Counseling Offices & Staff

The East Whittier City School District offers an intensive and comprehensive internship experience for students receiving their Masters in Social Work/Social Welfare, Masters in School Counseling, Bachelor’s in Social Work, and Bachelor's in Human Services.  Masters of Social Work Student Interns are able to earn their Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work during their concentration year while in their Master’s Program. First year candidates and post-MSW Interns who are attempting to earn their PPSC are welcome with special arrangements from their respective universities.  Internship days/hours are negotiable, but are between 7:30-4:00. 

Whittier is located in southeast Los Angeles County and borders Orange County to the south.  We are a K-8 school district comprising 10 elementary schools & 3 middle schools.  Graduate Interns in our district gain hours in both the elementary and middle school levels.  Opportunities are available to support our Transitional Kindergarten Classrooms (4-5 year olds), our Opportunity Program (Youth Diversion) and S.T.E.P.  Program.

After 20+ years of hosting graduate interns & 10+ years with BSW undergraduate interns, EWCSD offers a diverse internship experience including:  Group Counseling, Individual Counseling, Biopsychosocial Assessments, Crisis Interventions, Behavioral Interventions, Case Management, As-needed individual counseling, Parenting Support, Classroom Interventions, Classroom Presentations, Schoolwide Presentations, Parent Education, Suicide and Threat Assessments, Child Welfare Assessments, Teacher Consultations, Attendance Interventions, Home Visits, Bullying Intervention, Bullying Prevention (Olweus), Multidisciplinary Interventions, Special Education Services-IEPs, Curriculum Development, Macro Social Work/Grant Writing, Inter-Agency Collaboration, Group Supervision, Intern-Supervisor Matching Process, Intern Trainings, Discipline Interventions, and Resource Acquisition.

Interns often have opportunities with ADD/ADHD, Autism, Depression, Learning Disabilities, Self-Injury/Cutting, Substance Use, Oppositional Defiance, Medical Illness-impact on learning, Anxiety, School Refusal, Social Skills Deficits, LGBTQ  youth, Self Esteem, Friendship Skills, Family Changes/Divorce, Foster Care, Grief/Loss, Homelessness/Transitional Families, Trauma, Bullying Issues, Conflict/Peer Resolution, Academic/Motivational Concerns, Disciplinary Concerns, Student Attendance Review Board Meetings, ans School  Crisis Intervention Teams.

If you feel you would be interested in an internship with the East Whittier City School District, please contact:

John Serna-Esparza at jsernaesparza@ewcsd.org