Jewish Home Family develops an innovative internship program with Long Island University

The Jewish Home Family is offering an innovative internship program in conjunction with Long Island University (LIU) Rockland campus in Orangeburg, N.Y. Charlene Vannucci, Jewish Home Family’s Director of Volunteer Services, is the creator and coordinator of the program.

“This internship program is the very first of its kind,” she said. “The interns get a rare opportunity to experience the entire continuum of senior care. They rotate right through Jewish Home at Home; Gallen Adult Day Health Care Center, which is part of the Jewish Home at Home; Jewish Home at Rockleigh; and Jewish Home Assisted Living in River Vale, N.J. Here at JHR, the interns do wonderful work—one talented intern helped a resident produce a book of her poems and thoughts. They get experience working in all these settings with individual and group supervision by experienced professionals,” she explained.

The Mental Health Counseling program is a 60 credit master’s degree that leads to licensing as a mental health counselor. As part of the program, the students must complete three internship courses. Upon completion of the internships the students will have 700 hours of hands on experience. “The internship program is invaluable, “ explained Thomas J. Nardi, Ph.D., director of the School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling Programs at LIU’s Rockland and West Point campuses. The students receive supervision in their classes at LIU but they are also supervised at the Jewish Home Family. JHF gives the students the opportunity to work and learn in one of the best facilities I’ve seen for seniors.”

LIU students taking part in the internship include Jackie Rizzo from Monroe, John Mortsakis from West Nyack, Kelly Rogers from Blauvelt, and Amalie Southwood of Nyack.