Employment & Internships
Employment
Join the Pathfinders team! Take a look at the list below for all of our current openings. See internships down below.
AmeriCorps Advocate - Youth Shelter
Date Posted
July 13, 2026
Closing Date
When Filled
Status
17.5 or 33 hours/week
CORE Care Coordinator
AmeriCorps Program Assistant - Street Outreach
New Paths Advocate
CCS Care Coordinator
Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager
How to Apply
Send a copy of a current resume, cover letter and Pathfinders application to hr@pathfindersmke.org or mail to:
Pathfinders
4200 N. Holton St. Suite 400
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Internships
Student interns are a valuable part of our organization and a key to providing the highest level of service possible to the youth we serve. Throughout Milwaukee, many practicing professionals in Social Work, Psychology and other social service fields have expanded their knowledge and skills through opportunities at Pathfinders while working towards undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Application Process
Pathfinders’ approach to Trauma-Informed Care means that our priority is to ensure the safety and growth of the youth we serve; accordingly all interns must adhere to and complete the following process before beginning their work:
1. Complete Pathfinders’ online volunteer application
2. Complete an interview with the Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager
3. Complete all necessary personal paperwork
4. Return five completed reference forms
5. Pass background checks and Milwaukee County Caregiver approval
Applicants seeking Master’s level internships and applicants that have lived outside the state of Wisconsin within the last 3 years will need to schedule and complete a fingerprint background check that will be coordinated by Pathfinders.
6. Attend the intern orientation held at the beginning of each year
Emergency Youth Shelter
Assistant Advocate
Objective: Assistant Advocates assist with the needs of its residents and maintain the high level of care provided to youth at our Shelter. Under staff supervision, Assistant Advocates have direct and constant one-on-one interaction with the residents and provide them with a positive role model. A three-month commitment to work one 4 ½-hour shift per week is required.
Responsibilities:
- Answer phones, provide information and crisis counseling.
- Complete intakes and resident orientations.
- Participate in daily groups.
- Assist staff with general house management.
Qualifications:
- Be 20 years or older.
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Have experience or interest in working with teens and their families.
- Ability to work cooperatively with paid staff and accept supervision.
Street Outreach Assistant Advocate
Under the direction of the Street Outreach Specialist, assist in providing intensive street outreach and access to services for youth who are experiencing homelessness, have left home due to family conflict or crisis, or are living on the streets.
Responsibilities:
- Support Street Outreach Specialist to connect with youth on the streets to provide survival aid and violence prevention resources.
- Assist with youth assessments in order to provide survival aid and sexual abuse and exploitation prevention services; including food and clothing, risk reduction supplies and education, housing and employment assistance, and resource and referral information.
- Assist in offering intensive street outreach and ongoing supportive services to youth staying at Youth Shelters, coordinating services with the Youth Shelter team.
- Assist in providing survival aid resources including basic needs (food, clothing), financial assistance, housing/ shelter, records and identification requests, and transportation assistance. Provide resource and referral information, including distribution of the project’s referral cards and assistance in accessing medical and mental health services. Provide trafficking and/or abuse prevention services, including advocacy, safety planning, crisis intervention, risk reduction resources, and assistance with exiting exploitive situations. Provide additional services including independent living skills development and assistance with school and employment concerns in collaboration with the Youth Shelter.
- Assist in providing follow-up care to youth engaged through intensive street outreach services
- Assist in monitoring, procuring, and stocking program equipment and resources in Outreach vehicle.
- Assist in providing project-related community outreach and promotional activities.
- Assist with client files; creation and maintaining.
- Must be organized, reliable, and able to maintain privileged client information.
- Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Other duties may be assigned.
Qualifications:
Requires education generally equivalent to a high school diploma. Intern should have experience or interest in working with youth.
Ability to read and interpret documents, such as training manuals, client records, statistical reports, and policy and procedure guidelines. Ability to speak effectively before groups of youth, adults, and professionals.
Ability to perform basic high school mathematical operations.
