MSW internship opportunities
NAMI Colorado Springs offers meaningful Master of Social Work (MSW) internship opportunities for graduate students passionate about community mental health, nonprofit work, and social impact.
"Community partners like NAMI Colorado Springs help UCCS Social Work students connect classroom learning with real-world practice … Thank you to NAMI Colorado Springs for being a valued community partner and for helping prepare future social workers through hands-on experience!”
Hands-on experience, direct community engagement
NAMI Colorado Springs provides peer-led mental health support services, education, and advocacy for adults living with mental health conditions and their families. Our MSW internships in Colorado Springs are tailored to each student’s learning goals and will provide hands-on experience in macro and mezzo social work practice, with direct community engagement.
While our work is not clinical, interns gain valuable experience in community-based mental health services, interpersonal communication, nonprofit operations, and systems-level change.
Interns with lived experience in mental health are welcome to participate in peer support services. Although participating directly in peer support programs is not required, all interns will find themselves in peer support spaces.
Requirements & application process
We welcome students from accredited MSW programs seeking internships in Colorado Springs.
To inquire about openings, please email us and include the following:
- Your resume
- Your internship requirements (start/end dates and required hours)
- The school/program you are attending
An opportunity for growth & connection
What you'll bring
- Ability to work independently and take initiative with assigned tasks and projects
- Flexibility and willingness to jump in wherever help is needed
- Confidence in public speaking and communication
- Empathy and a person-centered, trauma-informed approach
- Genuine passion for serving others and mental health advocacy
- Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and Teams
- Willingness to learn and adapt to new technology and systems
- Openness to feedback, supervision, and ongoing mental health and suicide prevention trainings
Note: If you don’t check every one of the boxes above, don’t let that stop you! We’d still love to have a conversation.
What you'll do
- Represent NAMI through community outreach and mental health advocacy
- Support individuals and families via our Resource & Referral Line
- Assist with coordination and execution of nonprofit fundraising events
- Contribute to program evaluation and social work research initiatives
- Participate in public speaking and mental health education programs
- Support volunteer coordination and nonprofit engagement
- Engage in community partnerships and stakeholder outreach
- Assist with data analysis and reporting in social services
- Commit to regular hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., weekdays
- Train and engage in peer programs (some evenings and weekends)
- Complement in-office engagement with limited remote work opportunities after orientation and training
What you'll gain
- Experience in macro and mezzo social work settings
- Exposure to nonprofit management and mental health organizations
- Skills in resource navigation, advocacy and community mental health
- Professional development in the Colorado Springs nonprofit sector
- Understanding of peer-led mental health models and recovery approaches
- Academic credit, if offered by your school program