Internship Opportunities

Organization Overview & Mission

Founded in 1997 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the mission of the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is to support economic prosperity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut. From starting or growing a business, to increasing income, WBDC drives business success in a tangible and accessible way.  Headquartered in Stamford, with offices in Derby and New London, WBDC provides training and counseling services to over 750 clients each year.

Description

WBDC is seeking a passionate and detail-oriented intern to assist with programming and database needs in our Derby office. The intern will be expected to start for the summer semester and work 10-15 hours per week (WBDC is flexible to work around intern’s schedule). The intern would work closely with the Program Manager and the Program and Impact Coordinator, supporting the following projects:

1. Program Administration – assist with administrative tasks, including registering clients for programs, filing, and compiling answers from program evaluations.
2. Program Marketing – generate program flyers and events on social media platforms
3. Database – work with our outcome and email databases, including inputting and clean-up tasks.

This internship would allow the selected candidate an excellent opportunity to be involved in an entrepreneurial non-profit’s programs and services. Interns will be given the opportunity to shadow programs and counseling sessions.

Applicant Requirements and Expectations

1. Ability to work 10-15 hours per week.
2. Ability to work independently and willingness to learn new skills.
3. Communication – Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with clients, manager, and staff.
4. Organization – Ability to track tasks and projects, and meet predetermined deadlines.
5. Confidentiality – Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality, especially as it relates to client data.
6. Must have a strong GPA.

Key Contact Person

Name and Title: Jaclyn Vancour, Program and Impact Coordinator

Email: jvancour@ctwbdc.org

Phone: (203) 751-9550

Position Site Address: 412 Roosevelt Drive, Derby, CT 06418

Community Psychology Internships

Dr. Thai collaborates with various partners on community psychology and community-engagement-related programs and research projects.

Dr. Thai will supervise undergraduate and graduate students for internship opportunities with the community partners mentioned below.  Completion of PSY 301 and PSY 302 may be required prior to the start of the internship for undergraduate students. Based on the type of internship, interns can expect to coordinate events, develop program activities, engage with diverse populations, and conduct relevant research (e.g., design studies; collect, enter, analyze, and interpret data; and present results).

Community-engagement-related internships for undergraduate students:

• New Britain community-based organizations, foundations, programs, and the school district

Community psychology-related internships for graduate students:

• The Connecticut Network for Children and Youth in Hartford (https://ctncy.org)
• The Consultation Center (TCC) in New Haven (http://www.theconsultationcenter.org)
• The Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) of Connecticut, Inc. in Farmington (http://www.chdi.org)

If you are interested in these internships related to furthering your experience in community psychology or community engagement, you can e-mail Dr. Thai at thaingd@ccsu.edu to discuss fit with the internship, expectations, and responsibilities.  Please include a current resume or CV.

Internship with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Helpline. Under staff supervision interns will answer phone calls made to the helpline including those having to do with child abuse and neglect. Interns will learn proper documentation, case management and have the opportunity to shadow social workers on home visits. Some knowledge of Spanish is helpful.  

Dr. Boncoddo is happy to supervise students through research projects and internships related to children's cognitive development. Her research mainly focuses on young children's mathematics development. However, please contact her if you have an interest in another area of child development! When working on research projects students who have made significant contributions are often included on conference presentations and manuscript publications. Dr. Boncoddo also supervises several internships that are listed below. If you are interested in one of the following internships, or would like to talk about starting an internship at a new location please e-mail her at boncoddo@ccsu.edu.

Internship opportunities in the Developmental Physiological Laboratory: 

I am conducting a study of parents' and nonparents' physiological and perceptual responses to infant crying. Students who join my research team as interns learn how to use equipment to collect physiological data, assist in data entry and analysis, recruit participants, and read relevant research.  They also have an opportunity to present and publish results of the study. Please contact me, Dr. Rebecca Wood, at woodre@ccsu.edu or (860) 832-3106. 

Internship with Central's Early Learning Program. The intern will work directly in the preschool program for children ages 3-5 years old. Additionally, the intern will be involved with lesson and program planning with the staff of the Early Learning Program.

Dr. Boncoddo is happy to supervise students through research projects and internships related to children's cognitive development. Her research mainly focuses on young children's mathematics development. However, please contact her if you have an interest in another area of child development! When working on research projects students who have made significant contributions are often included on conference presentations and manuscript publications. Dr. Boncoddo also supervises several internships that are listed below. If you are interested in one of the following internships, or would like to talk about starting an internship at a new location please e-mail her at boncoddo@ccsu.edu.

Internship with the Positive Parenting Program of CREC: Students will work with families referred by DCF, including home visits under staff supervision, activities with the families at the program office and some data entry. Some knowledge of Spanish is helpful.

Dr. Boncoddo is happy to supervise students through research projects and internships related to children's cognitive development. Her research mainly focuses on young children's mathematics development. However, please contact her if you have an interest in another area of child development! When working on research projects students who have made significant contributions are often included on conference presentations and manuscript publications. Dr. Boncoddo also supervises several internships that are listed below. If you are interested in one of the following internships, or would like to talk about starting an internship at a new location please e-mail her at boncoddo@ccsu.edu.