Ability to carry out instructions provided in written and oral form. Ability to deal with problems that involve several concrete and abstract variables in multiple situations.
Ability to work with Street Outreach Specialist and paid staff within the parameters of the project, and ability to work in a changing environment where there is frequent exposure to stressful/crisis situations. Ability to respect and maintain confidentiality. Ability to working with nonjudgmental attitude in a population comprised of diversity in gender, socio-economic and ethnic group, sexual orientation, and physical or mental abilities. Ability to frequently use standard office equipment, including calculator, cellular telephone, and copier. Ability to accept supervision.
- While performing the duties of this position, the intern is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, and to talk and hear. The intern is frequently required to stand, walk, and sit. The intern is occasionally required to reach above shoulders; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
- The intern must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- In the regular duties of this position, the intern frequently works outside, occasionally during periods of inclement weather. The intern may also work in public facilities, with the work environment having a minimal amount of office settings. The intern may be exposed to some physical risk from clients.
- The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.
Position requires some availability within the days and hours of;
- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 11am – 7pm
- Wednesday 9am – 5pm
Graduate Shelter Intern (Clinical and Non-Clinical)
Objective: Graduate Interns assist with the needs of its residents and maintain the high level of care provided to youth at our Shelter. Under staff supervision Graduate Interns have direct and constant one-on-one interaction with the residents and provide a therapeutic plan to advance the life skills of residents.
Responsibilities:
- Facilitate an initial assessment of youth’s mental health and basic needs to create a treatment plan.
- Facilitate an initial assessment of youth’s mental health and basic needs to create a treatment plan.
- Provide individual and family therapy to residents as well as non-residents clients.
- Answer crisis calls, assist with house supervision and the facilitation of group sessions.
- Advocate for youth and help to develop youth life skills.
Qualifications:
- Possess Bachelor’s Degree and be enrolled in appropriate Graduate program.
- Be emotionally stable and have a non-judgmental attitude.
- Have experience or interest in working with teens and their families.
- Demonstrate a lifestyle and value system in accordance with the interests of the of the clientele served.
Youth Anti-Sexual Violence
New Paths Graduate Intern (Clinical and Non-Clinical)
Objective: Under the supervision of the New Paths Therapist, learn all skills needed to provide support to victims of sexual violence/exploitation/trafficking through therapeutic support, advocacy and groups, offering support to them through the long term effects of trauma.
Responsibilities:
- To learn skills to facilitate weekly groups for youth who experienced sexual violence, and/or sexual exploitation/trafficking.
- To learn skills to meet in-person with youth who have been victimized and provide crisis intervention, therapeutic and advocacy services
- To learn skills to assess clients, identify trafficking-specific signs, and collaborate with partners, and develop a specialized plan for support
- To learn skills to provide case management, crisis intervention, harm reduction outreach, and advocacy services, including service coordination as necessary.
- Refer clients to community resources and other organizations, as appropriate.
- Learn procedures to compile records and prepare reports, including case files and correspondence with client and other systems and social services providers involved.
- Attend CRAY meetings, Pathfinders meetings and New Paths Meetings.
- Other duties may be assigned.
Qualifications:
- Must be 20 years or older.
- Must be pursuing a field placement in a social work or psychology Master’s program.
- Must be experienced in working with youth programs and adolescent trauma.
- Must be able to make independent decisions in an environment where there is exposure to stressful/crisis situations.
- Must respect and maintain confidentiality and adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics.
- Ability to work with a non-judgmental attitude in a population comprised of diversity in gender, socio-economic and ethnic group, sexual orientation, and physical or mental abilities.
- Be able to adhere to program policies/procedures and accept supervision.
Training:
- Scheduled orientations and in-service trainings, on-going training and weekly supervision with the New Paths Therapist.
Commitment:
- Position requires a two-semester commitment or a specific time agreed upon between the Volunteer Manager and field liaison and/or advisor. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 16 hours per week.
