Program Overview:

The Mitigation Unit supports the Public Defender’s mission by offering inclusive services to clients both in and out of custody. Our goal is to highlight our clients’ inherent dignity within the legal system. As a social worker intern, you will contribute to the legal defense team by:

• Providing alternatives to incarceration
• Connecting clients to community services
• Documenting and sharing clients’ life stories to support their legal defense

Training and Responsibilities:

As an MSW intern, you will:

• Manage your own caseload
• Receive individual supervision
• Evaluate and recommend alternatives to incarceration
• Gather and analyze records
• Assess clients’ social, physical, and mental functioning through interviews and evidence-based practices
• Interview clients and their collateral sources
• Establish and maintain relationships with community-based programs

Program Details:

• Weekly 1-hour individual supervision sessions
• 9-month commitment, based on your university’s training requirements
• Minimum availability of 16 hours per week, depending on your university’s training requirements

How to Apply:

To apply for an MSW internship, send an email to:

• Natalie Aguilera at natalie.aguilera@ventura.org