My Internship Experience

Kimberly A. Rabb

Getting StartedExcitementPreparing Challenges

Finding a Location

Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Camden County is located at 216 Haddon Avenue, Haddonfield, New Jersey

CASA transitioned from a court-operated to a non-profit program in 2003

The CASA program is a resource to the courts for determining the best interests of any child less than 21 years of age who has been removed from his or her home due to abuse and neglect complaints filed prior to their 18th birthday.

Getting Acquainted

Board of Trustees

Louise Murray President

Alex Archimedes Vice President Executive Director

Carol-Ann TamashiroOffice Manager

Inez RamirezCase Supervisor

Lisa McIntosh-HarrisAmeriCorps

Volunteer Manager

Jessie P PuchonTreasurer

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Camden County is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) agency committed to advocating for the best interests of children in out-of-home placement under the jurisdiction of the NJ Family Court.

Affiliations are established with Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), Judicial System -Family Part, Child Placement Review Board, Office of the Public Defender, Legal Aid, Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships, Office of the Law Guardian, and other child serving institutions throughout New Jersey.

Agency Context

CASA provides trained, screened, and supervised volunteers to speak for the best interest of abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court proceedings.

CASA volunteers are well-trained and thoroughly investigated advocates.

The volunteers are ordinary people who come from all backgrounds with or without legal expertise.

Agency Context cont…

One night, someone fell to the ground and caused a lot of commotion at a roulette table directly across from the pit that I was supervising. Onlookers surrounded the lady as her daughter yelled, “Someone PLEASE help my mother!” No one responded, not even the casinos security guards who attempted to control the crowd. My heart ached as uncontrollable tears streamed down my face. I was furious, angry and helpless because 1) if I left the pit, which contained millions of dollars, I would have lost my job; 2) I didn’t really care about that job, I didn’t know how to perform CPR; 3) I couldn’t understand why the bystanders just observed… I was certain that there was someone from the medical field amongst them.

Ethical Dilemma

Hostility and IntimidationDOES NOT WORK…

Must be approachable -have an open door policy for staff’s questions, concerns, and ideas.

Etiquette – display proper etiquette during meetings, luncheons, and fundraising events.

Conflict Resolution – able to ask questions, solve problems, facilitate discussions, and present solutions.

Vision – exhibit a clear vision for what the organization could be.

Supervisor/ Executive Director

In addition to myself, there were two other interns within the office. Although one was there approximately three weeks prior to me, she obviously felt that she was in some type of superior position.

I was finally given an assignment to input volunteer inquiries into the computer and send information packets via email. Kristen was determined to be involved in this activity. She continuously asked if I needed her help. She even went as far as saying, “Don’t you leave at 3 o’clock today?” Throughout this process, I proceeded to tell her, “I’m fine, relax, I got this… “ until I was infuriated. Then my response was, “What’s the problem, Go find something else to do, Don’t say another word to me…not one.”

I was annoyed beyond my maximum tolerance level and I was scared that my reaction was going to negatively reflect on my internship. I got up, put the work in my box, and told Kristen “This work, that’s in my box, better be here when I return.”

Upon leaving the office, I asked the Executive Director for permission to take the work home. Although she said “Yes,” I still left a copy in my box, which remained untouched when I returned.

Integrative Processing Model

Although most of my experience thus far has been with individuals and communities; during my internship at CASA, I had the opportunity to work individually with staff members and volunteers of a nonprofit organization.

Communicating with Clients

Bullying Prevention

I want to create an organization where children can develop, learn, flourish and live without fear, without violence, without limitation.

Insight gained about my own culture…Many Black children age out of the

foster care system.

Not being able to speak, write, or understand Espanol

is a major challenge.

My goal is to learn Espanol…

Espanol will also be taught through trainings and seminars to my entire

staff.

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Professional Writing Samples

Taking Care of MyselfExternal Stressors

Office conflict Lack of work Work hours Ineffective

Management Everyone in the office

took everything personally

I have learned that I am approachable

Sympathetic Longer tolerance level

than expect

Lack of work Ineffective Management Everyone in the office took everything

personally The office lacked passion Work hours Holiday season

External Stressors

Poor nutrition – eat too much Lack exercise – too lazy to walk let alone

run Severe backaches – refuse to have surgery Disappointed with my internship – way

below my expectations Lack of sleep Headaches

Internal Stressors

Volunteer Become affiliated with other organizations Serve as a Board Member Become more involved in the community

Continued Professional Growth

Open a Charter School Earn my PhD and JD

Long-Term Goals

Open a Bullying Prevention Camp (Dare to be Different) – Summer 2014

Get my PTSD program started (Hidden Wounds Alliance) – April 2015

Work on licensing and locations for C.U.B. (Cradling Unwavering Beliefs, Inc.) an organization designed to provide youth an alternative to prison facilities

Short-Term Goals

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