Why should I intern with the School of Social Work AmeriCorps program — Survivor Link?
Interning with Survivor Link is a valuable opportunity to address the pressing issue of domestic violence in our community. Through the Survivor Link program, you’ll learn more about evidence-based safety planning interventions and will get training and receive a certificate recognizing you as a Domestic Violence Advocate for the state of Arizona endorsed by the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. In addition to this, you can take advantage of benefits including a cash scholarship, and the Segal Education Award. The cash scholarship is distributed between the two semesters you are interning; the education award is distributed once a member has completed their term of service. The Segal Education Award can be used toward tuition or paying back student loans. Also, AmeriCorps members can use this experience for course credit in accordance with their academic units policy and add it looks great on your resume!
What will I do at my internship?
Each placement is different and the activities and tasks are tailored by the site supervisor to help the member integrate into the community organization. Survivor Link members’ will incorporate healthy relationship promotion and domestic violence information learned through the DV & AmeriCorps Service course into their service. AmeriCorps members may additionally support staff and residents with other tasks agreed upon by the AmeriCorps member and the site supervisor. Members will report direct service activities to the AmeriCorps staff and the field instructor.
How do I qualify for this internship?
Current ASU undergraduate or graduate students in any discipline and in good academic standing with an interest in promoting healthy relationships and ending domestic violence in Arizona are invited to apply. At this time, we can not onboard community members or students at other universities. All students must register for the DV & AmeriCorps Service course, have an up-to-date Level-One Fingerprint Clearance card or be willing to obtain one, and follow the application steps. Survivor Link is a competitive program and students selected to serve will be notified of their acceptance by the second week of the fall semester. Former AmeriCorps members are welcome to apply as well as long as they have not surpassed the maximum terms of service. To make sure you qualify, please add this to your application.
What is the time commitment to participate in the program?
The minimum term of service is 300 hours, and most AmeriCorps members through Survivor Link serve for 450 hours. Those who are interested in receiving a higher scholarship award can speak with Survivor Link staff about 675-hour opportunities. AmeriCorps members are required to track their hours on our online time card system, OnCorps. During the beginning of the term of service, members will be taught how to record and submit time to their site supervisor/field instructor.
I am an ASU student. Will I receive credit for participating?
You are encouraged to register for internship credit through your academic unit. Our AmeriCorps staff have great relationships throughout the university and will do our best to simplify this process. Online students residing in the state of Arizona can become a member of the Survivor Link program. However, the mandated course is not available to students online. To replace this training, we request that online students participate in a week-long training with the Arizona Coalition to end Sexual and Domestic Violence. An AmeriCorps Field Specialist can give you more specific guidance.
What is the application, interview, and placement process timeline?
Because there are limited spots, this is a highly competitive program. Each applicant contacts our program and fills out an initial interview form (approximately 20 minutes), and then follows up with our staff by emailing sseer@asu.edu to schedule an interview (approximately 1 hour). Typically, the entire process can take approximately 2 weeks. Depending on the time of year things can move either more slowly or more quickly. If you are still needing to match with a site you may end up doing several phone and in-person interviews. Once a site placement has agreed to host you for a term of service you will onboard with that agency and begin your internship.
Do I have to be an AmeriCorps member or a student in the Social Work Program to apply for the domestic violence certificate?
The answer is no! You do not have to be an AmeriCorps member or a student in a Social Work Program to apply for the Domestic Violence Certificate! The AmeriCorps Survivor Link program and Domestic Violence Certificate program are meant to complement one another, but they are not mutually exclusive. If you wish to pursue the DV certificate and you are not an AmeriCorps member or student in social work you can fill out a DV certificate program study form. We work with students from many disciplines, both graduate and undergraduate.
