2008 Emory Summer Child Advocacy Program

Students can participate in the program in the following ways:

• Internship: Students work in a juvenile court or advocacy organization in Georgia under the supervision of child advocacy professionals on child deprivation issues.

• Research Grant: Students work under the supervision of professor or an approved child advocacy professional on a research project that will result in a substantial final paper (40 pages minimum).

Program Information

Who May Apply?

Emory University students or graduate level students from other educational institutions interested in working on child abuse and neglect issues. Deadline for 2008 Program is December 10, 2007 . NOTE: THIS DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED.

Program Dates

• May 26-29, 2008 - 4-day mandatory training on Emory campus and in local juvenile courts.
• June 2-August 8, 2008 - 10-week internship or research project.

Placements

Ten to fifteen positions will be available. The number of potential placements listed is greater than the number of stipends available. Not every listed placement will receive a student intern.

Application

For research grants, applicants should submit the following items via email by Dec. 10, 2007 [DEADLINE EXTENSION] 
(1L students may submit after midnight Dec. 2):

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Detailed research proposal that must include a letter from the supervising professional, a detailed work plan, and information indicating the applicant's ability to successfully complete an independent research project on the chosen topic.

For internships, applicants should submit  the following items via e-mail by Dec. 10, 2007 [DEADLINE EXTENSION]
 (1L students may submit after midnight Dec. 2):

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Written statement answering the following questions:

1. Why do you want to work in a child advocacy position this summer?
2. What past experience do you have that makes you a great applicant for this program?
3. Rank the following options in order of preference, and state if there are any options that you would not consider:

a. working directly with child clients in a court setting
b. working directly with child clients in a non-court setting
c. working as a law clerk for a juvenile court judge
d. performing legal research on child abuse and neglect issues
e. performing non-legal research on child abuse and neglect issues
f. working on policy analysis and development on child abuse and neglect issues
g. working with community-based organizations
h. working on program development around child abuse and neglect issues
i. no preference

4. Rank the following location options in order of preference and state if there are any options that you would not consider:

a. 5-county metropolitan Atlanta area (preference for these placements are given to students who are current Atlanta residents.)
b. within one hour of the metropolitan Atlanta area
c. further than one hour from the metropolitan Atlanta area
d. city
e. rural area
f. no preference

5. Using the list of available placements on this website, rank your top five placement preferences. (Current Atlanta residents are given preference for placements in the Atlanta area). NOTE: Chances increase for receiving a placement if there are no geographical limitations on placement preferences.
6. Do you have any geographic or other ties to your preferred placements?
7. Describe any special skills or experience you might have that would assist with matching you to a particular placement (i.e., web site development, grant writing, public speaking, teaching, etc.)
8. How will your summer experience contribute to your future career plans?
9. Is there anything else that is important for the selection committee to know about you?

Application Deadline (EXTENDED FROM DEC. 3 TO DEC. 10)

Emailed by Sunday, December 10, 2007, 4:00 p.m. EST. (1Ls may email application after midnight Dec. 2).  Late applications will not be considered.

Email applications to:
Ms. Jyotsna Vanapalli 
email:  j.vanapalli@emory.edu
404.712.4643
You will receive a delivery confirmation from Ms. Vanapalli.

Stipend

$5,000 for placements in the metropolitan Atlanta area; $5,500 for placements outside the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Program Requirements

Internships

• Attend 4-day training week May 26-29, 2008, at Emory University School of Law
• Complete 40 hours/week for 10 weeks in the internship placement (June 2-Aug. 8, 2008)
• Submit weekly time sheets and field notes
• Participate in Program meetings during the summer
• Complete a final evaluation
• Submit 3-5 page written summary about the internship experience

Research Grants

• Attend 4-day training week May 26-29, 2008
• Complete 40 hours/week for 10 weeks on the research project (June 2-Aug. 8, 2008)
• Submit weekly time sheets and field notes
• Participate in Program meetings during the summer
• Complete and submit a research paper (40 pages, minimum) by Aug. 8, 2008

Selection for Program

The Barton Child Law & Policy Clinic will screen applicants and match suitable applicants with three to five of the placements listed on the website. All applicants will be notified via email regarding whether they have been selected to continue with the selection process. Not all applicants will move to the next phase of the selection process.

Applicants chosen to continue in the selection process will receive further instructions and a list of the organizations with which they have been matched. Applicants must then contact the organizations to arrange a telephone or in-person interview. Applicants are encouraged to contact all organizations on the match list to ensure a greater chance of receiving a final placement.

The final matches between applicants and organizations will be made by the selection committee. Finalists will receive an email containing an offer letter in early February, 2008.

The selection committee will evaluate each applicant on the following:

• potential impact on practice or policy through his or her work over the summer
• apparent ability (based on qualifications and responses to the application questions) to successfully complete the program
• provide a benefit to a sponsoring child advocacy organization or proposed recipient of the research project
• provide meaningful information to others at the conclusion of the program

Learn More About the Program

Summaries of students' experiences in prior years are posted on childwelfare.net.

Placements for Summer 2008 are now posted on childwelfare.net.