Please be advised that, due to restrictions set by the internship site, DACA students cannot be considered for this opportunity.
The dates listed in this job posting reflect the Summer 2026 internship term. If you are interested in applying for the Fall 2026 semester instead, please note that the internship will take place from August 24th, 2026 to December 11th, 2026.
The deadline to apply for a Summer internship will be May 1st, 2026.
About SafeNest:
SafeNest provides trauma-informed advocacy and crisis response services to survivors of domestic violence across Southern Nevada. Through hands-on internships in Crisis Advocacy and Residential Services, students gain real-world experience in crisis intervention, safety planning, and collaborative work alongside law enforcement and community partners such as Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Interns play a meaningful role in supporting survivors while building practical skills for careers in social services, public health, and nonprofit leadership.
Internship Role Title:
Crisis Advocacy – Hotline & PS417 (Crisis Advocate Intern)
Key Responsibilities:
This internship places students at the front line of domestic violence response, blending crisis communication, systems navigation, and on-scene advocacy in a fast-paced, real-world environment.
Hotline Advocacy Experience
Interns support SafeNest’s 24/7 crisis hotline, which responds to an average of ~158 calls daily, offering substantial exposure to high-volume crisis intervention.
• Conduct comprehensive safety and needs assessments, including shelter intake screenings
• Respond to high-volume crisis and service calls in a structured, supervised setting
• Dispatch advocates and coordinate real-time responses
• Provide trauma-informed referrals to internal programs and external community resources
• Complete professional documentation within internal data systems
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary partners, including law enforcement, courts, and child welfare
• Participate in community events, outreach, and DV 101 presentations
PS417 On-Scene Crisis Response
PS417 interns gain unique, hands-on exposure to law-enforcement-partnered crisis advocacy. The PS417 program responds to approximately ~1,100 on-scene crisis calls per year.
• Receive and triage calls directly from Metro dispatch
• Respond to on-scene crisis calls alongside trained advocates
• Support clients in real time through safety planning and emotional stabilization
• Observe and engage in collaborative response models with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
• Ability to attend LVMPD briefings and Metro events with the Manager of Strategic Partnerships
Teaching Objectives:
By the end of the internship, students will be able to:
• Apply trauma-informed and survivor-centered practices in high-volume service settings
• Conduct crisis, safety, and housing needs assessments
• Demonstrate professional crisis communication and documentation skills
• Navigate community systems and referral networks
• Understand multidisciplinary collaboration between nonprofits, law enforcement, and social services
Skills Gained
• Crisis intervention and de-escalation
• Safety planning and risk assessment
• High-volume crisis call handling
• On-scene crisis response experience
• Case coordination and systems navigation
• Professional documentation and data systems
• Multidisciplinary collaboration
• Cultural humility and trauma-informed care
**IMPORTANT PLEASE READ**
This internship is part of the College of Liberal Arts Internship Program and includes the required enrollment in COLA 402, the Career and Professional Development course. COLA 402 plays a vital role in your professional growth, providing you with key skills and strategies for your career. Through this program, you will have the opportunity to test out a career or setting that you may want to pursue professionally, build your confidence, grow your skill sets, expand your network, and add valuable experience to your resume or CV. Additionally, you may have the chance to earn a scholarship! Depending on your completed credits and prior enrollment, your course plan for COLA 402 may be adjusted. If you have any questions about how COLA 402 fits into your degree plan, please contact the Wilson Advising Center at wac@unlv.edu.
Please remember to have three internship options in mind when filling out the application form, in case your first or second choice is unavailable.
COLA Internship Program Requirements:
Before hiring…
- Currently enrolled as a Liberal Arts major
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Completed 60 credits (at time of internship)
- CBRI Only: Completed at least one research methods course (at time of application)
After hiring…
- Enrollment in COLA 402
- 120 hours per semester
- Monthly surveys
