COVA Victim Services Intern Program
Due to the high level of interest in the program and the heavy volume of applications we have received, we are no longer accepting applications for interns for the fall 2019 semester with the exception of bilingual Spanish applicants in the Denver metro area. Please check back in the spring to see if we are accepting more applicants.
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Mission Statement:
The mission of the COVA Victim Services Intern Program is to recruit current students who must identify as a member of an underserved/marginalized population (i.e. cultural/ethnic diversity, sexual orientation, differently abled, etc.), and place them in paid positions within agencies that provide crime victim services. Objectives focus on cultivating career opportunities and increasing sensitivity and awareness in cultural and environmental issues, while advocating victims’ needs and rights. |
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COVA Intern Program History, Goals and Purpose:
The COVA Victim Services Internship Program was established in July of 1996 in an effort to increase sensitivity and awareness in cultural and environmental issues, while advocating victims' needs and rights. Funding for the Program is from Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) funds and the 1st, 2nd, 17th, 18th, and 20th Judicial District Victim Assistance Law Enforcement (VALE) Funds.
The program is committed to placing current students of under-represented populations in non-profit organizations and government units that provide some level of victim services. The program provides opportunities for current students to serve in criminal legal system departments and community based victim services programs.
The goal of this program is to help the intern find employment in the field of victim services. Placement in the victim services profession encourages a working knowledge of the criminal legal system, crisis intervention styles, community outreach opportunities, courtroom advocacy skills, agency planning techniques, grant writing, and volunteer-intern management. The intern experience, coupled with an increased awareness in diverse populations benefits the student, the community, and the prospective employer.
COVA Victim Services Intern Program commonly recruits local students from the following: University of Colorado at Denver and Boulder, Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Regis University, Red Rocks Community College, Denver University, Front Range Community College, AMES College, and University of Northern Colorado, and Colorado State University, et al.
The purpose of the Victim Services Intern Program is to provide a paid practicum 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 COVA Victim Services Internship Program was established in July of 1996 in an effort to increase sensitivity and awareness in cultural and environmental issues, while advocating victims' needs and rights. Funding for the Program is from Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) funds and the 1st, 2nd, 17th, 18th, and 20th Judicial District Victim Assistance Law Enforcement (VALE) Funds.
The program is committed to placing current students of under-represented populations in non-profit organizations and government units that provide some level of victim services. The program provides opportunities for current students to serve in criminal legal system departments and community based victim services programs.
The goal of this program is to help the intern find employment in the field of victim services. Placement in the victim services profession encourages a working knowledge of the criminal legal system, crisis intervention styles, community outreach opportunities, courtroom advocacy skills, agency planning techniques, grant writing, and volunteer-intern management. The intern experience, coupled with an increased awareness in diverse populations benefits the student, the community, and the prospective employer.
COVA Victim Services Intern Program commonly recruits local students from the following: University of Colorado at Denver and Boulder, Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Regis University, Red Rocks Community College, Denver University, Front Range Community College, AMES College, and University of Northern Colorado, and Colorado State University, et al.
The purpose of the Victim Services Intern Program is to provide a paid practicum 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.
COVA Intern Qualifications:
- Must have an interest in victim or human services;
- Must commit to 15 to 20 hours per week;
- Must commit to a minimum of nine months, maximum of 1 year;
- Be enrolled in an accredited college or university, or alternative program; and
- Must maintain a high standard of confidentiality and respect for others.
COVA Intern Supervision and Support:
Our foremost commitment is to the learning process of the intern. A mentor, a supervisor, and the COVA Victim Services Intern Program Staff are available to all interns to facilitate growth, assist in networking and identify other resources pertinent to the intern. Workshops, seminars and conference opportunities are available to all COVA Interns. Regular intern meetings provide additional in-service training, debriefings, and peer support.
Our foremost commitment is to the learning process of the intern. A mentor, a supervisor, and the COVA Victim Services Intern Program Staff are available to all interns to facilitate growth, assist in networking and identify other resources pertinent to the intern. Workshops, seminars and conference opportunities are available to all COVA Interns. Regular intern meetings provide additional in-service training, debriefings, and peer support.