New Paths Undergraduate Intern
Objective: Assistant Advocates assist with the needs of its residents and maintain the high level of care provided to youth at our Shelter. Under staff supervision, Assistant Advocates have direct and constant one-on-one interaction with the residents and provide them with a positive role model. A three-month commitment to work one 4 ½-hour shift per week is required.
Responsibilities:
- Answer phones, provide information and crisis counseling.
- Complete intakes and resident orientations.
- Participate in daily groups.
- Assist staff with general house management.
Qualifications:
- Be 20 years or older.
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Have experience or interest in working with teens and their families.
- Ability to work cooperatively with paid staff and accept supervision.
Youth Drop-in Center
Program Assistant
Objective: Drop-In Center Program Assistants build relationships and provide positive role models for Drop-In Center youth members. They supervise and interact with the youth and assist staff with day-to-day Drop management.
Responsibilities:
- Supervise & interact informally with clients as a positive adult role model.
- Monitor kitchen/locker room/showers/laundry room/computer lab access
- Participate in client orientations.
- Participate in groups/programs.
- Assist staff with documentation, filing and supportive related duties.
Qualifications:
- Be 20 years or older.
- Possess a high school diploma or GED.
- Have experience or interest in working with teens and young adults.
- Ability to work cooperatively with paid staff and accept supervision.
Drop-in Center Graduate Intern (Clinical and Non-Clinical)
Objective: Graduate Interns will assist in interviewing and assessing youth between the ages of 11-25 years of age who have a history, current, or at-risk of traumatic situations or are presenting in crisis.
Responsibilities:
- Address needs surrounding personal and family adjustments, housing, school, and physical and mental impairments, using assessment tools and approach based on
- Pathfinders values and mission.
- Provide youth access to individual and therapeutic groups regarding trauma.
- Develop strength based treatment goals for meeting self-identified needs and help youth based on their motivation to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior.
- Provide crisis intervention and advocacy services.
- Refer youth internally and externally to community resources and other organizations, as appropriate.
- Support Youth Outreach Drop-In Center staff as needed with routine shift management. This will include new youth orientations and providing assistance with task to provide essential immediate and basic needs as requested.
Qualifications:
- Must be pursuing studies in social work, human service or related field.
- Individual must be 21 years or older.
- Possess experience/interest working with teens and young adults.
- Demonstrate emotional stability.
- Possess an open-minded attitude and a willingness to work with a diverse population regarding race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation.
- Must adhere to program policies/procedures (i.e. confidentiality and boundaries).
Supported Housing
Supported Housing Intern
Objective: To provide case management services to young adults ages 18-25 seeking safer, more stable housing.
Responsibilities:
- Learn the process of, and support, in assessing barriers that prevent stable housing for vulnerable individuals and families.
- Build relationships and learn case management skills in determining what support could be most helpful, using strengths-based, solution-focused models.
- Learn how to provide advocacy and case management support services to clients, which may include:
- Assist clients with filling out applications, acquiring vital documents, and explaining lease agreements.
- Learn to support independent living skills development, such as assisting clients in developing cooking, cleaning, and home-management skills.
- Observe and learn procedures for facilitating home visits, discussing client’s progress on goals using supported decision-making and motivational interviewing.
- Assist clients in connecting to internal and external resources, as appropriate.
- Learn to complete case notes weekly to accurately reflect client progress.
- Attend bi-weekly team meetings on Thursdays 10-11:30am, as schedule allows.
- Other duties may be assigned.
Qualifications:
- Must be pursuing studies in social work, human service or related field.
- Must be referred by field liaison or advisor.
- Individual must be 21 years or older.
- Reliable transportation and proof of auto insurance is preferred.
- Experience providing advocacy and/or resources to youth/ young adults with experiences of trauma and vulnerability is a plus.
- Posses a non-judgmental attitude with a population comprised of diversity in gender, socioeconomic status, ethnic group, sexual orientation, and physical and mental abilities.
- Must accept supervision and be able to adhere to program policies/procedures (i.e. confidentiality and boundaries).
