Aspire Youth Intern-Spring - Cornerstone Advocacy Service

Our Mission:
Cornerstone’s continuum of service helps to create communities where individuals and families are safe and children thrive. We advocate, educate and lead the way to social change.

Summary of Cornerstone
Cornerstone is a $5.5 million organization that provides comprehensive services for individuals and families in the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking or general crime. Our offices are located in Bloomington, Brooklyn Center and Minneapolis. Learn more at www.cornerstonemn.org.

Diversity and Inclusion:   
We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all of our departments, programs, and worksites. BIPOC and LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Summary:
The ASPIRE afterschool program hosted by Cornerstone Advocacy Service is a youth program that will focus on building socio-emotional skills and fueling creative outlets for school-aged children who have experienced domestic violence and/or general crime. Interns will assist in providing care, leadership, and support for youth participating in the ASPIRE afterschool program. This will include, assisting children with school work and issues, supervising both structured and unstructured activity time, and creating unique inclusive socio-emotional lesson plans. All Interns will also be required to participate in (free) mandatory training and onboarding sessions to learn Cornerstone specific policies along with specific trauma-informed care practices.

Salary:
Unpaid

Experience/Qualifications:

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent certification required.
• Students who are studying Early Education, Psychology, Child and Educational Psychology, and/or Social Work are preferred.
• Those who have had past experience working with youth and/or are looking for nonprofit experience are encouraged to apply (regardless of college enrollment status.)

Essential Functions:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Direct Services

• Available for orientation and digital training in December 2024 and work from January 7^th – May 22^nd 2025.
• Available for 6-12 hours a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and/or Thursdays.
• Able to provide childcare/youth supervision and support to school-aged children.
• Provide assistance with homework, school projects, and/or tutoring for youth during homework time.
• Assist volunteers from outside organizations in supervising and running their programs (Arts, Engineering, Phys-Ed).
• Develop and/or assist in developing age appropriate activities and lesson plans that will teach participating youth skills in socio-emotional health, well-being, or coping/regulatory skills.
• Intervene during youth conflicts, disagreements, or disinterest using developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed tactics.
• Learn and maintain knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally-aware care that is specific to family and youth work.
• Engage with youth and their interests, activities, and play.
• Offer trauma-informed and culturally-aware advice and advocacy to children when they ask for it AND/OR know when to bring concerns to the Cornerstone Youth Advocate Staff.
• Work in a team setting with other interns that prioritizes collaboration, inclusivity, and child-centered thinking.

Physical Needs

• Clean and sanitize youth spaces and toys before and after ASPIRE begins.
• Address minor physical injuries or illness of the youth when they come up.
• Assist in meal hand-outs for families during pick-up.
• Engage in physical activities with youth (e.g. running, variety of sports, crawling, etc.).
• Able to lift and carry up to 50lbs or ask for assistance when help is needed.
• Assist children with various bathroom and sanitary needs; based on child safety and multi-party consent.

Administrative and Organizational Skills

• Able to keep track of and log attendance each session.
• Keep Cornerstone Youth Staff aware of any concerns regarding a child and/or families immediate safety.
• Accurately log the number of meals and snacks distributed amongst families during pick-up time.
• Accurately track when families are arriving to pick-up and following ASPIRE policies when families are late.
• Attend bi-weekly supervisor check-ins and team meetings.

Visit our career page at:  https://cornerstonemn.org/about/employment/

Cornerstone Benefits:
Health care, paid time off, 13 paid holidays which includes employee birthday, retirement savings with up to 4% match after 1-year, Free Virtual Mental health Coverage for all employees and their immediate family, Free Virtual Medical Care for employees band their immediate family with enrollment in anyone of our medical plans basic life insurance free to employees, long term disability free to employees, and paid parental leave after 1 year.