Agency & Contact Information
Agency Name: COTS
Address: 705 Rohnert Park Expressway, West; Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Phone: (707) 585-6500 Ext 2
Contact Person: Sara Jones
Email: sara@cots-homeless.org
Fax: (707) 585-7852
Website: http://www.cots-homeless.org
Internship Description
Job Title: COTS’ Volunteer
Compensation: Unpaid
Internship Length: Minimum of 1 semester but can last as long as you would like to participate
Hours Per Week: 2 to 4 in addition to the Supervision Seminars
Population: Adults, Children, Families
Focus: Homeless. Main Focus is Homelessness (Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Education and Domestic Violence are also focused on in the Supervision Seminars and may, or may not, apply to the clients you serve.)
Setting: Community Agency
Duties: Duties vary depending on which of COTS’ programs you would like to help. All programs serve people who have been homeless and are working hard to improve their lives. Most Internship positions involve interacting with children. You might tutor, play, assist in groups designed to build self awareness and self esteem or hold babies. The placements working with adults include tutoring, assisting in a class called Rent Right, helping in the Kitchen or having a shift at the shelter’s front desk. Interns must attend 9 hours of volunteer training and the Supervision seminars. (There are 8 weekly seminars the first semester, 5 seminars in subsequent semesters that are held approximately every three weeks and a couple of seminars during the summer.) The training and first semester Supervision seminars are on Wednesday nights. Subsequent seminars are determined each semester.
Qualifications: Strong interpersonal skills, ability to maintain confidentiality, willingness to relate to people of different socio-economic backgrounds. Must be at least 18 years of age and clear background check.
Additional Information: Working with this agency will give students exposure to social services and an opportunity to learn about the issues that lead people to seek help from these services. The Intern seminar also explores many issues and systems related to homelessness, (e.g. mental health, boundaries, recovery from addictions, the criminal justice system, economics and class). There is an abundance of support through the seminars. Nothing beats experiencing the thrill of helping people make big changes in their lives.
This internship was updated 11/28/11
