Internships

Olmsted County Health, Housing, and Human Services (HHH) works in partnership with the community and those we serve to promote and protect resiliency, equity, health, and well-being through authentic relationships and innovative solutions.

We are thrilled to partner with interns to accomplish this mission and build the workforce of the future. A wide range of opportunities are available to serve the diverse and unique needs of our community. We will partner with you to meet the needs of your academic program and your professional interests and aspirations.

Interns can be housed in these HHH departments, or a partnership between two areas can be explored:

• Adult and Family Services
• Child and Family Services
• Community Corrections and Victim Services
• Public Health

In addition, interns are encouraged to seek out opportunities to spend time during their internship learning about work in other departments within HHH, which in addition to the list above, may include:

• Housing
• Family Support and Assistance
• Veteran Services

Interested in sharing and developing your skills with us?
Please complete the internship application that you are interested in. You can expect to hear from an intern coordinator within one week to discuss next steps.

Health, Housing and Human Services, and Public Health internship inquiries including social worker internships:
Community Corrections, Victim Services, Child and Family Services, Adult and Family Services, Housing Services, Disability Services, and Public Health Services.

Background checks are required for internships with Olmsted County. Background check results are reviewed on an individualized basis, considering the findings reported with the area of internship placement. There are no automatic disqualifiers. Some internships in Public Health may require proof of valid driver’s license and insurance. To be considered for an unpaid internship, applicants must be receiving college credit as part of their educational program. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, please visit our Volunteer Program website.

Please note: Master’s social work internships

Olmsted County HHH welcomes applications for master’s social work internships. However, we do want to note that we have limited capacity to support the requirements of these internships, in particular if you are seeking a clinical internship. We encourage you to continue to explore other opportunities to ensure you find the learning and experience you are hoping for.  

Questions?
If you have questions, please email OCHHHInternships@olmstedcounty.gov.

The Sheriff's Office internship program aims to allow students enrolled in an accredited law enforcement program to learn about the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office and enhance their understanding of the criminal justice system. Each internship lasts about 12 weeks. Typically, interns work weekdays, with some evenings and weekends working as needed and when available.

During their time with our office, interns will spend time in the following divisions/areas:

• Patrol
• Civil/Warrants
• Training
• Investigations
• Narcotics
• Weapons screening
• Court security
• Transports
• Adult Detention Center

To be considered for an internship, candidates must be:

• Currently enrolled in a law enforcement program requiring an internship as a part of the college curriculum.
• Complete the selection process to include a background investigation and an oral interview.
• Interested in learning about our office and the Law Enforcement profession.
• Mature, motivated, ambitious, flexible, punctual, hardworking, and a self-starter.

Look to our careers page for information about internships, including Sheriff's Office opportunities.  

The mission of Olmsted County Parks is to foster an appreciation of the natural world through environmental education, natural resource management, and public participation in the stewardship of our park lands. Both volunteer opportunities and internship opportunities are available throughout the Parks system.