BluePrint Intern bei Community Access

Founded in 1974, Community Access continues to uphold and operate as a pioneer of supportive housing and social services in NYC for people with mental health concerns. We proudly lead advocacy efforts that rally our community to promote human rights, social justice, and economic opportunities for all. We are built upon the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives. Our programs are spread across 25 locations and include over 1200 units of supportive housing in three boroughs, the Howie the Harp Advocacy Center, Peer-driven Crisis Respite Center, Adult Home Initiative, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and the Intensive Mobile Team (IMT). 

Department Overview

Opened in fall of 2015, one of only two dedicated Supported Education programs in NYC. We serve NYC residents, 18 and older, who have a mental health diagnosis and an education goal of High School Equivalency, Vocational Certification, or College. Our services are free, and fully funded by NYC’s Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (DoHMH). Supported Education is a recovery practice that supports adult students with mental health challenges to persist with their education goals, toward graduation and earning degrees. The field was developed in the 1980s at Boston University,

Core Principles

All CA staff, interns, and volunteers alike are responsible for understanding and incorporating certain principles into their work and into their relationships with program participants.  These principles are:

• Program participants’ right to self-determination.
• Respectful communication.
• Services that support recovery and healing consistent with and nurturing each participant’s cultural background, experience, identity, and values.
• Clear professional boundaries to support the limits and possibilities of services.

Internship Outcome: 

A Blueprint Peer Intern can expect to: 

• Be a part of the Blueprint team, and learn about the purpose and practice of Supported Education 
• Develop outreach and community-engagement skills; phone, email, and in-person
• Research resources and opportunities that will support our participants and program 
• Gain perspective on today’s work climate of working in the office, the field, and remotely 
• Host information sessions, groups, study sessions, or open office hours 
• Keep documentation/write notes 
• Use a computer regularly o Have the opportunity to self-define projects, and lean into your own strengths 
• Get nerdy 

If you're considering applying for a Supported Education job later on: 

Supported Education Specialist positions will require: 

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree 
• Experience working in mental health, advocacy, social services, or educational settings. 
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the NYS Justice Center. 
• Possess strong understanding of the role of education in facilitating mental health recovery and wellness
• Have an understanding of Supported Education as a recovery field. 

Further qualification may include things like

• Resourceful and possesses strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and desire to work as part of a team. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; a sense of wonder is a plus
• Command of email functions and computer organization
• Comfort with commonly utilized computer programs, specifically Microsoft’s Word and PowerPoint, and Google Suites Docs and Slides
• basic comfort with spreadsheets is required
• ability to navigate web browsers, search engines, and internet-based programs and unfamiliar applications
• willingness to learn new technology required. 
• Show initiative and be responsible for follow-through