SOAR Benefits Intern

• SOAR Benefits Intern Kenneth Young Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive outpatient behavioral health services to individuals of all walks of life.
• Located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, we offer a wide range of services including outpatient therapeutic care, recovery-oriented support, community prevention, LGBTQ+ outreach, older adult services, and crisis intervention.
• Our team welcomes and celebrates unique perspectives and represents the diversity and vitality of our local communities.
• Join our team to grow in your career while building stronger, healthier communities.
• Internship Description: The SOAR Benefits Intern supports the agency’s mission to increase access to income and public benefits for individuals with little to no income.
• Interns assist SOAR Benefits Specialists in providing targeted, client-centered services to adults transitioning from nursing facilities through the Colbert/Williams Transition Program, as well as individuals diverting from nursing facility placement through the Front Door Program.
• The intern will receive training in the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) model and gain hands-on experience assessing client eligibility for public benefits.
• Responsibilities include assisting clients with applications for pharmaceutical assistance programs, SNAP, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits (SSDI/SSI).
• Interns may also accompany clients to appointments and hearings with the Social Security Administration and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• / Skill Development:
• Client engagement and customer service skills
• Community resource identification, coordination, and referral
• Experience and understanding of social work practices and working with adults with mental health challenges
• Familiarity with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)
• Experience assisting with applications for SSDI/SSI, public benefits, and entitlement programs

Time Frame

One Semester (flexible), Spring 2026.

Career Development