Youth Development Intern Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Residential Youth Development Intern supports the residential team in supervising and engaging youth residing in an agency-operated facility. Under close supervision, the intern assists with structured activities, daily routines, and documentation while gaining hands-on experience in residential child welfare services. This internship is designed to provide exposure to trauma-informed care, group supervision strategies, and residential programming within a nonprofit human services setting.

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a human services nonprofit supporting the well-being of children, youth, families, and individuals across New York City and Long Island since 1929. Our staff of more than 500 builds well-being by providing prevention services, foster care, residential treatment care, adoption services, programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities, and medical and mental health services.

• Assist staff in supervising youth during recreational, educational, and daily living activities
• Support implementation of structured group activities and programming
• Help reinforce cottage rules and daily routines under staff direction
• Assist with meal preparation or activity setup as appropriate
• Observe and learn behavior management strategies used by residential staff
• Support documentation by assisting with activity logs or incident documentation under supervision
• Participate in team meetings and supervision sessions
• Engage youth in pro-social skill building and positive relationship development
• Complete assigned professional development and training activities
• Interns will not be responsible for sole supervision, crisis intervention, or physical restraint.

By the end of this internship, the intern will:

• Demonstrate basic group supervision and youth engagement skills under supervision.
• Apply trauma-informed care principles in residential or community-based settings.
• Develop awareness of safety protocols and crisis response procedures.
• Strengthen professional boundaries and relationship-building skills with youth.
• Gain experience documenting daily interactions and incidents appropriately.
• Understand career progression within residential and youth development services.

• Currently enrolled in a college program related to Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Education, or a related field
• Strong interpersonal skills and interest in working with youth
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Reliable and punctual

• Prior volunteer or internship experience working with children or adolescents
• Interest in residential treatment, child welfare, or youth development

This position offers an in-person work schedule and is based in Wading River, NY. Occasional local travel with supervisory staff may occur.

Interns may participate in selected agency trainings appropriate to their role. Participation in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training may be offered for learning purposes but is not a requirement for internship completion.

With more than 250 years of combined experience, Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York and St. John's Residence for Boys have a long-standing history of serving children, youth, adults and families of color. Our mission, vision and values are grounded in elevating the shared humanity of every staff member, community partner and those with whom we engage. We recognize that our DEIB work is continuously evolving as we strive for equity and inclusion for individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, ages, abilities, religions and lived experiences.

Some job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may be designed to protect the safety and health of the employee, their fellow employees and the individuals being served and may therefore exclude some individuals.

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected group status.