Since its inception in 2008, the annual Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) Internship and Professional Day has grown to include attendance by over 250 undergraduate majors and more than 45 university, local and regional program representatives. At this event, students are provided with an exclusive venue to learn about careers in Human Development and Family Science and to discover opportunities for practicum, service-learning and full-time internship positions. Through conversations with our community representatives, students also have occasion to practice their professional communication skills. The agencies, organizations and programs represented at the Fall 2021 event include:
Alabama Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Initiative
The AHMRE Project is an applied research project that implements relationship education programs with adult couples and evaluates program effectiveness. The AHMRE project welcomes undergraduates interested in undergraduate research assistantships or practicum. Opportunities include collecting, entering, and managing data, as well as recruiting for and observing classes in the community. Internships are also available that offer the full experience of community-based relationship programs and research methods.
Alabama Council on Human Relations
The goal of ACHR is the promotion and implementation of programs that improve economic conditions, education, and racial relationships for all people, resulting in an increased self-sufficiency and overall improvement in their quality of life.
Alabama Rural Ministry
Alabama Rural Ministry (ARM) is a volunteer home repair ministry in East Alabama. We serve people with low- incomes to restore their homes to warm, safe, and dry. We repair roofs, build wheelchair ramps and more. In addition to home repair, we take time to learn the homeowners' stories and discover other needs they may have. ARM also sets up a children's summer camp in Tuskegee.
Asthma Camp Eagle
Asthma Camp Eagle is a free, spend-the-night camp that aims to empower and educate children and their families on living with Asthma while having fun.
Auburn Rural Health Initiative Auburn Rural Health Initiative
Auburn University Rural Health Initiative: Partnering with communities to increase access to high quality and affordable health and wellness care throughout rural Alabama.
Auburn Day School
Auburn Day School provides high quality early childhood education through concept-based STEM curriculum and hands-on, immersive instruction. We serve ages 1-5 during the academic year and ages 1-9 during the summers. With a core belief in collective teacher efficacy, a 5:1 student teacher ratio and a team of experts in the field, Auburn Day School stays on the cutting edge of educational innovation. To learn more about joining the ADS team, visit bit.ly/teachatADS. We look forward to meeting you!
Auburn Therapy Associates
Auburn Therapy Associates provides therapy to individuals, couples, and families in the Auburn area, and across the state of Alabama. We support clients through a variety of challenges, with a particular emphasis on trauma and neurodivergence. We're passionate about inclusiveness, education, and providing high-quality, evidence-based care to the clients we are privileged to serve.
Auburn University Early Learning Center
The Auburn University Early Learning Center is a laboratory preschool serving children ages 2-5 in a play-based setting in the heart of Auburn's campus. We take interns and practicum students from all
Auburn University Marriage and Family Therapy Center
The mission of the Auburn University Marriage and Family Therapy Program is to enhance human well-being and quality of life worldwide through the training of multi-culturally informed, ethically competent marriage and family therapists. Graduates will be prepared to provide relational/systemically based therapy to individuals, couples, and families and produce evidence of their effectiveness. Graduates will gain clinical, research, and scholarship experiences to prepare for admission to a doctoral program of their choosing.
Auburn University Sleep Lab
The Child Sleep, Health and Development Lab at Auburn University will be interviewing for 1-2 internships available Fall, Spring, or Summer. We conduct longitudinal research to examine the effects of poor sleep on developmental outcomes such as mental and physical health, relationships, etc.
Baby Steps
Empowering pregnant and parenting students at Auburn to be able to have their education and their baby but providing housing, support and community.
BigHouse Foundation
BigHouse is a non-profit ministry in East Alabama that meets the needs and improves the quality of life for children in foster care. BigHouse connects the needs of foster and adoptive families with the generosity of the community through the love of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to connect the needs of foster families with the generosity of the community through the love of Jesus Christ. We aim to impact the lives of children in foster care in a positive way through meeting their needs and serving their foster families. We are passionate about advocating for these families and educating the community on the needs of children in the foster care system.
BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose
BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose {BCPP} Center for Place and Purpose (BCPP) is a comprehensive post-high school health and wellness program that supports and enhances social skills, cognitive skills, self-esteem, creativity, and work skills for young adults with developmental disabilities facing moderate to severe life challenges.
Child Care Resource Center
CCRC promotes strong families through the provision of support services and education for Child Care Providers, Parents, Employers, and the Community.
The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF)
The Children’s Trust Fund Prevention Program Evaluation Project explores how community-based programs and services successfully support the development of protective factors while strengthening children and families in Alabama. As a member of our research team, you will enhance your knowledge of social science research that can be applied to coursework. Develop database management skills while working with statistical software. You will also be able to network and build relationships with peers, graduate students, and faculty in HDFS.
Children’s Harbor
Children’s Harbor’s mission is to strengthen families of seriously ill children through refuge, respite and resources. These unique, no-cost services are offered at both “The Harbor” Family Center located at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, and at the Lake Martin retreat facility in Alexander City. The retreat facility at Lake Martin boasts 66 acres with extensive water frontage, zero-entry swimming pools, handicap accessible tree house, miniature golf, basketball and volleyball courts, canoeing, activity rooms and more for families and children to reconnect and meet other families with similar diagnoses. These illness populations include children with cancer, organ transplants, autism, serious burns, the visually impaired, spinal cord injuries, among others. The facilities are donated at no cost to organizations who apply annually through a grant process with Children’s Harbor.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
For over 100 years, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has depended on clinical and non-clinical employees to help make kids better today and healthier tomorrow. Consistently ranked as one of the leading pediatric healthcare systems in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s is the only freestanding pediatric healthcare system in Georgia and one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country. We’re also one of Atlanta’s leading employers, and have been recognized as one of the nation’s top places to work.
Children’s of Alabama
One of the goals of our child life program is to help hospitalized children play, cope, and learn more about the hospital environment. We strive to provide students with the clinical experience to build upon their developmental knowledge and gain competence within our field.
Circle of Care/Renew Hope 85
The Circle of Care Center for Families is a family resource center in Chambers County, Alabama. The center offers a comprehensive array of community services, including parenting classes, workforce development training, and case management services, aimed at supporting individuals and families in overcoming life's challenges.
Circles Opelika
The mission of Circles Opelika is to resolve poverty and thrive. We provide training and resources to assist with reaching family goals that will aid in economic stability to include increasing their social capital.
City of Auburn
Parks and Recreation - Therapeutic Programs and Special Olympics (all programs for people with special needs ages 5+)
City of Refuge – City Kids
City of Refuge is a faith-based environment that helps individuals and families transition out of crisis located on Atlanta's westside. We are a one stop shop for women and children in crisis. Our City Kids department is both a full time preschool and an elementary afterschool program. We serve kids 6 weeks-6th grade. We want to walk alongside mom and provide a safe educational environment for their kids.
EAGLES Program
The Education to Accomplish Growth in Life Experiences for Success, or EAGLES, is a comprehensive transition program (CTP) for students with intellectual disabilities. The program provides a post-secondary education opportunity for students with intellectual disabilities to engage in a two or four-year campus experience to help students achieve their employment and independent living goals upon successful completion of the program.
Esperanza House
A nonprofit Christian organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for low-income, Hispanic children and families by developing and implementing programs that meet their needs in such critical areas as mental health, youth development, childcare, education, and advocacy.
Family Childcare Partnerships/B.E.S.T.
Assists family childcare providers to provide high quality childcare services and to pursue National Accreditation, and provides support and services through an Early Head Start Child Care Partnership collaboration
Harris Early Learning Center
The Harris Early Learning Center is a state-of-the-art and NAEYC accredited preschool facility for over 200 children ranging in age from six weeks to five years of age. Each of the 16 classrooms is staffed with two full-time educators. Anchored in developmentally appropriate practice and research in early childhood education, children are provided rich opportunities to construct understanding and develop through play and thematic learning. The facility also maintains a research mission and is designed to maximize opportunities to conduct developmental research on children and their families. The Center is managed by Auburn University and the College of Human Sciences.
