EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERNSHIP AT THR SPARK CENTER
SPARK Center Overview and Mission: The SPARK Center (Supporting Parents and Resilient Kids) is a community program of the Dept. of Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center located on the beautiful and accessible Mattapan Campus. SPARK is a therapeutic day program for the most vulnerable children in the Boston area. SPARK offers services for children whose lives have been affected by medical, developmental and social/emotional challenges (i.e., HIV/AIDS, prematurity, neurodevelopmental delays, trauma, abuse and neglect). Multi-disciplinary team members collaborate to provide therapeutic care, early childhood education and a warm, nurturing atmosphere. SPARK is the only program of its kind in New England. The mission of SPARK is to make long-term investments in fragile children—helping them to believe in themselves, make healthy choices, cope with emotional problems, achieve in school and gain success as adults.
1. Adhere to SPARK’s mission by ensuring that the philosophy is incorporated into all of your programming and interactions.
2. Function as a member of the classroom team --assist staff in all aspects of daily routine under the supervision of the classroom teachers (children’s arrival, circle time, therapeutic and small group activities, meals, transitions, outdoor play, rest time).Assume responsibility for leading parts of the daily routine (i.e., circle time, group activities). Facilitate choices that are creative, culturally appropriate and foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.
1. Design a week of lesson plans for classroom, using staff input regarding thematic choices.
2. Provide nurturing and supportive interactions with all children.
3. Develop relationships with multi disciplinary health care providers, in order to gain an understanding about the importance of therapeutic collaboration. Discuss goals each provider has set for children in your room and reinforce them when working with those children.
4. Participate, on occasion, in Clinical Case Review meetings, in order to share relevant information on a particular child.
5. Maintain a professional attitude, including confidentiality of child and center information, initiative and motivation.
6. Reinforce and participate in all health, safety and behavior management practices used in classroom.
7. Maintain open communication with classroom staff, especially questions relating to why things were handled in a particular manner.
8. Discuss any unresolved issues immediately with classroom staff and SPARK’s Intern Supervisor and Early Childhood Supervisor.
9. Enjoy your internship. We hope that you will have learned a lot about our special group of children!
“Guiding Boston’s most vulnerable children and youth to healthier and brighter futures.”
If you are interested, contact career@mountida.edu for directions to apply.
