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2021 Summer College Internship Program at DOROT

DOROT offers a 10-week summer internship program for college students interested in careers in non-profit management, marketing, community organizing, social work, and working with older adults. Through a competitive process, we choose ten to twenty interns each summer. Only current Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors will be considered for our summer college internship positions.

A number of the internship positions will be entirely remote. If circumstances permit, DOROT may provide a “hybrid” experience for some interns, including both onsite and remote work activities for those interns who are able to travel to DOROT.

This internship program provides students with an understanding of the issue and impact of social isolation among older adults as well as DOROT’s response. We give each intern substantive work and project management experience. While the work done by interns varies by department, we are committed to entrusting interns with significant responsibility and providing them with an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. Regardless of the department one is assigned to, each intern will be matched with at least one older adult for a weekly friendly phone, Zoom or in-person conversation for the duration of the internship.

In addition to a departmental placement, summer interns also have a group experience. There is a comprehensive orientation to DOROT and our work with older adults, weekly group sessions with other interns and DOROT staff for learning and reflection and several group outings each summer.

Program Details
DOROT’s Summer College Internship begins on Tuesday, June 1 and will conclude on Thursday, August 5. This is a four day a week placement, Monday through Thursday 9/9:30am-5/5:30pm. Orientation on June 1 and 2 will take place 9:00am-5:00pm.

The internship positions described below are unpaid. DOROT is able to offer college credit with approval from the intern’s academic institution. Many colleges and universities provide stipends for student to participate in summer internships with nonprofit organizations. Deadlines and availability vary by school and are awarded solely at the discretion of each individual institution. DOROT is happy to provide information about our internship program to help internship candidates apply for such opportunities.

Application Process
We will begin reviewing applications in November 2020. Acceptances will be awarded on a modified rolling basis, with the first round of acceptance letters going out in December and each month after that, until all positions have been filled. Applicants must complete DOROT’s 2021 Summer Internship Application. In addition to submitting an application, candidates are asked to send their resumes to Sharon Stahl, Coordinator of College and Adult Volunteers, at sstahl@dorotusa.org with the subject heading “2021 Summer Internship Application”. Only candidates who submit completed applications and resumes will be considered for internship positions.

Individual Internship Descriptions
Applicants are asked to rank their preference for their internship placement. We currently have openings in the following departments:

Constituent and Community Services – 3 Internship Positions
Interns in this department will have the opportunity to engage and build relationships with a wide range of older adults, develop an understanding of how to best advocate for people in need, and gain experience and an appreciation for gerontology, social work and related social services fields of interest. Throughout the summer, interns will be responsible for providing social and concrete support to older adult clients by engaging in weekly remote visits with seniors, supporting DOROT’s Door to Door and Kol DOROT (senior choir) programs. One of the three Constituent and Community Services will divide their time between that department and DOROT Westchester where they will engage in similar work and tasks. Finally, interns will conduct client surveys on DOROT seniors to assess DOROT’s impact and assist with office projects, including data entry.

Connect Through Tech (CTT) – 1 Internship Position
The intern in the Connect Through Tech Department will be an active contributor and collaborator. This individual will schedule and facilitate one-to-one tech visits with older adults, conduct pre-screening calls with clients referred to the Remote Tech Visit program as well as follow-up survey calls following a “visit”, update tech guidelines to be utilized by DOROT volunteers with seniors, match volunteers and clients through the Remote Tech Visit program and more. Additionally, this intern will record data via Excel and in DOROT’s database and work with the Marketing and Communications team on specific projects.

Impact and Evaluation – 2 Internship Positions  
The Impact and Evaluation Intern will conduct program impact surveys on DOROT seniors, code qualitative date and review studies relevant to DOROT’s mission and evaluation initiatives. In conducting surveys, this intern will: schedule phone survey interviews with DOROT seniors; record responses online; report concerns to DOROT staff, as needed; sort and code data collected and only survey results. This intern will also assist with research, including: tracking and summarizing trends in aging services, social isolation, and intergenerational programming; document use of assessment tools to help in determining program success indicators.

Kosher Meals at Home (KMH) – 2 Internship Positions 
Kosher Meals at Home Interns make weekly calls to new, old and short-term emergency clients for their meal orders. The information these interns gain while speaking on the phone with DOROT clients is critical in providing support and services to the individual. These interns will learn how to refer seniors to other DOROT and outside services for assistance, make Birthday Calls and find out about individual technology needs to keep seniors connected.

Lasting Impressions – 1 Internship Position 
This position has been filled.

Onsite and Special Programs – 1 Internship Position
The Onsite and Special Programs Intern will assist staff in an administrative capacity, help plan for upcoming programs, and engage with older adult participants. This individual should bring their interest in event planning and creativity to expand our offerings. Throughout the summer, this intern will become a familiar face to the DOROT community as they help form connections remotely. The Onsite at Home Department offers up to 25 Zoom programs per week. This intern will host or co-host programs for 10-100 people, conduct program surveys on DOROT seniors, design and facilitate their own program to occur weekly or one time, assist with data entry, participate in discussion-based programming and much more.

University Without Walls (UWW) – 1 Internship Position
The intern in the University Without Walls Program is an important part of the overall Connect Through Tech Department. This intern will assist with research and administrative tasks to ensure that the program runs smoothly and meets the needs of older adults who attend the program. Throughout the summer this intern will: assist with collecting client feedback about programs, conduct phone surveys of participants to determine the impact of a particular program, perform Remote Tech Visits for seniors who are late tech adopters, assist with registration for older adults who are visually impaired, act as an ambassador to at the start of telephone-based programs, assist with data entry and more.

Volunteer Services – 2 Internship Positions
DOROT offers two distinct internships within the Volunteer Services (VS) Department. One intern will have a strong focus on the Response Team program. This intern will conduct survey calls to older adults to learn about the impact of the Response Team and meet the criteria for the Community Care Corps Grant. Additionally, this intern will provide administrative support to the program, including: data entry, Birthday Call outreach and general follow up with older adults and volunteers. Finally, the intern assigned to this position will provide support and assistance to DOROT’s Information and Orientation Sessions and Cardmaking program by reading and recording volunteer reference forms, entering background check information and submitting cardmaking data entries.

The second internship in the VS Department will be focused on three distinct areas: Caring Calls, Zoom programming and group outreach and cultivation. This intern will reach out to volunteers and older adults in the Caring Calls program to confirm their continued participation, beyond their initial commitment, as well as follow up on feedback forms that are received. Additionally, this intern will support Zoom and other new programs, including Cooking for DOROT. These programs focus on volunteer engagement. Finally, the intern in this department will reach out to local and national groups, introducing or re-introducing them to DOROT and beginning the engagement and cultivation process. 


Check with your Internship Coordinator BEFORE accepting to determine how you might do this internship for credit.



***We encourage all applicants to contact their individual college or university to find about available stipends.***