or: Any equivalent combination education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities relevant to the internship.

NOTE: Internships for academic credit are for current graduate and undergraduate students only.

Applicants considered for employment must successfully complete the following background investigations/tests:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Investigation
• State Police Criminal History Investigation
• Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigation (Dept. of Social Services, JRJDC, Juvenile Detention Home)