Denver Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) benefits from the expertise, talent, and dedication of interns to support our programming and operations. DCAC works with interns throughout the year and in a variety of capacities, from community outreach and prevention to development and marketing.
Learn more about DCAC’s internship program and the impact it has on our organization, including being a wonderful avenue to recruit future staff members.
Internships at DCAC
DCAC works with undergraduate and graduate students to provide meaningful internship experiences that include mentorship, hands-on experience, and more. Our internship offerings vary based on time of year and departmental needs. This summer, we welcomed three interns to our internship program:
- Melanie Barron – Case Support Intern
- Madison “Maddie” Buller – Case Support Intern
- Izabella “Bella” Valdez – Family Advocate Intern
DCAC partners with the following schools for our internship program:
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Regis University
- University of Denver
- University of Northern Colorado
- University of Colorado, Denver
Hollie Reinhart, DCAC Director of Rapid Response/Forensic Interviewer, works closely with interns and shared:
- “The internship programs at child advocacy centers [like DCAC] are vital pathways for growing the next generation of trauma-informed professionals. I began my own journey as a CAC intern over a decade ago, and that early exposure not only shaped my career but gave me a competitive edge during the hiring process. Now, having hired several formal interns onto my own team, I’ve seen young professionals who may have never otherwise discovered this field bringing in fresh perspectives, passion, and long-term commitment to the CAC mission.”
We are currently looking for interns in a variety of areas. Check out our internship offerings and apply today!
Intern Turned Director
Christa Summers (pictured left), DCAC Director of Community Outreach, started her relationship with us as a clinical intern in 2017. During her internship, Christa provided DCAC’s Denver Safe from the Start curriculum to Denver Public Schools early care and education through 5th grade classrooms. She was then hired full-time as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with DCAC in 2018 and then took on a dual role as a Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant and Child and Family Therapist in 2019. Today, Christa is our Director of Community Outreach.
Christa shared her thoughts on what being a DCAC meant to her:
- “What began as a learning opportunity turned into a journey of growth, resilience, and purpose. As an intern, I soaked up every experience and was eager to learn and contribute in any way I could. With time and dedication, I gradually took on more responsibility and leadership. Each step challenged me in new ways and helped me develop not only my skills but also my confidence and vision. Professionally, it taught me the value of hard work, humility, and the importance of lifting up and working with others. Personally, it reminded me that growth doesn’t happen overnight—but with persistence and passion, it absolutely happens.”
Learn more about internships at DCAC and apply today (or share with someone you think might be interested in joining our internship team)!