Internships

Indiana Guardianship Services, Inc. offers internship opportunities for emerging social workers who are interested in ethical guardianship, advocacy, and evidence-based practice. Internships provide supervised, educational exposure to professional guardianship within Indiana’s legal and social service systems, all of which are grounded in social work values and NASW Code of Ethics. Internships are educational and observational in nature and are designed to complement academic coursework and field education. IGS has placement opportunities in both LaPorte and Porter Counties. If you are interested in completing your practicum with Indiana Guardianship Services, Inc., reach out to our Executive Director Kayla Shifley at 219-262-0143 or by email at kayla@inguardian.org.

BSW Junior Practicum

BSW junior interns gain introductory, supervised experience working with adults under guardianship while developing foundational social work skills in advocacy, documentation, and systems navigation.

Under supervision, students may:

Visit with assigned individuals (approximately ten clients) for a minimum of one hour per month to build rapport, provide advocacy support, and observe well-being
Conduct unannounced visits when appropriate and directed by supervisory staff
Document interactions with individuals, care team members, and service providers in accordance with agency standards and legal requirements
Attend client meetings, including medical appointments when appropriate, and assist with note-taking and documentation
Support applications for public benefits such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and Veterans Affairs
Observe and engage with interdisciplinary professionals, including law enforcement, county agencies, attorneys, healthcare providers, and other guardians
Assist with biopsychosocial assessments at intake and contribute to ongoing monthly assessments addressing needs, concerns, and strengths
Participate in micro-level practice with individuals; students interested in macro practice may assist with court reports and compliance documentation under supervision
Observe court hearings to learn about guardianship proceedings, testimony, and court processes as they relate to individual cases

BSW Junior & MSW Senior Practicum

BSW senior and MSW junior interns build on foundational social work skills through increased engagement in advocacy, documentation, assessment, and evidence-based practice.

Under supervision, students may:

Perform all responsibilities outlined in the BSW Junior Internship, with increased autonomy and responsibility
Carry a larger caseload (approximately fifteen individuals), with a minimum of one hour of contact per client per month
Complete more advanced documentation and case notes in accordance with agency, legal, and ethical standards
Take a more active role in client meetings and care coordination
Conduct biopsychosocial assessments at intake and contribute to ongoing monthly assessments
Participate in court hearings to deepen understanding of guardianship proceedings; in limited circumstances, may assist with or provide testimony with direct social work supervisor support and approval
Engage in systems-level advocacy and policy-related activities related to guardianship at the organizational, state, or national level, as appropriate

MSW Senior Practicum

MSW senior interns assume advanced responsibilities within a supervised setting. This placement emphasizes higher-level assessment, documentation, systems coordination, and policy engagement consistent with advanced social work practice.

Under supervision, students may:

Perform all responsibilities outlined in the BSW Senior / MSW Junior Internship, with increased independence and complexity
Carry a larger caseload (approximately twenty individuals), with a minimum of one hour of contact per client per month
Complete advanced documentation, case notes, and assessments in accordance with legal, ethical, and agency standards
Conduct biopsychosocial assessments at intake and assess new clients to determine appropriate service planning under supervision
Perform ongoing monthly assessments addressing client needs, concerns, strengths, and outcomes
Take an active role in client meetings, including medical appointments and interdisciplinary care conferences
Attend court hearings and, with social work supervisor assistance and approval, provide testimony related to individual cases
Engage in micro-level practice with individuals; students interested in macro practice may assist with court reports and compliance documentation
Participate in guardianship-related policy advocacy at the organizational, state, or national level, consistent with educational objectives
Assist program leadership with quarterly reporting and documentation required for state grant funding and program compliance
Engage with community stakeholders and referral sources, including conducting eligibility assessments for newly referred individuals using tools such as Physician’s Reports and cognitive screening measures under supervision