What the VSIP Offers Students

The purpose of the VSIP is to provide an internship with a stipend in the field of crime victim services that may not otherwise be accessible to the student, while nurturing a cooperative working and learning relationship between the host agency, the intern, and COVA.

The VSIP’s foremost commitment is to the learning process of the intern. The VSIP staff are available to all interns to facilitate growth, assist in networking, and identify other resources pertinent to their internship experience. Workshops, seminars and conference opportunities are available to all VSIP interns. Regular intern meetings provide additional in-service training, debriefings, and peer support.

COVA’s Victim Services Internship Program (VSIP)

The VSIP seeks to improve the delivery of services to historically underserved crime victims, and reduce the disparity in service provision between the high number of crime victims from underrepresented populations, compared to the low number of victim service professionals of similar backgrounds. The victim services field has evolved over several decades, however, crime victims from some communities continue to face systemic barriers when accessing services.

In order to address this discrepancy, the intention of the VSIP is to increase the number of victim service professionals who hold underrepresented identites, by offering  college students a paid internship where they will receive training to develop their advocacy skills and leadership potential, as well as opportunities to directly serve crime victims from various backgrounds and communities.

 

 

*Please note that internship availability is contingent on our funding and therefore spots are limited. Thank you

COVA Internship Program

2023 Facts

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COVA’s Victim Services Internship Program hired or maintained a total of 62 student interns
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COVA interns provided approximately 5,978 services to at least 1,728 crime victims
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COVA interns dedicated approximately 21,313 total hours
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42 COVA Interns completed the VSIP
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36% of COVA interns were hired in the field of Victim Services at the completion of their internship

Spotlight

  1. Max, Lakewood Police Department Victim Assistance – Tulane University/Social Work &Disaster Resilience
  2. Aliyah, Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office Victim Response Unit – Adams State/Sociology &Criminology
  3. Bailey, Pueblo Rape Crisis Services – CSU Pueblo/Criminology
  4. Barbara, The Blue Bench – MSU/Social Work
  5. Brisa, Project Safeguard – UCD/Psychology
  6. Elliot, Family Tree Homelessness Program – Newman University/Social Work
  7. Esperanza, Longmont Police Department Victim Services – Aims Community College/Psychology
  8. Gabriela, Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center – MSU/Social Work
  9. Gabrielle, Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center – MSU/Social Work
  10. Imelda, Blue Sky Bridge – UCD/Criminal Justice
  11. Isabel, Voces Unidas for Justice – UCCS/Social Work
  12. Jacquelyn, Voces Unidas for Justice – UCCS/Social Work
  13. Jade, Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office Victim Response Unit – Adams State/Social Work &Criminal Justice
  14. Kat, COVA-Human Trafficking Program – Aspen University/Business Administration
  15. Kathryn, Phoenix Center at Auraria – MSU/Social Work
  16. Margaux, Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center – DU/Social Work
  17. Matthew, Regis University Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention – Regis University/Information Technology
  18. Mia, A Woman’s Place – UNC/Psychology
  19. Naomi, The Blue Bench – Walden University/Mental Health Counseling
  20. Natasha, Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center – MSU/Social Work
  21. Nigh, Phoenix Center at Auraria – UCD/Psychology
  22. Noor, Denver Children’s Advocacy Center – UCD/Public Health
  23. Priscilla, Alternative Horizons – Fort Lewis College/Sociology &Human Services
  24. Quinlan, Rose Andom Center – MSU/Social Work
  25. Shiloh, Rose Andom Center – MSU/Social Work
  26. Taylor, Alternative Horizons – Fort Lewis College/Criminology
  27. Adaly, Denver District Attorney’s Office Juvenile Unit – MSU/Criminal Justice
  28. Alaina, The Center for Trauma and Resilience – DU/International Disaster Psychology
  29. Alejandria, Pueblo Children’s Advocacy Center – CSU Pueblo/Social Work
  30. Arisson, The Blue Bench – Denver Seminary/Counseling &Theology
  31. AJ, Alternatives to Violence – CSU/Social Work
  32. Audrey, The Phoenix Center at Auraria – MSU/Social Work
  33. Ayodelle, Westminster Police Department Victim Services – MSU/Criminal Justice &Trauma Studies
  34. Aysia, The Blue Bench – UCD/Counseling
  35. Reyna F., Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Victim Response Team – CSU/Sociology &Criminal Justice
  36. Tenzin, Lutheran Family Services – DU/International Disaster Psychology
  37. Rachel, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network – DU/Social Work
  38. Gisselle, 19th Judicial District Attorney’s Office – UNC/Criminal Justice
  39. Patrina, Aurora Police Department Victim Services Unit – DU/Social Work &Mental Health Trauma
  40. Maria, Larimer County Victim Response Team – CSU/Sociology &Criminal Justice
  41. Tahleiah, Sexual Assault Services Organization-Fort Lewis College/Criminology & Forensic Science
  42. Marissa, Haseya Advocate Program-MSU/Social Work

