University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 18, Feb. 6, 1997
Appreciation reception

     At the Family and Community Services Internship Program
appreciation reception last fall are (from left) Kristin C.
Chance, Delaware '91, manager of prevention programs for the
Delaware Division of the American Cancer Society; program
coordinator Elizabeth Bertera, individual and family studies; and
senior Lauren Stern.
     The Family and Community Services Internship Program,
coordinated by Bertera, held an appreciation reception in
December in the College of Human Resources for the more than 50
participating private and social service agencies.
     Certificates were given to the agencies and to 19
supervisors the students selected as outstanding mentors.
     "The program has grown extensively in the past five years,"
Bertera said. "This spring we will have 33 interns. We also have
added to the number of agencies we serve, such as the Ferris
Detention Center and the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center. And,
many of our graduates now hold positions with these agencies and
supervise our interns," Bertera said.
     Students interview for internships with three agencies and
select one that ties in with their careers interests.
     As volunteer employees, they work for a minimum of 30 hours
per week. The students apply the knowledge and skills they have
learned in the classroom to their volunteer jobs, providing
assistance to the community while getting hands-on experience.
     The interns frequently are employed by the participating
agencies in the program. "The agencies know the quality of our
program and our students and request graduates of the program
when employment opportunities arise," Bertera said.