Nicole Rizer

Responsibilities

Keep case files organized, supervise family visits, attend Family Team Meetings and Post Removal Conferences, transport clients, attend court hearings, attend planned and unplanned home visits, type up reports, make referrals in the community, etc.

Accomplishments

One event that I was proud of was when I supervised a visit between a father and his three children. I was the only professional in the room and had to take notes and make sure that the father remained appropriate around the children.

What advice would you give?

Go for the internship that is outside of your comfort zone and will challenge you. I had two internship opportunities and the DHS internship was something that I knew would be emotional and mentally challenging. Even if I didn't end up wanting to work in the Department, I know I wanted to work with children and so knowing the child welfare system would be beneficial regardless of what work environment I was in.