HDFS Graduate School Programs
An interdisciplinary program focused on advancing and applying knowledge about individuals and families in a changing world. Offers a Master of Science degree in HDFS and MFT, and a Doctorate degree in HDFS
Kesem at Auburn University
Today, more than 5 million children are impacted by a parent’s cancer in the United States. These children can experience increased anxiety, emotional isolation, loss of social interest, and feelings of hopelessness, among other things. We believe all children facing a parent's cancer deserve the chance to fully experience the joys of childhood and be their best selves. Kesem is a student-led organization that supports children through and beyond their parent's cancer with year-round services. Kesem provides a free week-long summer camp for children to connect with others going though similar situations.
LCYDC Therapeutic Foster Care
Lee County Youth Development Center Therapeutic Foster Care/Therapeutic Foster Care-Enhanced program provides foster homes for foster children whose placements meet the needs of intellectually disabled children or for children that have a serious mental health or medical/emotional need that would otherwise require a specialized out of state placement. LCYDC TFC/TFC-Enhanced Program serves children with special needs stemming from a variety of causes, conditions and diagnostic categories identified as emotional and/or behavioral disturbance; psychiatric diagnosis with associated behaviors, delinquency, developmental disorders, and/or medical needs; and described issues can be met through services delivered primarily by trained, professional therapeutic foster parents. LCYDC TFC is “A place of service…Offering hope to children and families…Strengthening communities”.
Lee County CASA & Keeping Family Connections
The mission of Lee County CASA is to provide carefully screened, trained, and supervised volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children in dependency proceedings resulting in a safe and permanent home where the child can not only survive, but thrive. Keeping Family Connections: Providing supervised visitations between children and their non-custodial parents in a safe, neutral, and child-friendly environment.
Lifeline Children Services
We are a child placing agency and gospel-based nonprofit that services vulnerable women, children, and families through a variety of services. We exist to equip the body of Christ to manifest the gospel to the vulnerable through pregnancy counseling, international and domestic adoption, family preservation, education, and counseling programs.
Lighthouse Family Retreat
We’re a passionate, faith-driven non-profit dedicated to uplifting families navigating the tough journey of childhood cancer. For over 25 years, we’ve been creating magical, restorative beach retreats and crafting valuable resources to bring hope and support to families in need.
Military REACH
Military families are first and foremost families; they manage the same challenges and stressors as civilian families. Yet, they do so in a context characterized by transitions and change. Military families are, by and large, characterized as adaptable and resilient, but family outcomes are often contingent on the availability of resources and whether support systems are equipped to meet their needs.
Our mission is to make military family research accessible and practical. We strive to put research into the hands of military families, direct service helping professionals (e.g., therapists, clergy members), and those who work on behalf of military families by harnessing collaborative expertise, maximizing technological advances, and actively disseminating products.
Office of Global Education
In our increasingly globalized society, it is critical for Auburn University graduates to enter the workplace with a full appreciation and understanding of the differing values and customs of world cultures; how the world’s markets, goods, and services are interconnected; how hunger and food insecurity are addressed; and how environmental sustainability issues affect quality of life worldwide. The Office of Global Education seeks to provide international study abroad and internship opportunities that enhance student's education, both personally and professionally.
Our House
We strive to show the love of Jesus to children and their families in our community, and to provide a Christ-centered home environment in which they can grow spiritually, academically, and socially." We serve the Ridgecrest community in Auburn. Our operations include an after-school program for roughly 80 Kindergarten through 12th grade students during the school year, and we have weekly bible studies, discipleship opportunities, and special events for our students and families.
Pathways
Pathways is a shelter located in Downtown Birmingham for women and children experiencing homelessness. Our mission is to empower women and children on their paths out of homelessness through hospitality, housing, and hope. Our vision is to see Birmingham free of homelessness.
PEACE Center
Mission: PEACE Center's mission is to truly understand individuals' and families' concerns, find the root causes of the struggles, and create a personalized plan to help build skills, confidence, and self-awareness.
Vision: PEACE Center is Auburn's Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy Clinic serving East Alabama with diagnosis, testing, and interventions for families and individuals who may think or learn differently. PEACE Center aims to teach our area to see brain differences in a positive way and model true community.
