Social Work Internship Program

VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC) provides on-site, hands-on training and educational opportunities to learn social work values, ethics, and skills in a welcoming atmosphere, to advanced-year MSW students from accredited schools of social work.

Eligibility Requirements

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must follow all federal statutes, Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action policies and approved VA regulations interim and final rulings. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA)/Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) oversees clinical health professions training programs. To participate in training at a VA, an HPT will receive a not to exceed (NTE), temporary federal appointment. Prior to receiving an appointment, HPTs must meet all federal eligibility requirements. HPTs unable to meet all requirements will not be permitted to train at VA. HPTs will be asked to show documented proof for each eligibility requirement identified below and must maintain eligibility for the duration of the VA appointment.

Download a copy of this eligibility checklist here.

Requirement Description of Eligibility Requirement

US Citizenship or Documented Immigrant, Non Immigrant or Exchange Visitor US Citizenship or Documented Immigrant, Non Immigrant or Exchange Visitor

US Social Security Number All HPTs must have a US social security number (SSN) prior to beginning the VA pre-employment, onboarding process. Do not fingerprint or complete paperwork until an SSN has been issued. HPTs not eligible to apply for an SSN will not be permitted to train at VA.

US Selective Service System Registration Federal law requires that most males living in the US between the ages of 18 and 26 register with the Selective Service System (SSS). Male, for this purpose, is any individual born male on their birth certificate regardless of current gender. Males required to register, but who fail to do so by their 26th birthday, may be ineligible for VA appointment. Visit https://www.sss.gov to register, print proof of registration or obtain a Status Information Letter.

Proof of Identity Onboarding requires two source identification documents (IDs) to prove identity. Documents must be unexpired and names on both documents must match. For more information visit: OICAM ID Matrix. States have begun issuing Secure Driver’s Licenses. Be sure yours will be accepted as a Real ID https://www.dhs.gov/real-id.

National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) HPTs who are currently licensed, or who previously held a license in the same or a different discipline, must be screened against the NPDB. Visit the site to perform a self-query and confirm you are eligible for VA appointment. https://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/

List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General has compiled a list of individuals excluded from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and all other Federal healthcare programs. Visit the site to confirm you are NOT on this list https://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov/.

Health Requirements As a condition of appointment, HPTs must: furnish evidence or a self-certification that they are physically and mentally fit to perform the essential functions of the training program have up-to-date vaccinations for healthcare workers as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html and have undergone baseline tuberculosis (TB) screening and testing per CDC health care personnel guidelines (for direct VA-paid HPTs, this means within 90-days of Offer and Acceptance.) https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/healthcareworkers.htm

Fingerprint Screening and Background Investigation HPTs will be fingerprinted and undergo screenings and background investigations. A VA Human Resources Security Specialist will determine suitability. Additional details can be found here: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/1…

VA Onboarding Forms Additional pre-employment forms include the: Application for Health Professions Trainees (VA 10-2850D) Declaration for Federal Employment (OF 306) HPT Random Drug Testing Notification and Acknowledgement memo (see below) These documents, and others, are available online for review at https://www.va.gov/oaa/hpt eligibility.asp. Falsifying any answer on any Federal document will result in the inability to appoint or immediate dismissal from the VA.

Drug-Free Workplace HPTs are not drug-tested prior to receiving an appointment; however certain HPTs are subject to random drug testing throughout the entire VA appointment period. HPTs sign an acknowledgement form stating awareness of this practice (see form in the link above).

Intern Didactics and Supervision

Social work interns participate in a weekly, one-hour group Didactic session with topics such as Mandated Reporting, Ethics in Social Work, Documentation, Case Management, Introduction to Housing, Caregiver Support, Post-Military Readjustment, Suicide Prevention, Professional Boundaries, and more. Interns also participate in weekly group supervision, which is facilitated by the Social Work Education Coordinator. This provides a forum for students from differing social work schools and placements to collaboratively share ideas, discuss cases and provide support during their internship.

Internship Goals

The overall goal of the internship program is to train social workers to become effective, independent, and ethical practitioners. Specific learning goals include:

• Develop biopsychosocial assessment skills
• Develop skills in suicide risk assessment and safety planning
• Develop clinical intervention skills in Motivational Interviewing
• Develop clinical case management skills
• Develop discharge planning skills
• Develop an understanding of military culture and knowledge of internal and external resources available to the Veteran population.

Additional goals will depend on individual placement.

Stipend Information

VA SORCC has stipend positions available each year. Students are expected to complete 500 hours, typically 20-24 hours per week.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a Social Work internship?

Please contact the MSW Internship Coordinator by March 1 to discuss a placement for the following August or September start. You will receive specific information related to the school you attend.

What are the eligibility requirements?

General VA Eligibility Requirements can be found here: https://www.va.gov/OAA/docs/Am_I_Eligible_v5.pdf

Specific program requirements also apply. Students must be in the final field placement before graduation of a CSWE accredited MSW program having an affiliation agreement with VASORRC. Please contact the coordinator for more information about institutional agreements and additional requirements. Placements are for 500 hours and include a stipend for those qualified. Accommodations can be made if students need additional hours beyond 500, which can be completed without compensation.

When do placements begin?

Placements start during the fall term. Students start in August or September and participate for 500 hours, typically ending in May/June. Students complete 16 hours per week (two days) on-site only. Telework is not permitted. Placements are available only during the work week, Mon-Fri. All students will attend on Tuesday and one other day to be determined by coordination with the student’s Field Instructor.

What type of work experiences are offered?

Students are assigned a department and participate in Social Work practice with a specific area of focus. The VA has social workers across many programs who work in a variety of roles with unique populations. Many placements offer experience in clinical case management, requiring an understanding of complex issues and use of trauma-informed, advanced communication skills. Students typically visit several departments in addition to their primary placement and have a chance to facilitate a variety of groups. Some placements offer opportunities to practice individual therapy. All placements lead to development of therapeutic skills and the ability to create clinically informed interventions. Students will also participate in group supervision and a Didactics session once weekly.

Placements are determined by availability of staff in individual programs. Eligible candidates will be invited to a Meet and Greet to discuss available opportunities. Past placements have included work in the following areas: Caregiver Support Program, Patient Aligned Care Team, Military to VA, Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program, Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Program, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program, and the Grants Pass Vet Center.

Please contact the Social Work Internship Coordinator, Lauri Blackburn, at or laura.blackburn2@va.gov with additional questions.

How do I apply?

For information about applying for a placement, please contact:

Lauri Blackburn, LCSW

Social Work Internship and Education Coordinator

8495 Crater Lake Hwy., White City, OR 97503

Laura.Blackburn2@va.gov.