Internship - Family Place - Fall 2026

Agency and Program Description

St. David's Developmental & Therapeutic Services is a regional leader in child and family development, offering therapeutic, educational, and support services including mental health and pediatric therapies, autism treatment, home visiting, an inclusive preschool, and disability services. Over 4,000 children and families access these services at three early intervention centers in Minneapolis and Minnetonka, more than 30 partner sites, and hundreds of homes across the community.

Learning Opportunities

• Internships are offered at our Minneapolis Campus and Minnetonka Center for the following placement cycles: Spring-Summer (approx. January-August), Summer Block (approx. May-August), Summer-Fall (approx. May-December), Fall-Spring/Academic Year (approx. September-May).
• Foundation and Clinical Students will learn therapeutic intervention and developmental repair techniques based on fundamental tenets of early childhood mental health. They will also learn and participate in play therapy with individuals, dyads, and groups, co-facilitate mental health group skills and psychotherapy within the day treatment milieu, and learn foundational aspects of group therapy.
• Students will have the opportunity to participate in extended DC: 0-5 diagnostic assessments with the program supervisor, collaborate on the development and implementation of individualized treatment plans, attend and co-facilitate in-home family therapy sessions and family skills sessions, and learn standard documentation and outcome measurement tools (e.g. ECSII, CBCL).
• Multidisciplinary learning opportunities include observing occupational and speech therapy sessions, outpatient mental health diagnostic assessments, typical child development in our Early Childhood Education Program, and other mental health services in the agency (school-based mental health treatment, Autism Day Treatment, etc).
• Opportunities for DEI-focused work, such as BIPOC reflective practice group participation, DEI panels and meetings, etc.

Supervision and Training

• Students will receive individual reflective supervision every week and participate in weekly clinical consultation meetings and therapeutic day treatment curriculum planning meetings with the team.
• Students are encouraged to bring in and integrate readings and assignments from their academic courses.

Placement Requirements

• In-person field hours availability: Daytime hours: Monday - Friday. Specific hours or days: Interns are required to be present within the day treatment classroom a minimum of three days per week. Morning or Afternoon shifts available (A.M 8:00-12:00 and P.M 12:00-4:00).
• Car required? No
• Required orientation: All interns are required to attend a New Employee Orientation before beginning their internship. They are held 2x/month on Monday mornings from 8:45am-12:15pm on our Minneapolis Campus with free parking available; exact date will be determined based on student start date.
• Background check required? Yes. Agency will cover the cost.

Application Process

• If you are participating in the Minnesota MSW Metro Collaborative Interview and Match Process: Send your cover letter and resume to: Melissa Williams, MSW, LICSW (mwilliams@stdavidscenter.org).
• If you are NOT participating in the Minnesota MSW Metro Collaborative Interview and Match Process: Apply online for this internship opportunity: Career Opportunities - St. Davids Center for Child & Family Development careers. Use the "APPLY" link in the posting.

Contact Information

• Questions regarding this internship opportunity: Minneapolis: Melissa Williams, MSW, LICSW (mwilliams@stdavidscenter.org) Minnetonka: Dawn Gunter, MA, LMFT (dgunter@stdavidscenter.org)
• For general questions regarding mental health internships at St. David's: Sarah Ahlfs-Dunn, PhD, LP (sahlfs-dunn@stdavidscenter.org)