Hennepin County Social Work Internship 2026: Paid Child Welfare Roles ($23-$24/hr)

Hennepin County's Human Services and Public Health Department is actively seeking interns for its Winter 2026 Social Work Internship Program. This is a paid, part-time opportunity designed for Bachelor's (BSW) and Master's (MSW) students who want to make a real difference in child welfare.

Selected interns will earn $23 to $24 per hour while gaining mentorship from experienced Child Services Workers. This hybrid role allows you to work across various specialized units, from adoption to investigation, helping support children and families in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas.

Internship Overview & Key Details

Specialized Internship Units

Unlike general internships, Hennepin County allows you to gain experience in specific areas of child welfare. You may be placed in one of the following key units:

• Adoption: Focuses on identifying and placing children into permanent adoptive families.
• Child Protection Intake: Answers reporting lines, documents maltreatment reports, and handles emergent safety cases (No direct client contact).
• Child Protection Investigations: Conducts assessments and investigations into alleged child maltreatment reports.
• Ongoing Case Management: Provides direct services to families to protect children from harm and enhance their welfare after abuse/neglect reports.
• ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act): specialized support for Native American families, ensuring compliance with federal and state preservation acts.
• Family Group Decision Making (FGDM): A family-centered approach that gathers extended family to plan for a child's safety, giving families a voice in decisions.
• Kinship: Identifies and assesses relatives who can provide out-of-home placement for children.

Role Responsibilities: What Will You Do?

As an intern, you will work alongside professionals to support case goals. Your duties will include:

• Field Work: Conducting home visits to clients in collaboration with Child Protection Social Workers.
• Case Support: Helping design treatment plans, making referrals to community resources, and interpreting social/emotional factors.
• Legal & Admin: Attending court hearings and discussions with County Attorneys regarding case updates.
• Collaboration: partnering with internal and external partners to increase child well-being.

Eligibility and Mandatory Requirements

Hennepin County is looking for students committed to diversity and social work ethics. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:

Mandatory Qualifications

• Education: As of Spring 2026, you must be enrolled as a:
  • Senior BSW Student at an accredited university.
  • MSW Student at an accredited university.
  • Or enrolled in a Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholars Program.
• Logistics: You must have access to reliable transportation and a reliable internet connection for hybrid work.

Preferred Skills

• Experience working with diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Knowledge of social work principles, interviewing techniques, and counseling.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Teams, Word, Excel).

How to Apply

Applications for the Winter 2026 intake are open. Interested candidates should apply via the official Hennepin County careers page. Be sure to highlight your specific interest in child welfare and any relevant coursework.

Official Application Link: Click Here to Apply for Hennepin County Internship