Cabrillo Internships

Thank you for your interest in interning with Walnut Avenue!

Our volunteer programs provide a variety of options for direct service experience.

If you’re a Cabrillo student who wants to volunteer with us but NOT for academic credit, then you would follow the same process as our general non-academic volunteers. More information on that is here.

Did you know? Cabrillo students can take the Summer DV training for free, even if they don’t plan to volunteer with Walnut Avenue!

Setting Up an Internship

  1. First, look to see if your class, program, or department is described below. If it is, then you will find more information tailored to the specific requirements of your program.

  2. Reach out to the staff contact by email to discuss your academic situation. Every class and program has unique requirements: you will need to speak with the staff contact to determine if Walnut Avenue can fulfill those requirements.

  3. In your email, please include your class or program requirements if your program is not already listed below. Your professor may have provided a handout that lists the class or program requirements, such as what activities are or are not allowed, expected learning outcomes, and/or end-of-term evaluation requirements. The staff person will need this information to determine whether or not Walnut Avenue can accommodate you as an academic intern.

  4. If Walnut Avenue is able to accommodate you, then the staff person will provide you with next steps!

Staff Contact:

Marjorie Coffey (they/them)
mcoffey@wafwc.org
Email is preferred.

Classes & Programs

Human Services (HSERV)

Students in Cabrillo’s HSERV program who are looking for a practicum placement may choose from one of the following options.

For any questions or concerns not addressed here, or to set up your internship, please email the staff contact listed above.

  • Kids Club volunteers provide childcare for children aged 11 or younger while their parent attends a support group or meets with an advocate. Kids Club volunteers act as safe adults for children who have been exposed to household violence, providing trauma-informed structure and support for the child’s ongoing development while making it easier for the survivor parent to access their own support services.

    Crafts, toys, games, and snacks are all provided. No diaper or bathroom assistance is required.

    Weekly time commitment: 2 hours on Thursday nights, 5-7pm; twice-monthly program staff meetings
    Length of commitment: 6 months OR one semester
    Training required:     2-3 hours regarding program policies

    If a student plans to complete only 1 semester of volunteer work with Walnut Avenue, then this position is the best option. However, students may serve 2 semesters or longer in this position if they wish.

  • Advocates provide crisis intervention, emotional support, domestic violence education, and resource information to survivors and their allies using peer counseling techniques on our 24-hour helpline.

    Advocates may choose to participate in additional forms of service. While our helpline operates remotely, these optional programs are all done in person:

    • Drop-in domestic violence peer counseling

    • Legal advocacy / in-court services

    • Teen services

    • Space for Change (restorative justice) (available on an as-needed basis)

    • Survivor support group facilitation

    Weekly time commitment: variable

    • Helpline shifts are once a week and operate remotely.

    • There is a monthly virtual meeting on the first Wednesday from 5:30-7:30pm which is mandatory for all volunteer advocates.

    • Additional services have their own time commitments.

    Length of commitment: 12 months
    Training required    : attend an Info Night prior to the seasonal training you’ve chosen; complete the 40-hour domestic violence certification training

    Availability:

    • This position is available to students who are willing to volunteer as an advocate for a minimum of 12 months, which is longer than what the practicum requires. Students will only receive academic credit for the one or two semesters in which they are enrolled in the practicum and choose to use Walnut Avenue as their site.

    • There is no limit to the number of HSERV interns who may participate at a given time.

    • The 40-hour training is allowed to count towards your practicum hours. You may register for any of the 3 seasonal trainings (Spring, Summer, or Fall).

  • Housing case navigators are assigned to one or two families in our Housing & Employment Program as case managers. They assist in securing housing and income to maintain stability.

    Weekly time commitment: 8-10 hours
    Length of commitment: 12 months
    Training required    : the housing case navigator training, which is scheduled on an as-needed basis with the program supervisor

    Availability:

    • This position is available to students who are willing to volunteer as an advocate for a minimum of 12 months, which is longer than what the practicum requires. Students will only receive academic credit for the one or two semesters in which they are enrolled in the practicum and choose to use Walnut Avenue as their site.

    • There is no limit to the number of HSERV interns who may participate at a given time.