Wayside Youth & Family Support Network is a children’s mental health agency serving Metrowest and the Greater Boston Area. Our 450+ employees are interested in helping children and families strengthen and enhance their well-being. Wayside is a teaching and training facility that provides graduate and undergraduate students withinternships and clinical placement. Come intern with us!!!

PROGRAM - FRAMINGHAM CAMPUS

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

Wayside’s Residential Services provides mental health treatment to adolescents, ages 12-18, of all gender identities, who live in in the campus residences in Framingham. All clients are either involved with the Department of Children and Families or the Department of Mental Health. We provide in-depth assessments to guardians and providers; individual therapy; family therapy; and group therapy. Residential work also entails a multi-disciplinary approach by working in the residences with milieu staff, and attending clinical rounds with psychiatry. Additionally, we participate in frequent collateral meetings with DMH and DCF, and outpatient providers. While most therapy occurs on the campus, occasionally in-home therapy is required.

Most of our clients have trauma histories, and many are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and/or gang-involved. They have significant mental health and behavioral challenges that make it difficult for them to experience success and safety while living in a home-setting. We take a strength-based approach to work with our clients and their families, and utilize many therapeutic models to help them step down to lower levels of care as soon as they are ready (one month to a couple years).

Interns can expect to learn how to provide the following: in-depth assessments; individual and family therapy; group therapy; crisis management; and case management. Interns can also expect to learn how to work in a very fast-paced environment that encompasses multi-disciplinary collaboration.

ABOUT WAYSIDE :

Founded in 1977, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network is a non-profit, nationally accredited human service agency headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts dedicated to building strength, hope and resiliency in youth, families and our local communities. Wayside is one of Massachusetts’ most respected child and family serving agencies with 19 program locations across Central, Eastern and Northeastern Massachusetts serving more than 6,000 children, young adults and families each year. Wayside staff and clinicians provide community trainings in schools, to mental health providers and in collaboration with community partners. Wayside is a teaching and training facility that provides graduate and undergraduate students withinternships and clinical placement.

INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

• Seeking first and second year Masters Level interns
• Work a minimum of 20 hours/week and have an ability to work 2 evenings a week. Working a Wednesday or Thursday is required.
• A background in health and human services or related field preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• CORI check and completion of Wayside’s Pre-service Orientation
• Provide assessments, treatment plans, and on-going therapeutic services. Be willing to work with multi-disciplinary teams, including DCF and DMH, across the state.

OTHER DETAILS:

• FIELD INSTRUCTORS: LICSWs
• NUMBER OF SITE TRAINEES: 3
• CORI CHECK: Yes
• CAR NEEDED: Yes
• HOME VISITS: Yes, rare
• TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT: Yes
• LANGUAGE SKILLS: Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole are assets, but not required
• MANDATORY SCHEDULE: Interns must commit to a minimum of 20 hours a week over the course of 3-4 days that includes a Wednesday or Thursday. Two evenings a week are required.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT:

Wayside will do the work to become an anti-racist, social justice, and advocacy organization that provides human services to children and families.

Wayside is committed to representing the communities we serve by reflecting our diverse population and its needs in our workforce. We place the highest priority on providing quality care and promoting social justice values that empower youth, families and our staff. Successful candidates are expected to be engaged in Wayside’s commitment to DEI. Wayside welcomes equity-minded applicants whose values align with our goal of being a child welfare and behavioral health agency committed to anti-racism, social justice, and advocacy. Successful candidates are asked to be engaged in Wayside’s dedication to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Bilingual/bicultural and LGBTQ+ applicants are encouraged to apply!

PROGRAM ADDRESS: Wayside Campus 1 Frederick Abbott Way Framingham Massachusetts 01701 P: 508-879-9800 F: 508-875-1348

Founded in 1977, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network is a non-profit, nationally accredited human services agency dedicated to building Strength, Hope and Resiliency through its family-based outreach services, residential treatment programs, and community-based counseling services to thousands of children, youth and families throughout Eastern and Central Massachusetts.

Wayside is committed to an inclusive, diverse, vibrant workforce that reflects the communities we serve, celebrates the rich diversity of our children, youth, families and employees and believes that by harnessing the power of our collective similarities and differences we can better serve our mission. Therefore, we are dedicated through open communication and ongoing education to increase awareness and pledge to seek out and respect diverse voices in all aspects of our work.