COVA Intern Program Placement Opportunities
**COVA is responsible for the facilitation of the internship; therefore, students will not intern in the COVA office. Instead, students will intern at one of the Host Agencies through which COVA has a partnership.**
Host Agencies vary from systems-based to community-based and include police departments, DA’s offices, advocacy centers, non-profit organizations, etc.
COVA has partnerships with over 40 Host Agencies. Below are examples of a fraction of the Host Agencies COVA partners with:
COVA has partnerships with over 40 Host Agencies. Below are examples of a fraction of the Host Agencies COVA partners with:
DENVER METRO AREA
1st Judicial District
Family Tree-(2 Sites)
Lakewood Police Department
Ralston House
Westminster Police Department
Lakewood Police Department
Ralston House
Westminster Police Department
2nd Judicial District
Blue Bench
Denver Children’s Advocacy Center
Denver District Attorney’s Office
Denver City Attorney's Office
Project Safeguard
Rose Andom Center
Safehouse Denver
WINGS
Denver Children’s Advocacy Center
Denver District Attorney’s Office
Denver City Attorney's Office
Project Safeguard
Rose Andom Center
Safehouse Denver
WINGS
17th Judicial District
17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
Brighton/Commerce City Police Department
Ralston House
Project PAVE
Brighton/Commerce City Police Department
Ralston House
Project PAVE
18th Judicial District
18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office (2 Sites)
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office
Aurora Police Department
Englewood Police Department
Gateway Domestic Violence Services (3 sites)
Glendale Police Department
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office
Aurora Police Department
Englewood Police Department
Gateway Domestic Violence Services (3 sites)
Glendale Police Department
20th Judicial District
Blue Sky Bridge
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office
Longmont Police Department
MESA (Moving to End Sexual Assault)
Safe Shelter of St. Vrain
Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN)
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office
Longmont Police Department
MESA (Moving to End Sexual Assault)
Safe Shelter of St. Vrain
Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN)
NORTHERN COLORADO
8th Judicial District
Alternatives to Violence
Fort Collins Police Department
Harmony House
Larimer County District Attorney’s Office
Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA—Fort Collins)
Fort Collins Police Department
Harmony House
Larimer County District Attorney’s Office
Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA—Fort Collins)
19th Judicial District
Weld County District Attorney’s Office
Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA—Greeley)
Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA—Greeley)
MULTI JURISDICTIONAL
Address Confidentiality Program
The Initiative (formerly Domestic Violence Initiative)
Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center
Rocky Mountain Victim’s Law Center
MADD
The Initiative (formerly Domestic Violence Initiative)
Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center
Rocky Mountain Victim’s Law Center
MADD
Please note that some agencies may not be accepting interns at this time. Please do not contact these agencies prior to your acceptance into the Victim Service Intern Program (VSIP). Prioritize the agencies you are interested in on your VSIP application. Please also note that if selected for the program, your Intern placement location must be within the same local area as your college/university, which ensures that the VSIP honors the proximity requirements of certain agencies.
(Please note – background checks are completed by COVA. However sometimes, the Host Agency will also conduct their own check. Criminal legal system entities often have a more extensive process and likely follow federal criteria. While marijuana possession and use is 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 legal system agency.)
*Agencies may have additional specific requirements for potential interns.
(Please note – background checks are completed by COVA. However sometimes, the Host Agency will also conduct their own check. Criminal legal system entities often have a more extensive process and likely follow federal criteria. While marijuana possession and use is 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 legal system agency.)
*Agencies may have additional specific requirements for potential interns.
Victim Services Intern Program Documents:
In order to complete an application for the Victim Services Internship Program you will have to fill out an application as well as agree to a release of information for a background check.
- The application contains a section where you must upload your resume, a cover letter and a brief writing sample explaining why you wish to be part of the COVA Victim Services Internship Program.
- The Release of Information for a background check allows COVA to contact any references you may list as well as conduct a criminal history and background check.
Host Agency Applications
Fill out the application below:
For further information regarding the Internship Program, please contact the COVA office at 303-861-1160 or Christa or Iliana at the following e-mails:
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