Andrea Cordova

Agency: Aviva Children's Services

Term: Spring - 2005

The three main programs Aviva offers are: The Aviva/Child Protective Services Volunteer Program, The Aviva/Child Protective Services Visitation Program, and The Abused Children's Fund. All three programs are integral parts to the agency. I am currently working under the volunteer program as a social worker assistant volunteer for CPS. As a social worker assistant one is asked for a 4-month commitment, for 8-10 hours per week. As a social worker assistant under the supervision of a CPS caseworker, I have performed a number of tasks which include home visits, assessment of client needs, scheduling appointments, researching social services, case record filing, researching case records, writing reports, attending staffings and court hearings, interviewing foster parents and children, supervising visits between parents and children or separated siblings, and transporting children.

I felt that this agency would provide me with the necessary skills and knowledge that I would need to go into the field of social work. This was a critical factor for me in choosing Aviva because I am graduating very soon, and hope to acquire the necessary skills through this internship so that upon graduation, I can work as a CPS caseworker. I have learned so much about the field of social work and how it encompasses so many different fields and how they are all interrelated. Through my internship at CPS, I have learned how the field of social work is one in which you deal with several different organizations in order to provide the best services available to clients. In dealing with so many different agencies, one learns and develops many different professional relationships with many different people in several fields including the criminal justice system, the courts, the social service agencies, and the non-profit organizations. I have learned so much since starting my internship, especially with regards to how to deal with many different populations and how to find and refer clients to the necessary organizations.

During a trial hearing for a client, the caseworker was speaking to the client about the necessary steps in which they would have to take in order for them to regain custody of their children. The client in several occasions became very defensive and rude toward the caseworker. Rather than the caseworker attempting to fight with the clients, the caseworker simply reiterated what the necessary steps were going to be, and how the clients could best accomplish what they needed to do in order to regain their children back. Toward the end of the conversation, the clients were much calmer and left with a much happier disposition. The caseworker turned to me and said that one must handle these situations with much care, and let what the clients say come in one ear and go out the other, because these are very stressful times and one needs to take into consideration the client's state of mind. I felt that was a great demonstration of the caseworker's character and commitment to fairness.

I would highly recommend an internship as a social worker assistant for anyone interested in the field of social work. Working in the CPS system, one is able to see if the highly paced and stressful environment is truly a match for you. I feel that the great reward of working in a hands-on environment with clients and being able to see the results of one's labor is by far the highest reward this job has to offer. Helping unite children and families through proper parenting skills is a great endeavor which this job affords.

University of Arizona | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
School of Family and Consumer Sciences | Family Studies and Human Development

Emergency Information   |   Privacy Information    |    Copyright Information   |   Web Accessibility

© 2002 Institute of Children, Youth, and Families
All rights reserved