Dorot: Summer College Internship Program
A number of the internship positions will be entirely remote. If circumstances permit, DOROT may provide a “hybrid” experience for some interns, including both onsite and remote work activities for those interns who are able to travel to DOROT.
This internship program provides students with an understanding of the issue and impact of social isolation among older adults as well as DOROT’s response. We give each intern substantive work and project management experience. While the work done by interns varies by department, we are committed to entrusting interns with significant responsibility and providing them with an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. Regardless of the department one is assigned to, each intern will be matched with at least one older adult for a weekly friendly phone, Zoom or in-person conversation for the duration of the internship.
In addition to a departmental placement, summer interns also have a group experience. There is a comprehensive orientation to DOROT and our work with older adults, weekly group sessions with other interns and DOROT staff for learning and reflection and several group outings each summer.
Program Details
DOROT’s Summer College Internship begins on Tuesday, June 1 and will conclude on Thursday, August 5. This is a four day a week placement, Monday through Thursday 9/9:30am-5/5:30pm. Orientation on June 1 and 2 will take place 9:00am-5:00pm. The internship positions described below are unpaid. DOROT is able to offer college credit with approval from the intern’s academic institution. Many colleges and universities provide stipends for student to participate in summer internships with nonprofit organizations. Deadlines and availability vary by school and are awarded solely at the discretion of each individual institution. DOROT is happy to provide information about our internship program to help internship candidates apply for such opportunities.
Application Process
We will begin reviewing applications in November 2020. Acceptances will be awarded on a modified rolling basis, with the first round of acceptance letters going out in December and each month after that, until all positions have been filled. Applicants must complete DOROT’s 2021 Summer Internship Application. In addition to submitting an application, candidates are asked to send their resumes to Sharon Stahl, Coordinator of College and Adult Volunteers, at sstahl@dorotusa.org with the subject heading “2021 Summer Internship Application”. Only candidates who submit completed applications and resumes will be considered for internship positions.
Individual Internship Descriptions
Applicants are asked to rank their preference for their internship placement. We currently have openings in the following departments:
Constituent and Community Services – 3 Internship Positions
Interns in this department will have the opportunity to engage and build relationships with a wide range of older adults, develop an understanding of how to best advocate for people in need, and gain experience and an appreciation for gerontology, social work and related social services fields of interest. Throughout the summer, interns will be responsible for providing social and concrete support to older adult clients by engaging in weekly remote visits with seniors, supporting DOROT’s Door to Door and Kol DOROT (senior choir) programs. One of the three Constituent and Community Services will divide their time between that department and DOROT Westchester where they will engage in similar work and tasks. Finally, interns will conduct client surveys on DOROT seniors to assess DOROT’s impact and assist with office projects, including data entry.
Connect Through Tech (CTT) – 1 Internship Position
The intern in the Connect Through Tech Department will be an active contributor and collaborator. This individual will schedule and facilitate one-to-one tech visits with older adults, conduct pre-screening calls with clients referred to the Remote Tech Visit program as well as follow-up survey calls following a “visit”, update tech guidelines to be utilized by DOROT volunteers with seniors, match volunteers and clients through the Remote Tech Visit program and more. Additionally, this intern will record data via Excel and in DOROT’s database and work with the Marketing and Communications team on specific projects.
Impact and Evaluation – 1 Internship Position
The Impact and Evaluation Intern will conduct program impact surveys on DOROT seniors, code qualitative date and review studies relevant to DOROT’s mission and evaluation initiatives. In conducting surveys, this intern will: schedule phone survey interviews with DOROT seniors; record responses online; report concerns to DOROT staff, as needed; sort and code data collected and only survey results. This intern will also assist with research, including: tracking and summarizing trends in aging services, social isolation, and intergenerational programming; document use of assessment tools to help in determining program success indicators.
Kosher Meals at Home (KMH) – 2 Internship Positions
Kosher Meals at Home Interns make weekly calls to new, old and short-term emergency clients for their meal orders. The information these interns gain while speaking on the phone with DOROT clients is critical in providing support and services to the individual. These interns will learn how to refer seniors to other DOROT and outside services for assistance, make Birthday Calls and find out about individual technology needs to keep seniors connected.
Lasting Impressions – 1 Internship Position
The Lasting Impressions Department at DOROT is dedicated to helping individuals share their important stories in group and individual settings. In addition to matching individuals with volunteers who work to capture memories, words of wisdom and more in one-on-one oral history-type of projects, Lasting Impressions also offers legacy arts programming that draws upon the experiences of individuals for inspiration. The intern in this department will have the opportunity to create Legacy Projects by working one-on-one with older adults to write or record their stories and memories. Finally, this intern will support programs focused on raising the voices of older adults in the LGBTQIA community, Recipes to Remember, visual art workshops, “onsite” programming and more.
Onsite and Special Programs – 1 Internship Position
The Onsite and Special Programs Intern will assist staff in an administrative capacity, help plan for upcoming programs, and engage with older adult participants. This individual should bring their interest in event planning and creativity to expand our offerings. Throughout the summer, this intern will become a familiar face to the DOROT community as they help form connections remotely. The Onsite at Home Department offers up to 25 Zoom programs per week. This intern will host or co-host programs for 10- 100 people, conduct program surveys on DOROT seniors, design and facilitate their own program to occur weekly or one time, assist with data entry, participate in discussion-based programming and much more.
University Without Walls (UWW) – 1 Internship Position
The intern in the University Without Walls Program is an important part of the overall Connect Through Tech Department. This intern will assist with research and administrative tasks to ensure that the program runs smoothly and meets the needs of older adults who attend the program. Throughout the summer this intern will: assist with collecting client feedback about programs, conduct phone surveys of participants to determine the impact of a particular program, perform Remote Tech Visits for seniors who are late tech adopters, assist with registration for older adults who are visually impaired, act as an ambassador to at the start of telephone-based programs, assist with data entry and more.
Volunteer Services – 2 Internship Positions
DOROT offers two distinct internships within the Volunteer Services (VS) Department. One intern will provide program support for volunteer activities thereby engaging older adults, corporate and skill based volunteers, overseen by our Coordinator of Adult Volunteers and Service Enterprise. This individual will create and facilitate Zoom programs for volunteers to engage in with older adults, including: trivia games,conversation clubs and more. Additionally, this intern will assist with recruitment of volunteers and older adults for particular programs and track program participations in DOROT’s database. This intern should feel very comfortable using Zoom and look forward to the opportunity to facilitate programs. The other internship position within the VS Department is overseen by the Response Team Coordinator. This intern will outreach to volunteers and older adults, monitor and report on data tracking, provide administrative support and be an active participant in departmental programs and events. Additionally, this intern will take part in the planning, administration and implementation of VS programs; maintain regular communication with DOROT volunteers and seniors by telephone, email and Zoom; brainstorm future programming ideas; collaborate with staff; be an active participant at team meetings and more. ***We encourage all applicants to contact their individual college or university to find about available stipends.***
DOROT's Summer College Internship Program is funded by the Dorot Foundation and the Posner-Wallace Foundation among other donors.
About DOROT, Inc.
DOROT is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to alleviate social isolation and provide concrete services to older adults. For more than four decades, DOROT has been an innovative leader in the fields of aging services and volunteerism. DOROT’s diverse set of programs, as well as our focus on providing intergenerational connections to seniors, has ensured that DOROT’s clients have access to the resources they need to age with dignity, independence, and grace.