Case Management Program Internship

Job Description

About the Company

The organization is DRCOG’s AAA (Area Agency on Aging), which works in conjunction with local universities to offer internship opportunities. DRCOG’s AAA serves older adults, people aged 18 and older with a disability, their families, and service providers across an eight-county DRCOG region. This region includes Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, and Jefferson counties. One of its key functions is the intensive case management program, and it also operates through the ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) for community resource support.

Job Description

The organization is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Summer Semester and beyond for unpaid internships. Two different types of internships are offered, as detailed below.

1. Case Management Program Internship

This internship is with the intensive case management program of the AAA, which provides interdisciplinary care coordination for people aged 60 and older. The program offers both telephone and in-home services.

Internship Experience:
Interns will perform various functions in coordination with full-time case management staff, gaining several valuable experiences:
• The satisfaction of connecting people with services and resources that enable independent living.
• Learning about the resources, government benefits, and systems available across Denver’s eight-county area.
• Gaining experience using a person-centered approach and communication style to ensure clients feel heard.

Functions/Tasks (Under supervision and support):
• Provide care management utilizing community-based resources and in-house AAA programs to consumers, their families, and service providers.
• Deliver face-to-face information, consultation, and referral to clients regarding available resources and services.
• Work with individual consumers to identify gaps in services, report findings, and advocate for identified needs.
• Provide consultation and care coordination for older adults both in-person (during “home visits”) and over the phone, which may include:
• Coordinating with referral sources.
• Conducting individual needs assessments.
• Working with older adults and their families to identify options for problems.
• Completing care plans detailing service needs.
• Contacting selected agencies to set up services.
• Following up with clients to ensure needs are met.
• Enrolling new clients onto the case management waitlist.
• Checking in with individuals while they are on the case management waitlist.
• Utilize interpretation/translation services as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of an Effective Intern:
• Basic understanding of issues and concerns facing older adults, their families, and caregivers.
• Understanding of HIPAA privacy rules.
• Ability to:
• Communicate professionally.
• Work collaboratively with others and receive feedback well.
• Assess needs and prioritize services.
• Work with consumers and be sensitive/aware of cultural differences.
• Utilize computer/Internet programs.

Schedule:
• The schedule can be flexible within business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM.

2. Community Resource Specialist (CRS) Internship

Note: This program is not accepting applicants at this time.

This internship is with the ADRC’s Community Resources team, which provides information, assistance, and ride coordination via the ADRC Information & Assistance line.

Internship Experience:
Interns perform many functions in coordination with full-time CRS staff, experiencing:
• The satisfaction of connecting people with services and resources to help older adults and people with disabilities access and understand community resources.
• Learning about the resources and systems across Denver’s eight-county area.
• Becoming a valued resource as the need for services rises with the aging population.
• Practicing diverse communication styles and connecting with people who need to feel heard.

Functions/Tasks (Under supervision and support):
• Provide information and assistance on community-based resources in the Denver region.
• Enroll beneficiaries in the ADRC transportation voucher program.
• Provide education about other in-house ADRC programs to consumers, their families, and service providers.
• Enter data from consumer interactions into the ADRC documentation systems.
• Assist with verifying and identifying community resources.
• Participate in AAA, ADRC, and DRCOG staff meetings as needed.
• Assist with providing general administrative support for the Community Resources division as required.
• Periodically assist with coordinating trip requests for the Ride Alliance program by responding to calls and emails and submitting them to an online trip exchange using DRCOG’s Routematch transportation management system.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of an Effective Intern:
• Basic knowledge of issues and concerns facing older adults, their families, and persons aged 18 and older with disabilities.
• Ability to:
• Communicate professionally.
• Work collaboratively with others and receive feedback well.
• Assess needs and prioritize services.
• Work with consumers and be sensitive/aware of cultural differences.
• Utilize computer/Internet programs.

Schedule:
• The schedule can be flexible within business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM.