Internship Program Overview

Whether you're in high school, college, or taking a gap year, the ACR Homes Internship Program is for anyone!

We will come alongside you to support your career and educational goals! You'll gain unique and meaningful experiences working with people who have disabilities to build a stand out resume.

Many ACR employees have even received college credit when completing an internship program that fulfills the requirements of their major. And if that isn't good enough, because our internship pairs with our Direct Care Professional job, you'll also be getting paid while working on your internship!

Choose from 4 Different Internship Program Tracks

Research Based Internship (standard track)

6 months in length
Full customizable internship
Options include projects that function similar to a case study
Use your research to improve the quality of life or quality of care for an ACR Homes resident
Make recommendations for changes in a resident care plan, daily routine, appointments, activities, and therapies...etc.
Attend internship sessions with the Internship Coordinator & Owner/CEO of ACR Homes, Jim Nelson
Receive book recommendations & journal about your experience.
Access to the ACR Homes library of resources
Write a research paper
Complete a final presentation
Receive a letter of recommendation upon completion of the program
Must be an employee of ACR Homes and maintain at least the minimum work requirements in order to be a Research Based Intern
Recommended for students in any year of schooling with an emphasis on college students, graduates, and people taking a college gap year. It may also be helpful to have taken or be in research methods or stats (not required).

Impact Project Internship

4 months in length
Independent project based on the interest of a resident
Find an area where you can improve the quality of life for a resident whether it be through an experience, outing, relationship, or activity
Perform task oriented projects
Practice extensive journaling about your experience
Attend internship sessions with Internship Coordinator & Owner/CEO of ACR Homes, Jim Nelson
Write a paper
Complete a final presentation
Upon completing the internship program, receive a letter of recommendation
Must be an employee of ACR Homes and maintain at least the minimum work requirements to be a Project Based Intern.
Suggested for anyone who wants to make a greater impact in the lives of people who have disabilities

Experience Based Internship

4 months in length
Partially customizable internship
Options include projects that function similar to a case study
Choose from a predetermined topic or track. Great for people who prefer more guidance
Advance your knowledge in care for people with disabilities
Perform task oriented projects
Find an area where you can improve the quality of life for a resident whether it be through an experience, outing, or activity
Receive book recommendations, access to the ACR Homes library of resources, and journal about your experience
Attend internship sessions with the Internship Coordinator & Owner/CEO of ACR Homes, Jim Nelson
Write a paper
Complete a final presentation
Receive a letter of recommendation upon completion of the program
Must be an employee of ACR Homes and maintain at least the minimum work requirements to be a Project Based Intern
Recommended for high school or college students, high school or college gap year, high school or college graduates, or for those who need a shorter internship

Impact Year Internship

12 months in length
Research based group project with other Impact Year Interns
This internship differs from the others because it has a full-time work requirement
Choose a full customizable research project
Options include projects that function similar to a case study
Use your research to improve the quality of life or quality of care for an ACR Homes resident
Make recommendations for changes in a resident care plan, daily routine, appointments, activities, and therapies
Also find an area where you can improve the quality of life for a resident whether it be through an experience, outing, relationship, or activity
Perform task oriented projects
Receive on-call experience
Receive book recommendations, access to the ACR Homes library of resources, and practice extensive journaling about your experience
Earn at least 2000 hours of direct patient care experience
Attend internship sessions with our Internship Coordinator & the Owner/CEO of ACR Homes, Jim Nelson
Write a research paper
Complete a final presentation
Receive a letter of recommendation
Must be an employee of ACR Homes and commit to full-time work to be in the impact year
Suggested for employees in a gap year or for those who want to make a greater impact in the lives of our residents and have the ability to commit to full-time work

Benefits of the ACR Homes Internship Program

Minnesota college students working as Direct Care Professionals with ACR Homes enjoy time doing graduate school mentorship program requirements while talking with a man with disabilities who lives at ACR Homes.

Patient Care Experience

Flexible independent learning with no weekly hours requirement (unless you're in our Impact Year)

Learn Ethical Responsibility

Improve critical thinking & problem solving skills

Gain leadership skills

Expand your healthcare knowledge & experience

Receive a letter of recommendation

COLLEGE STUDENT, GRADUATE, & GAP YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

Direct Care Professional + Internship

For employees ages 18+

Direct Care Professionals work in a group home setting providing care for adults with disabilities. They administer medications, help residents with activities of daily living, aid residents in their independence and goals, assist with therapies, take vitals, chart, support family and friend relationships, accompany residents in the community, advocate for their wellbeing, and enjoy fun activities with them.

Pair a college level internship with your job providing patient care and chose from one of our research, project, experience, or impact based internships which range in length from 4 to 12 months long. Explore tracks below.

Apply Now

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT & GAP YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

Direct Care Assistant + Internship

For employees ages 16 - 17

Direct Care Assistants work in a group home setting providing care for adults with disabilities. They have a similar job function to Direct Care Professionals, but they don't administer medications (at least not right away), drive our residents, and only work daytime shifts during the weekdays and weekends.

Pair a high school level internship with your job providing patient care and choose from one of our 4 month long, predetermined research or impact internships to learn more about healthcare, improve the quality of care for a resident, make a difference in someone's life and build your resume.

Apply Now

When you get a job at ACR Homes, you join the ACR team! You become part of a tight-knit and fun-loving community, working together to provide the best possible care for people with disabilities. You'll have access to community building events for ACR Homes staff like Employee Appreciation Day and Homecoming Week.

So don't worry, we're all in this together!

Ready To Start Your Internship?

Choose an option below to get started

Employee Transportation Program

Having reliable employee transportation is a requirement of the Direct Care Professional position. But that’s not always easy if you’re a student, from out of state, or if you don’t want to worry about a car on top of school and work. Employees who are University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) or University of Wisconsin (River Falls) students can sign up for ACR’s Employee Transportation Program and pay a small hourly rate to access a car for getting to and from shifts at ACR Homes. This eliminates the need to pay for a parking spot, which can cost up to $180/month. Maintenance issues are not your problem either!

Learn More About ETP

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

As a direct care staff at ACR Homes, you don't have to be a certified nursing assistant! ACR’s training for the Direct Care Professional position goes above and beyond the requirements for CNA certification.

If it's important for you to gain that certification, not only can you skip the expense and hassle of enrolling in a CNA training course, but we'll pay you for your training hours when you're hired as a direct care employee!

If you already have the CNA certification, the direct care hours you work at ACR can count toward maintaining the certification.

Additionally, students in healthcare degree programs, or those pursuing medical school & PA school can use their job as a Direct Care Professional to gain the required patient contact hours for their future programs. Plus they can gain incredible unique and significant experience and transferable skills. Direct Care Professionals at ACR Homes can perform many healthcare tasks that would require an LPN or RN certification in a hospital.

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