Internship Sites

Description of Agency:
YGA is a non-profit organization devoted to providing quality care and treatment for adolescents requiring out-of-home placements. Turning Point, near Corbett, is a residential program for girls and Son Village, close to Mt. Hood, is a long term residential treatment program for boys. Charis Ridge, located in Troutdale, is a residential program for juvenile sex offenders.

Procedure for applying:
Contact Shirley Heck directly

Contact Person for Site:
Shirley Heck

Requirements:
Interns will be exposed to anger and acting out from residents, including name-calling and put-downs. An intern must have a self-confidence and ability to tolerate the acting-out without becoming personally affected. Interns also must be able to maintain good boundaries. To work at Charis Ridge, an intern needs to have already addressed their own issues regarding sexuality, working with offenders, and boundaries.

Specific Schedule Requirements?
Flexible, but requires 10 hours on 2 days per week. Clients at Turning Point are in an alternative school until 3:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays--Groups are held Tuesday and Thursday nights, with Friday night movie night. At Charis Ridge clients are in school Mondays-Fridays until 3:00 or 3:30 p.m. Staff meetings are held at Son Village on Tuesday afternoons and on Wednesday afternoons at Charis Ridge and Thursday afternoons at Turning Point.

Stressors at this Site:
Lengthy commute from Portland, particularly diffcult in bad weather. Emotionally draining, especially when clients don't respond. There is a significant level of resistance to treatment.

Summary Comments:
The director is committed to training students and is flexible to accommodate student needs. The agency has been in operation for over twenty years and has been highly commended by State officials. Several interns have been employed there following graduation. Often there are January openings available.