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Senior Internship Experience

Stephanie Bracamonte

Sierra Vista Children's Center Foster Family Program

The philosophy of Sierra Vista Children's Center (SVCC) "is a private, non-profit organization established to provide comprehensive clinical services to severely emotionally/behaviorally disturbed children and their families. The therapeutic programs at SVCC include Children's Day Treatment Program, Non-Public School, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Program, Treatment Foster Family Program, and Out-Patient Services."

My internship at Sierra Vista Children's Center foster family program. I was supervised by a team of Social Workers. The Program Coordinator Yvonne, is my on-site supervisor. The staff at SVCC are wonderful, they provide an environment to learn and prosper. They are very supportive, and confirmed my ideal goal to peruse a career in Social Services. The staff at SVCC Foster Family have a genuine concern for the well being of the children in the agency.

As an intern at SVCC, I had the opportunity to accompany Social Workers on home visits, observations at school, and IEP meetings. I was also given the opportunity to sit-in on visits with the child Psychiatrist. I attended staff meetings, supervision, and orientations. My main function at SVCC is acting as an "In Home support Counselor". Which is know my paid position with the agency.

As an In Home Support Counselor, I participate in crisis prevention and crisis management. I aid the families and social Workers in providing positive interaction with the child, and observe the behaviors of the child and family interaction. I also assist the Social Workers in developing needs and appraisals, Goals and objectives and any thing else asked of me.

I was assigned a specific family to work with. This family has 3 foster children in the home. Originally I began working with only one of the children. However, going into a home and only giving attention to one child; doesn't work. I have recently begun working with all three of the children. When I go into the home I am informed of any specific behaviors that have been occurring. I then work with the child individual child as well as in a group. I work with them in a variety of ways. For example, if a child's social skills are developmentally delayed, then social skills becomes a target area. This being the case I focus on conversational skills, play skills, and peer interaction. I may have all children in the home interact, by playing games, socializing, role playing or anything else appropriate. I work closely with the Social Workers, they oversee and advise me on behavior interventions. I have learned a tremendous amount from my experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my internship. I learned a lot about the client population, title 22, and the process it takes to become a Foster parent.

I was supervised by an excellent clinical team. I was always treated with respect. They all are extremely helpful with any question that I have, as well as offering me advise and supervision and are very supportive of my educational goals. I am thankful that I was given the opportunity work and learn from the such an experienced clinical team. I now have experience that I will always benefit from.

I want to thank the staff at Sierra Vista Children's Center Foster Program. Yvonne McLoughlin(Program Coordinator), Louise Myers (Supervising Social Worker), and Mary Jo Mastin (Social Worker), Linda Curtis (Office Manager), and Christen. You are all wonderful people!