Twenty-five college students recently celebrated their achievements in the Wellbeing and Support Services Department’s (WBSS) Internship Program with the Los Angeles County Office of Education. These aspiring social workers and counselors, placed at schools across Los Angeles County, gained valuable experience developing programs and initiatives that support student and faculty wellbeing, access to mental health services, and overall school mental health initiatives.

The WBSS Internship Program has a two-fold mission: to empower schools with a multi-tiered system of mental health support for students, families, and staff, and to cultivate future school social workers and marriage and family therapists by providing them with the necessary training and experiences.

Student Reflections Highlight Impact

During the End of Year Intern Celebration, several graduates gave presentations reflecting on their internship experiences. Karina Pelayo, who implemented a “Wellness Wednesday” initiative at Renaissance County Community School, shared how the program fostered a more positive school environment by encouraging students and teachers to share words of kindness. Manuel Yepez spoke about developing workshops and career expos for schools in Bellflower, while Erin Ogden described bridging the gap between parents and students through her work at a Head Start program. The graduates emphasized how the internship program fostered confidence in advocating for themselves and others and highlighted the personal growth they experienced. 

Building a Passion for School Mental Health

Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools and Alicia Garoupa, LACOE’s Chief of Wellbeing and Support Services, emphasized their goal of nurturing interns’ passion for school social work and mental health while equipping them with the skills needed to champion children and family mental health in their future endeavors.

Why More School Counselors and Social Workers Are Needed

This focus on bolstering school mental health resources comes at a critical time. Studies have shown a rise in feelings of isolation and a growing need for mental health services among students. School counselors and social workers play a vital role in addressing these challenges by providing individual counseling, group support, and social-emotional learning programs. They also collaborate with teachers and families to create a safe and supportive school environment where all students can thrive. 

Eligibility and Program Details

LACOE’s WBSS Internship Program partners with 12 universities offering bachelor's and master's degrees in social work and school-based family counseling programs. Students from these universities interview with the Wellbeing and Support Services Internship Program to determine suitability.

Selection Process and Compensation

Selected interns participate in an interview with practicum instructors. After this process, both interns and the program identify desired placements. Universities then collaborate to finalize assignments. Interns are compensated through a contract outlining deliverables, with payments provided at the semester's end. 

Matching Interns with Schools

During interviews, interns express interest in specific districts or schools. Following selection, interns are matched with placements considering their preferences and school needs.

Program Duration and Training

The program supports interns for 2, 3, or 4 semesters based on university requirements. Training encompasses professionalism, student safety protocols, crisis response, educational systems, classroom-based mental health workshops, resiliency skills development, parent education, and evidence-based counseling practices. 

Projects and Initiatives

Interns begin by assessing existing mental health services at their assigned schools. They then collaborate with school staff and instructors to determine specific tasks aligned with the school's multi-tiered mental health support system. This may include Tier 1 activities like mental health awareness workshops, classroom resiliency lessons, or interactive coping skills presentations. Tier 2 support might involve creating support groups for specific student populations or providing parent consultations. Tier 3 interventions could involve individual student counseling or collaborating with families to develop safety plans.

This internship program provides a valuable pathway for future social workers and counselors to gain practical experience while contributing significantly to the well-being of school communities in Los Angeles County.