Internship Location: Dowagiac, MI
Organization Type: Local Government
Policy Areas: Social Justice, Social Welfare, Victim Services, Tribal Jurisdiction
My internship experience with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Social Services Department consisted of a wide variety of hands-on experience in the field of Social Services. I was able to shadow professionals across the department, and directly observe and learn how their time working in tribal social services has differed from their time working with the state of Michigan. I was able to witness how the processes of Indian Child Welfare and victim service cases proceed from both a case management standpoint and from a court perspective. I was surprised at how significant the impacts of progress in each department were on the others. It was evident how much policy changes can impact the entirety of welfare work throughout the organization. The process of applying for grants and funding management was most valuable to me. I was able to witness how to establish new programs and positions within the departments. This was very significant to me, and demonstrated ways to establish real change within the community. I would highly recommend this internship to future students. It provides a wide variety of direct experience both in policy work and direct service programs. The opportunity directly highlighted how policy changes and management can impact well-being in the community. It provided a framework for areas I’d like to explore in the future, in addition to connecting me with experienced professionals who gave me insights on how to qualify for policy-related positions. I strongly enjoyed getting to learn from those in the department, and I look forward to maintaining the connections I’ve built over the summer.