While some Azusa Pacific University departments require internships as part of their curriculum, many students also go above and beyond to get hands-on practice through internships on their own. Psychology major Stephanee Sanchez ’25 was encouraged by professor Kathryn Ecklund, PhD and a friend to pursue a summer internship. With Ecklund’s help in connecting her with the Building Forever Families Initiative (BFFI), Sanchez earned a position as a community care coordinator.
BFFI is an organization that supports families on the path to reunification (the process of reuniting children with their biological families after being removed from their homes due to mental or physical safety concerns) and assists parents who need tips, tricks, and encouragement raising their children. Many of their clients have open cases with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), and parental visits for both open cases and those without cases often require employees to provide supervision.
In her role, Sanchez attends virtual parent-family sessions and in-person supervised visits alongside social workers and clinical coaches. During the virtual meetings, Sanchez and the other case members work with the parents to learn what their goals are and see how they can be met so that the whole family can thrive. In person, Sanchez and the others help parents put their plans into action.
Sanchez said that going into her internship, she was shy and reserved, but working
with clients of all ages has challenged her to step out of her comfort zone. One of
the most impactful parts of her internship has been building relationships with the
children, particularly one boy who has autism and is nonverbal. In the beginning,
he was shy just like Sanchez, but the two bonded during their time together. “Every
time he sees me, he runs up and gives me a hug,” she said.
While the BFFI internship has given Sanchez an opportunity to learn new skills, she has also used much of what she’s learned in her psychology courses to work effectively with families and children. “I’ve taken lots of classes about different childhood disorders,” she said. “Dr. Vasquez (Charity Vasquez, PhD, CCLS) focuses on therapeutic play and how to use it in different situations. Having so many people around during the visits can overstimulate children, so I use therapeutic play to meet children where they’re at emotionally.”
The internship allows Sanchez to put her Catholic faith into action by building a supportive community. “Catholics and the broader Christian community value lending a hand to others, and that’s something that I like to practice,” she said. “Clients might be scared to ask for help, so I want to be their shoulder to lean on and find ways to provide the resources that they need.” One mother who has a child with autism wanted to find a preschool that would support her child during their education journey, so Sanchez researched local schools and support groups for the mom. “Through my work, I wanted to let her know that I can be her community.”
Sanchez isn’t sure exactly what career she’ll end up in, but her time with BFFI has solidified her interest in working with children. “Learning to approach situations with sensitivity and recognize people’s strengths makes clients more confident, and in turn it has built my confidence,” she said. “If I decide to go down the social work route after graduation, I will be more equipped to help others because of my time with BFFI.”