MSW Internship - Big Brothers Big Sisters

Position : MSW Intern  

Hours per week : 16-24  

Compensation : Paid via stipend  

As one of the nation’s largest mentoring agencies, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM) is committed to promoting the healthy development of children through the nurturing of continuing, one-to-one and group friendships with caring responsible adults, supported by trained professional staff. Our work is both impactful and urgent, so we are constantly looking for the best team members to join our mission. Our BBBSEM MSW internships provide a unique opportunity to gain hands on experience working with a diverse population of youth aged 7-18 in a variety of environments. Additionally, interns will learn about how a nonprofit agency works and operates, as well as build professional and clinical skills.

Role Summary 
Our MSW interns will work alongside Program Coordinators to assist in the enrollment of volunteers and youth and provide ongoing support and group facilitation for “Big/Little” relationships through our site-based partnerships with local colleges, housing communities, schools, and professional work sites. Assignments may include the following: 

• Assessment of volunteers (Bigs) and youth (Littles) 
• Attendance at Site-Based programming 
• Program and activity design support 
• Group planning and facilitation 
• Ongoing relationship management and support of Big and Little pairs through customized coaching with mentors, youth, and families. 
• Participate in regular supervision, team meetings, and agency wide learning initiatives  
• Caseload management 
• Program evaluation 

Positions open in the following programs: 

Campus-Based Mentoring (All Gender) SATURDAY hours required

Campus-Based Mentoring Programs match college students (Bigs) with youth from local communities (Littles) in one-to-one mentoring relationships. Littles are bussed to college campuses where they engage in group community building activities and then spend one-on-one time with their Bigs.

High School Mentoring (Female identifying youth) Program runs after school

The High School Mentoring Program is a partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern MA, Trotter Elementary School and Bostin Latin Academy. This program matches high school students (Big Sisters) with girls (Little Sisters) from elementary school in one-to-one mentoring relationships. The purpose of the program is two-fold:  1) to provide elementary school girls with the additional encouragement and caring needed to improve their self-confidence; school performance; and relationships with peers and other adults; and 2) prepare high school girls to become future leaders. 

Workplace Mentoring (Female identifying youth) Program runs after school

The Workplace Mentoring program is a partnership between Big Brother Big Sister and Fidelity Investments. Middle school girls from Boston Latin Academy are matched with Big Sisters working in a professional environment. The Little Sisters travel to the Fidelity’s office after school and engage in group activities and one-to-one time, while learning about different career choices and the office environment.  

Group Mentoring at Mother Caroline Academy (Female identifying youth) Program runs after school

The Group Mentoring program is a partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern MA, Mother Caroline Academy, and Wellesley College. Students at Mother Caroline are matched in small groups with Wellesley College students. This program is guided by the Life Choices curriculum, which focuses on improving self-esteem, developing leadership skills, and engaging in healthy decision-making.

Required Qualifications  

• Current enrollment in an MSW program 
• Commitment to principles of equity, inclusion, and social justice 
• Willingness to travel locally to program sites (access to reliable transportation preferred) 
• Availability to work at 16-24 flexible hours per week for the duration of the school year 
• Must be available to work occasional evening hours and some Saturdays  
• Must pass federal and state criminal background check 

• Effective communication, organizational, and time-management skills 
• Goal–oriented mindset, ability to work independently as well as part of a team, and be self-motivated. 
• Proficiency using technology and adaptability to learn new systems, caseload management software, and performance metric tracking. 
• Open to a hybrid working environment.
• Ability to speak Spanish  
• Demonstrated ability to provide superior customer service; volunteer coordination experience a plus  
• Excellent professional writing and oral communication skills 
• Familiarity with youth development, mentorship, or group facilitation a plus 
• Enthusiasm, creativity, a positive sense of humor, and a “can do” attitude