Meet Britnee: Former Children’s Home & Aid Development Intern

What happens when an intern with only direct practice experience pushes herself out of her comfort zone to experience social work in a very different administrative area?

After completing her undergraduate degree, Britnee Greene worked for the Arizona Department of Children’s Services, where she realized her passion for supporting and protecting children. After moving to Illinois to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at Loyola University, Britnee applied and was accepted as a first year Master’s level intern in Children’s Home & Aid’s Development Department. “Working in Development allowed me to experience a different approach to social work. I had never written a grant before, worked with donors, or strategized on how to attract new donors. I was very interested in getting experience in something I wasn’t used to and understanding how macro-level practices will impact my future clients.”

Britnee’s internship was unlike anything she had ever attempted in the past and she encourages other MSW students to not be afraid to be themselves. “Don’t focus on making mistakes, not meeting expectations or impressing people. It is important to be yourself because that is what got you in the door. I discovered that I can still be Britnee, while also being a confident and empowered professional,” Britnee said.

Britnee enthusiastically described the most important thing she gained from her internship: confidence. Britnee’s confidence came from pushing herself outside her comfort zone and having the opportunity to participate in meaningful agency projects. “The biggest lesson I learned from my internship was to be confident in my work. Since completing my internship, I’ve found that I am now more sure in both my personal and professional life. I have been using concepts I learned at Children’s Home & Aid to inform my decision-making in my second year internship and take on new challenges.”

Britnee’s experience as a Development intern at Children’s Home + Aid allowed her to learn more than simply what it means to be an administrative social worker. Britnee discovered something even more valuable: her inner strength.

Children’s Home & Aid is committed to providing thought-provoking, real-world internship opportunities. We enjoy working with interns like Britnee who are enthusiastic about learning. If you are interested in interning at Children’s Home & Aid, please visit our Internship Opportunities page

Simone Kohn is a Children’s Home & Aid Human Resources intern completing her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.