Brief Description and Purpose

This is an internship with the State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS)- North Region. The student will closely work with an on-site Supervising Psychologist and with Behavioral Specialists, Psychologists and other DDS staff in assisting the individuals served by the department and/or their families and provide assistance for their care and support. If you are interested in this internship and you want more information about it, please email Dr. Silvia Corbera at silviac@ccsu.edu to discuss the internship specifics, learning objectives, expectations and possible fit.

DDS is the state agency that is responsible for the administration of services for persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Developmental disabilities (DD) are a group of conditions that begin during the developmental period and might cause the individuals to suffer physical, intellectual (cognitive, learning, language) and adaptive functioning impairments. These intellectual impairments can range from mild to profound. These disabilities may impact the person’s daily life and overall functioning and they are life-long. Individuals with intellectual disabilities may also suffer from other developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and/or Receptive or Expressive Language Disorders.

Sample of Main Chores:

• All students are required to complete mandatory trainings that include: Education about the history of the Department, how to work with people with Intellectual Disabilities, policies and practices assisting people with intellectual disabilities as well as HIPAA, safety, and other required trainings.
• Review and assist putting together the Program Review Committee (PRC) packages to the Public Division Group homes, and Community Companion homes under direct supervision of psychologists and Behavioral/Developmental Specialists
• Attend the Program Review Committee meetings and review behavioral support plans (BSP), treatment plans and medication regime with supervision and assist with the data gathering, monitoring and entering of the individuals reviewed.
• Demonstrate quantitative analysis skills when assisting with PRC packages and with the data form the behavioral support plans
• Shadow psychology staff while they put together PRC packages, create graphic representation of data related to behavioral support plans for review by psychiatry providers in the community and for PRC committee.
• Gain skills in developing rapport and respectfully communicating with individuals served by the department, their staff and their family members.
• Read and research articles related to the population served by the department and share information related to such topics at monthly psychology meetings and/or in supervision.
• Complete duties on time and meet weekly with on-site supervisor frequently and as needed. There will also be monitoring from the CCSU supervisor Silvia Corbera, Ph.D.

Additional information regarding DDS available at:  http://www.ct.gov/dds/site/default.asp

Have you ever considered a career in aging? Are you interested in working with older adults?  There is a growing need for a workforce ready to meet the demands of our aging population.

Students interested in doing an internship in gerontology should consider taking GERO 495 (Internship in Gerontology), which is offered every spring. This course can be used as a psychology elective or as a general elective. This course is open to ALL majors and minors (required for Gerontology Minors).

Students participate in a classroom seminar and will also work 120-140 hours in an agency or organization that serves older adults. GERO 495 is designed to provide students with the opportunity to gain practical and real-world experience in the field of gerontology. The purpose of the seminar is to discuss issues relevant to working in the gerontology field and help students reflect analytically and effectively on their internship experience. Go to http://www.ccsu.edu/gerontology/internship.html for more information on possible internship sites.

For more information about gerontology internships please contact Dr. Carrie Andreoletti at 860.832.1646 or andreolettic@ccsu.edu.

Visit the Gerontology website for more information on the Gerontology Minor and careers in aging.

Interns work in The Learning Center at Central to help coordinate aspects of the Peer Tutoring Program in Psychological Science. Interns work with the Assistant Director of The Learning Center to develop tutor programming, assess programs, and contribute to the day-to-day running of the program. Interns develop strong interpersonal communication skills in multiple contexts while growing their knowledge of Psychological Science. Interns must have completed at least 1 semester of PSY225 to be eligible for the internship.

Brief Description and Purpose

This is a research internship at the Autism & Functional Mapping (AM-FM) Laboratory at the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center (Institute of Living-Hartford Hospital). The student will closely work with Dr. Michal Assaf and other staff and collaborators (such as Dr. Silvia Corbera Lopez) from the AM-FM laboratory and assist with current research projects. The AM-FM lab research involves using cognitive and advanced neuroscience techniques such as fMRI, DTI and EEG. This research internship is geared for students that want to gain experience in learning how psychiatric research data is monitored, organized and analyzed in a Psychiatric Research Institution. This internship will provide hands on opportunities for the student to assist in the organization, monitoring, preparing, and analysis of data from psychiatric assessments, behavioral paradigms and EEG paradigms gathered in research projects with healthy control individuals and in individuals with psychiatric disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia. In addition, the student will be requested to assist with literature reviews and data preparation of the protocols that he/she will be assisting with. There may be additional opportunities during the internship for the student to be involved and/or be present during fMRI, DTI and EEG active studies involving individuals with mental illness. Dr. Assaf and her collaborators are interested in studying social cognitive deficits, such as emotion recognition, empathy, Theory of Mind, in patients with severe mental illness and healthy controls.

If you are interested in this internship and you want more information about it, please email Dr. Silvia Corbera Lopez at silviac@ccsu.edu to discuss the internship specifics, learning objectives, expectations and possible fit.