At the St. Louis Arc, we greatly value the practicum students and interns who join us each semester. These students help us provide quality programs, and allow us to learn new perspectives and up to date practices.
We enjoy working with students from a variety of schools, both in and out of town, and students pursing a variety of degrees including:
- Social Work
- Counseling
- Social Sciences (Educational Studies, Psychology, Child and Family Development, etc.)
- Communications, Non Profit Management, etc.
- Recreation Therapy
- Occupational, Physical, Speech Therapy
We are currently accepting applications for the fall semester. During the spring semester, the St. Louis Arc welcomed five practicum students and interns. One of the students, Maria Fitzgerald, from the St. Louis University Masters of Social Work program chose to share her experience thus far at the Arc.
A Word From Maria
As part of my Masters of Social Work education, I have the opportunity to gain exposure to different aspects of the social work world. Having previous experience supporting adults with disabilities, I reached out to St. Louis Arc for a practicum due to their reputation as a leader in providing a wide range of disability services in the Greater St. Louis Area.
The St. Louis Arc is unique in both the breadth and level of quality of services they provide. In my practicum I work closely with Stephanie Scott, Director of Quality Enhancement, and am learning about how the organization defines, tracks, and continually improve the quality of service. I am exposed to a variety of departments, committees, and activities, including the Social Justice Committee, Family Supports, and many training opportunities. I am learning about advocating for the need of supports, both on behalf of individuals and families, as well as legislative advocacy in local and state government. Most importantly, I’ve learned how to help people who receive services be able to choose and engage in activities and goals that are personally meaningful and challenging.
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the staff and learning what they do. There is a culture here of always striving for improvement, with the real motivation being to provide the best possible services and resources to the people the Arc supports.
Learn More About Practicum and Internship opportunities at the St. Louis Arc!