- Demonstrate a value system that is in accordance with the interests of the clientele served (NASW Code of Ethics).
Training:
- Scheduled orientation and training sessions, ongoing training with the assigned field instructor during shift.
Commitment:
- Position requires a one-semester commitment or a specific time agreed upon between the Volunteer Manager and field liaison.
- Two-semester commitment preferred. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 15 hours per week.
Drop-in Center Graduate Intern (Clinical and Non-Clinical)
Graduate Interns will assist in interviewing and assessing youth between the ages of 11-25 years of age who have a history, current, or at-risk of traumatic situations or are presenting in crisis.
Responsibilities:
- Address needs surrounding personal and family adjustments, housing, school, and physical and mental impairments, using assessment tools and approach based on
- Pathfinders values and mission.
- Provide youth access to individual and therapeutic groups regarding trauma.
- Develop strength based treatment goals for meeting self-identified needs and help youth based on their motivation to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior.
- Provide crisis intervention and advocacy services.
- Refer youth internally and externally to community resources and other organizations, as appropriate.
- Support Youth Outreach Drop-In Center staff as needed with routine shift management. This will include new youth orientations and providing assistance with task to provide essential immediate and basic needs as requested.
Qualifications:
- Must be pursuing studies in social work, human service or related field.
- Individual must be 21 years or older.
- Possess experience/interest working with teens and young adults.
- Demonstrate emotional stability.
- Possess an open-minded attitude and a willingness to work with a diverse population regarding race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation.
- Must adhere to program policies/procedures (i.e. confidentiality and boundaries).
Programs & Services
Programs & Services Executive Assistant
Objective: Under the supervision of the Sr. Vice President, provide support to senior level programmatic and service needs that increase capacity in addressing systematic impact; learning skills needed to provide support to the Youth Action Board (YAB) as part of the Youth Homeless Demonstration project in partnership with the City of Milwaukee. Increase research and reporting capacity on Runaway and Homeless Youth Services (RHY), and attend senior level internal, and external meetings as scheduled.
Responsibilities:
- Support the capacity of senior leadership through leadership development and administrative duties in collaboration with the Sr Vice President and Youth Action Board.
- Be accessible via phone and email for efficient communication.
- Build relationships with community partners and make proper connections and hand-offs to internal leaders.
- Learn skills to compile research and information relevant to RHY population and use for reporting, messaging, recruitment, community, and internal/external presentations.
- Use information gathered for crisis intervention, harm reduction outreach, and advocacy services, and service coordination as part of YAB assistance.
- Refer members to community resources and other organizations, as appropriate.
- Learn procedures to compile records, meeting minutes, prepare reports, and agendas.
- Attend scheduled internal and assigned community meetings.
- Weekly one on one meetings to include scope of work, timelines, due dates, assignment planning, and other actions for successful field placement.
- Coordinate YAB member engagement in YHDP Process.
- Other duties may be assigned.
Qualifications:
- Must be pursuing a field placement in a master’s program (social work, psych, public health, etc..).
- Must be experienced in working with youth programs and adolescent trauma.
- Must be able to make independent decisions in an environment where there is exposure to stressful/crisis situations.
- Must respect and maintain confidentiality and adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics.
- Ability to work with a non-judgmental attitude in a population comprised of diversity in gender, socio-economic and ethnic group, sexual orientation, and physical or mental abilities.
- Be able to adhere to program policies/procedures and accept weekly supervision.
Training:
- Scheduled orientations and in-service trainings, on-going training and weekly supervision with the Sr. Vice President of Programs & Services.
Commitment:
- Position requires a two-semester commitment at minimum, or a specific time agreed upon between the Volunteer Manager and field liaison and/or advisor.
- Interns must work at least 16 hours per week.
For more information on internships at Pathfinders, please contact our Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager at community@pathfindersmke.org
Pathfinders is committed to creating a comfortable, welcoming environment for our youth and staff.
We encourage applications from all individuals including those who reflect the lived experiences of the young people we serve.
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