Mariposa County Health & Human Services believes in fostering growth and development from start to finish. We are here to help you build a meaningful career in public service!

An internship is a supervised work experience opportunity designed to provide structured learning and hands-on work experience for students. An internship at HHSA will introduce you to careers in public service and opportunities to make a difference in your community. Internship opportunities are available in fields such as social services, public health, behavioral health and many other areas. 

HHSA interns can expect to...

• Gain hands on learning experience in a professional work setting
• Develop career related skills and abilities, professional skills and gain self-confidence.
• Explore career options related to your interests, values, skills, and personality.
• Develop related work experience and apply classroom learning.
• Establish connections and build a network of contacts.
• Acquire skills and experiences to enhance resume.
• Work with the community
• Make a difference

What are the eligibility requirements? 

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: 

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at the Junior or Senior level, majoring in Psychology, Sociology or other major related to health and human services field including public health, behavioral health or social work; or
• Currently enrolled in a graduate degree program in either Psychology, Sociology or other relevant degree and have the ability to commit to an internship. 

Current Mariposa County Employees must also meet the following requirement:

• Engaged as a full-time employee with Mariposa County with over 1 year of employment, in good standing at their work site, and have the consent of supervisor.
• Probationary employees that are in good standing will require supervisory and director approval. 

What supervision and support can you expect?

All activities are supervised by a professional employed by the department. The supervisor meets with the intern on a regular weekly basis.  The intern will have the opportunity to attend relevant trainings and shadow various areas of the Agency to gain global experience. 

While we strive to consider preferred placement location, consideration will also be given to Agency needs.

Is there an orientation for the internship? 

Orientation is provided during the first 4 weeks of the internship. This includes a general overview of the Agency and training is provided on a variety of topics such as cultural competency, confidentiality, documentation, working with clients, disaster preparedness, safety protocols and legal/ethical guidelines. 

All applicants complete a background clearance shortly after receiving preliminary acceptance into the program. If you have any questions about this or have any reason to think you might not clear a background check, please disclose in advance to further discuss the situation. The background clearance is provided at no cost to the intern.

Ready to apply?

Applicants should be prepared to provide:

• A completed application;
• A cover letter or letter of interest;
• A current resume and;
• A minimum of one (1) letter(s) of recommendation

Application packets can be submitted to HHSAinterns@mariposacounty.org. Candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted to schedule the interview within 30 days. 

What will the interview process be like?

During the interview, you will be asked questions related to your interest in the health and human services field and your aptitude and general understanding of working with diverse groups of people within a community. You are also encouraged to ask questions about the program to determine if the internship is a good fit. After the interviews are completed, the internship pool is selected, and interns are placed at specific clinics or programs sites. 

For additional questions, please contact HHSAinterns@mariposacounty.org.