The Opportunity Alliance Agency and Program Profile for Undergraduate and Graduate
Student Intern Placement: Mainestay
Internship available for academic year 2012-2013: Yes
Summer placement available for 2012:
Yes
General Information
Name:
The Opportunity Alliance
Address:
50 Lydia Lane, South Portland, Maine 04106
Telephone:
(207) 874-1175
Website:
www.opportunityalliance.org
Contact:
Patty Mann
Human Resources Generalist
(207) 523-5019 or patty.mann@opportunityalliance.org
Agency Administration
Michael Tarpinian
Joe Everett
Tara Kosma
Kane Loukas
Louise Marsden
Pat McKenzie
Andrea Paul
President
Chief Operating Officer
Vice President, Community Initiatives
Vice President, Children and Family Services
Vice President, Child and Family Services
Vice President, Adult Mental Health Services
Vice President, Advocacy & Strategic Initiatives
Agency Description
In 2011, PROP (People’s Regional Opportunity Alliance) and Youth Alternatives Ingraham
merged to form The Opportunity Alliance. Our new organization is comprised of 50 integrated
community based and clinical programs serving more than 20,000 people annually. For more
than 40 years, The Opportunity Alliance has provided early education and child care, nutrition
programming, advocacy, information and referral, mental health and substance abuse treatment,
as well as basic needs for the people of Maine. All of our programs attempt to serve families
from a whole child/whole family approach that assures an increased use of best practices from all
disciplines. To that end, we continually seek ways of integrating our programs into a seamless
continuum of care.
The Opportunity Alliance serves children, youth, adults, and seniors; individuals, families, and
communities. We work with people to build better lives and stronger communities. We provide
advocacy, leadership, and support to identify and address individual, family, and community
needs and goals. We advocate for and with people living in poverty by helping them to access
childcare and early education, healthcare, housing, and nutrition. We support families in need of
reunification by offering parenting education and coaching, case management, and family
mediation. We offer a seamless continuum of services and supports to people living with
persistent and chronic mental illness whereby they can access our services through multiple
channels, yet need only tell their story once.
Internship Opportunity
General Information
Name and location of program:
Mainestay
50 Lydia Lane, South Portland ME 04106
Contact:
Patty Mann
Human Resources Generalist
(207) 523-5019 or patty.mann@opportunityalliance.org
Field Instructor:
Emily K. Brod, LCSW
Field Instructor telephone number: (207) 842-6890
Field Instructor email address:
emily.brod@opportunityalliance.org
Intern positions available:
1
Adequate space for student:
Yes
Type of placement:
MSW Concentration year only, LCPC
Summer placement available:
Yes
Evening /weekend hours allowed: Yes
Staff meeting required:
Yes
Every other Tuesday 2-4
Car required:
No
Mileage reimbursable:
Yes when used for agency business.
Handicapped accessible:
Yes
Agency requirements:
Background checks, Immunizations, MANDT, CPR, First
Aid and other program specific requirements in accordance
with state licensing regulations.
Program and Placement Description
Population served:
18-25 year olds with mental health ande substance use (cooccuring)
Size of staff:
9
Therapeutic model or practice:
Multidisciplinary; Strengths based generalist;
Biopsychosocial
Characteristics desired in intern: Ability to recognize appropriate boundaries. Ability to keep
client information confidential. Strong desire to work with adults living with mental illness
and/or substance abuse issues. Interest in crisis intervention and stabilization services. Desire to
be a part of a multidisciplinary team.
Would a student who needs a highly structured learning environment do well in this
placement? No Other comments: Very independent learning style
What intern will learn:
 Learn suicide assessment and crisis intervention skills.
 Gain knowledge of community resources.
 Participate in treatment planning.
 Develop clinical documentation skills.
 Facilitate psychoeducational groups.
 Crisis Case Management skills
 Working in a multidisiplinary team setting
 Develop advocacy skills.
 Support clients with goal attainment and connection to appropriate community resources.
 Learn clinical documentation skills. Formalize psychosocial assessment and treatment
plan in accordance with DHHS regulations.
 Gain first hand experience is working with individuals living with mental illness,
substance abuse, and/or childhood trauma.
 Learn the role of the milieu in psychosocial rehabilitation.
 Individual counseling and family work - MSW, LCPC interns only.