Helpline Intern (Unpaid/Spring 2027)

About Safe Harbor: Safe Harbor is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides pathways for people impacted by domestic abuse to survive and thrive and raises awareness of domestic abuse through community engagement and education in Greenville, Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties. Our services include a 24/7 helpline, emergency shelters, therapy, case management, legal advocacy, housing assistance, and trainings through education and prevention.

About Safe Harbor’s Helpline : The 24/7 helpline is the primary method for domestic abuse survivors to connect with Safe Harbor’s services. Helpline operations and communication are based on survivor-centered, trauma-informed care, and empowerment model practices. Safe Harbor’s helpline also offers emotional support, safety planning, and referrals.

Internship Summary: Helpline interns work with people experiencing domestic abuse and are trained to recognize domestic abuse dynamics while developing an understanding of other public health issues that intersect with domestic abuse. Interns support staff with a wide range of internal infrastructure projects while also answering calls on the helpline. Safe Harbor interns make a lasting impact on intake procedures, policies, and the training program.

We are looking for empathetic and hard-working college students with an interest in human service-related career paths. This position provides practical, professional experience that translates into a wide range of career field, including social work, psychology, business, public health, community planning and development, criminal justice, law, and government.

This internship is part time and unpaid but will fulfill practicum requirements for many major undergraduate-level programs.

When applying, please provide 2 references (one academic and one non-academic) with name, title/position, relationship to you, and contact information (email and phone number).

Application deadline is December 16 at 11:59pm.

Reports To: Helpline Training Coordinator and Helpline Manager

A Special Note About Internship Training Program Requirements & Expectations

Due to the level of training required to answer the Safe Harbor helpline, interns are required to complete a consecutive, three-day orientation and initial training program during the week of January 6th, 7th, and 8th. This training is in-person from 9:00AM-4:00PM.

Internship Responsibilities & Expectations :

Training & Development

Be present and engaged with training process

Provide feedback on helpline training program throughout internship

Participate in staff trainings and meetings, as applicable and available

Supporting the Safe Harbor 24/7 Helpline

Assist callers by connecting them with service(s) or information for their needs

Complete increasingly advanced calls as internship progresses

Learn, practice & refine trauma-informed active listening skills

Provide emotional support without bias or judgment to all callers

Offer referrals to local, state or national organizations or agencies based on the unique needs of each caller

Collaborate with other third-party service providers or agencies

Maintain & protect confidentiality of callers, client records, and shelter locations

Administrative Tasks & Support

Complete data entry for after-hours case forms for follow up

Input voicemails from the helpline for follow up

Verify current contact information and services for Safe Harbor’s Resource Database and ensure uniform formatting as resources are entered

Assist full time staff in on-going and future projects, as deemed necessary, based on the needs of the helpline and future helpline infrastructure planning

Be proactive with learning new technology platforms

Minimal Qualifications:

Education & Life Experience

Enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college/university for an associates or undergraduate degree

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite & Google Suite required; Canva & Adobe a plus

Ability and willingness to learn new technology platforms

Maintain a trauma-informed environment for our callers, clients, and staff

Time Commitment & Expectations

10 hours per week, 5 hour per shift minimum requirement

Consecutively scheduled shifts strongly preferred (Example: Monday & Tuesday 9AM-2PM)

14-week commitment that does not include any virtual orientations or three-day onboarding

Please note: the total hours for the 14-week internship typically exceed University/College/Course-specific internship hour requirements (averaging approximately 150-160 hours). Internship credit is awarded based on the expectation of the full 14-week completion, plus pre-semester training , not total minimum hours required for University/College/School coursework .

Role Requirements:

Demonstrated history of dependability and reliability

Access to reliable transportation to Safe Harbor shelter(s) and/or administration site(s) within Greenville County

Detail oriented

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Be passionate for Safe Harbor’s mission

Fully completed application, including application questions and references