Student Intern Information

Fill out the application above.

Complete a VSIP Intern application (above)
● Submit a cover letter
● Submit a resume
● Agree to a release of information for a background check


* All internships are in person, if you would like to intern with a specific agency, we recommend you verify they are located within a reasonable proximity.

  • Have an interest in advocating for crime victims
  • Identify as a member of an underrepresented community
  • Commit up to 20 hours per week at a host agency
  • Commit to 6 -12 months **Must be graduating in Fall 2024 at the earliest in order to fulfil the 6-12 month commitment.
  • Be enrolled in an accredited college or university for the duration of the internship 
  • Commit to maintain confidentiality with the highest level of integrity and respect for others

Examples of underrepresented communities include, but are not limited to, those
who are marginalized due to their race/ethnicity; gender identity; sexual orientation; age; socioeconomic status; physical ability; language; and/or immigration status.


* Please note: service providers who identify as male, regardless of other factors, are underrepresented in Victim Services. In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that “1 in 3 men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.” While according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 12.7 % of victim advocates identify as male.

Background checks are completed by the VSIP. However sometimes, the host
agency will also conduct their own background check.
Criminal justice agency entities often have a more extensive process and likely
follow federal criteria. While marijuana possession and use are legal under Colorado state law, possession and use is a crime under federal law. Marijuana use or possession may prevent an applicant from being accepted as an intern in a criminal justice agency.

The VSIP is responsible for the facilitation of the internship; therefore, students
will not intern at the COVA office. Instead, students will intern at a host agency with which we have a partnership.

Host agencies vary from systems-based to community-based and include police
departments, district attorney’s offices, domestic violence shelters, children’s advocacy centers, non-profit organizations, etc.

You can find potential host agencies in our COVA Service Directory. We work with a variety of agencies across the state, please make sure you are filtering based on areas of interest and location.

*Please be aware not all host agencies are recruiting interns at the time students apply.

Host Agency Applications

Fill out the application above.

  • Complete a VSIP Host Agency application (above)
  • Submit intern’s job description
  • Submit agency’s equal employment opportunity statement
  • Agree to a site visit with the VSIP staff to tour the facility and learn more about
    the services provided
  • Serve crime victims
  • Be able to host an intern for 6-12 months
  • Interns must be providing victims of crime direct services in some capacity
  • The intern stipend allows students to dedicate more hours to meet agency needs
  • Interns commit to work within their host agency for 9 -12 months
  • The VSIP screens each intern candidate prior to referring them to assess the
    best possible match for the intern and the agency
  • Interns are provided with additional trainings
  • Scholarship opportunities are available for the intern to attend the COVA
    Conference and/or Basic Victim Assistance Academy

For further information regarding the Victim Services Intern Program
Please contact the COVA office at 303-861-1160 or via email

Christa Taylor, VSIP Program Director Christa@coloradocrimevictims.org 

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