MDHHS Child Welfare Unpaid Internship Application

About the role

*We are now accepting internship applications for internships beginning in Spring or Summer 2027. The Fall 2027 application process will begin in February 2027. Late applications for Fall/Winter 2026 are still being accepted at this time. Please indicate on your application which semester you are interested in.

Our social work internship program is designed for students looking to learn, work hard and potentially get hired in the social work field.

This program will help you reach your education and career goals. After exposure to our Services Specialists positions, successful interns may be considered for full time positions with our department.

The MDHHS mission is to provide opportunities, services, and programs that promote a healthy, safe, and stable environment for residents to be self-sufficient. We are committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and a work environment whereby all employees are treated with dignity, respect and fairness. For more information, please visit our MDHHS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan.

MDHHS is proud to be a Michigan Veteran’s Affairs Agency (MVAA) Gold Level Veteran-Friendly Employer.At the time of internship, must be currently enrolled in a undergraduate or graduate program.

For this specific internship, you must be pursuing one of the following

A bachelor's or master's degree with a major in one of the following human services areas: social work, sociology, psychology, forensic psychology, interdisciplinary studies in social science, education, community development, law enforcement, behavioral science, gerontology, special education, education of the emotionally disturbed, education of the gifted, family ecology, community services, family studies, family and/or child development, counseling psychology, criminal justice, human services, or in a human services-related counseling major.

OR

A bachelor's degree in any major with at least 30 semester (45 term) credits in one or a combination of the following human services areas: social work, sociology, psychology, forensic psychology, interdisciplinary studies in social science, education, community development, law enforcement, behavioral science, gerontology, special education, education of the emotionally disturbed, education of the gifted, family ecology, community services, family studies, family and/or child development, counseling psychology, criminal justice, human services, or in a human services-related counseling major.

The information below is required. Please read thoroughly.

• Attach a cover letter that includes the responses to the following questions:
• What qualities or attributes will you bring to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services?
• What are your career interests, goals, and plans? Be specific.
• What do you expect to gain from this internship experience?
• Attach a resume, list of three references, and a copy of your official or unofficial transcripts.
• You will be subject to an MDHHS background check and, if selected to move forward in the process, will be required to provide a copy of your driver license and social security card. If you have lived outside of the state of Michigan in the last 5 years, or currently do, and are asked to move forward with placement, you will need to provide an out of state Central Registry from that state. You may request this prior to placement to streamline the process.
• If you currently live outside of the state of Michigan, you will need to obtain an out of state driving record (2 year official) from the state in which your drivers license has been issued and attach it to your application.
• If an Affiliation Agreement is required by your university, you must ensure there is one in place or that your university initiates the process prior to starting your internship. Affiliation Agreements are legal documents that can take 3 months or longer to complete.

Failure to attach any of the above may result in your application being screened out.

Please use the map below to determine which three locations you would like to do your internship.

With questions or for more information about the State of Michigan Health and Human Services Internship Placement Program, please contact:

• Kearstyn Meyers
• Office of Human Resources
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
• MDHHSJobs MDHHSInternships