Prescott House
Prescott House Child Advocacy Center’s mission is to restore hope and reduce trauma to child victims of abuse by providing intervention services and support as well as coordinating investigation services and implementing community based prevention.
When an allegation of abuse is made, the child comes to Prescott House and is welcomed into a comfortable, home-like setting where a multi-disciplinary team of professionals gathers together under one roof. Children receive a forensic interview while investigators watch the interview via closed-circuit television. This prevents the child from having to tell their story multiple times. The child and family are given access to resources, provided therapy, or referred for therapy as well as medical services. By minimizing the trauma of recounting their abuse, Prescott House is the place where healing begins and hope is restored one child and family at a time.
Project Uplift
Project Uplift is an agency whose main goal is to help children develop constructive, happy lives through one-to-one mentoring in hopes that delinquency in our county will decrease.
Rape Counselors of East Alabama
Rape Counselors of East Alabama helps those that have been sexually assaulted along with family and friends. RCEA offers 24/7 Crisis Hotline/Medical Advocacy/Criminal Justice and Legal Advocacy/Community Outreach/Prevention Education/Counseling/and etc.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama
We provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.
Southeast Hospice Network
Hospice Care for patients and their families. Pain and symptom management, treating on set illnesses during hospice benefit period, Patient and family support services, helping with the emotional aspect of end-of-life care.
Storybook Farm
Storybook Farm connects children experiencing physical, cognitive, social, or mental health challenges with the restorative power of animals. It is our passionate belief that animals can change a child’s life through their trust, unconditional love, and respect. Our six outdoor programs fuel confidence and accomplishment while reintroducing a sense of normalcy back into the lives of children impacted by adversity.
The EAGLES Program
“War Eagle!” is a greeting shared across the Auburn campus and throughout the Auburn Family. The iconic eagle represents the Auburn spirit and the strength within us all. The EAGLES, or Education to Accomplish Growth in Life Experiences for Success, Program is a comprehensive transition program for adults with intellectual disabilities here on Auburn's campus. Through our program, they participate in classes, employment opportunities, clubs and organizations, health and wellness opportunities, and learn to live independently. Come be a part of our organization!
The Alabama Youth Relationship Education Project (AYRE)
Service learning with our project, provides undergraduate students the opportunity to implement school-based youth relationship education programs. We have also recently incorporated two additional curricula that touch on stress-reduction strategies and personal finance. During this experience we encourage our students to connect what they are learning in the classroom to civic engagement. We also have meetings to process the teaching experience and build professional development. A new aspect of this project is the University Consortium, which brings together “near-peer educators” from universities in the surrounding areas (AU, AUM, Tuskegee, ASU) to train and implement programming.
Twin Cedars Child Advocacy Center
We facilitate a forensic interview for victims of child abuse and offer free counseling for the child and non-offensive caregiver(s). We also provide advocacy for the child whenever they need us, and we walk with them all the way through court proceedings.
United Way
The Mission of the United Way of Lee County is to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another. One of the ways that we do this in our community is by generating and applying the necessary resources to meet the needs of the community, recognizing that meeting basic human needs should be the overriding consideration in all decisions.
Women’s Hope Medical Clinic
Women's Hope Medial Clinic exists to glorify God through sharing the Gospel of Christ while empowering individuals to make healthy, Godly decisions for life.
Our organization provides free pregnancy testing to women and families in crisis or those in need of our resources. We also walk alongside families throughout their pregnancy and parenting journey.
Hope Adoptions
Women's Hope is a Christian, 501(c)(3), non-profit organization devoted to serving the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of women, men and families facing unplanned pregnancies. We strive to share the love and grace of the Lord with every one of our clients and provide opportunities for them to hear the Gospel. We support clients from all walks of life, with diverse backgrounds, through their situations with professional, compassionate care. Our free services include, but are not limited to, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, full prenatal exams and care through the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, STD testing and treatment for all positive pregnancy test clients, parenting classes, material and community resources, Moms' Support Group with a Registered Nurse/Lactation Specialist, Embrace Grace program for single, pregnant moms, Fatherhood University, Life Skills Classes, past abortion counseling, and a licensed adoption agency called Hope Adoptions.