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