Parent Educator Internship - Fall 2026

Parent Educator Internship - Fall 2026

Location

Des Moines - 50314 - Polk County, IA

Job Type

Internship

Job Number

27-00113

Agency

225 Corrections - Community Based Corrections - Des Moines

Opening Date

07/14/2026

Closing Date

8/3/2026 11:59 PM Central

LinkedIn Tag

#LI-DNP

Point of Contact

doc5thinterns@iowa.gov

To Apply

Please submit a completed application via the Government Jobs website and attach a current resume and college transcripts.

• Description
• Questions

Job Description

This is a non-merit internship position. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section. Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

5th District, Department of Corrections is seeking highly motivated interns for a very rewarding internship as a Parent Educator. Interns will work 1:1 with staff mentors for training and online group facilitation with individuals who have criminal justice involvement (clients are not in jail or prison). Interns will gain hands-on experience in online, evidence-based parenting and trauma-informed education classes, group facilitation, and cognitive-behavioral practices. Please note that this internship opportunity is unpaid.

Key Responsibilities

• Group Facilitation: Observe and co-facilitate virtual groups focused on evidence-based, trauma-informed parenting practices with adults. Help reduce domestic violence, intergenerational transmission of abuse and system-involvement, and behavior change.
• Case Management & Intake: Review case files, conduct client intake interviews, and maintain detailed case notes in the electronic data system.
• Collaboration: Communicate client progress, referrals, and updates with Probation Officers, Health and Human Services (HHS), and community partners.
• Curriculum Development: Assist mentors in revising specialized parenting curricula aimed at reducing recidivism.
• Compliance: Manage group dynamics, ensure compliance with policies, and facilitate skills-practicing for behavior change.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age and have completed at least two years of college by the start of the internship
• Must be currently enrolled at an accredited educational institution
• Preferred majors/coursework include, but are not limited to, Child Development, Human Development & Family Studies, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Psychology, Education, Counseling, Sociology, or Human Services.
• Child and human development knowledge, strong verbal/written communication, ability to multitask, and a professional demeanor.
• Understanding of child development, trauma-informed, evidence-based parenting practices, strict adherence to confidentiality, and comfort working within a criminal justice environment.
• Comfortable being in a criminal justice environment

Internship Details

• Hours: Flexible based on student needs
• Location: Des Moines
• Start Date: September 2026
• Pay: Unpaid (professional experience)
• Application Deadline: August 3, 2026

To apply, please submit a completed application via the Government Jobs website and attach a current resume and college transcripts.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants for positions in this class must be currently enrolled students in a degree program at an accredited educational institution, as determined by the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

01

Do you understand that the answers to all of the following questions must be truthful, honest, and accurate to the best of your ability? Please read all questions and answers thoroughly and make sure you understand them completely. Ensure the answers to your questions match the information filled out on your application and the attachments you have uploaded. If the answers to your questions are inconsistent with your application information or uploaded attachments, you will be given zero points for the question. Knowingly misrepresenting the facts when submitting any information related to an application, examination, certification, appeal, or any other facet of the selection process will result in your disqualification from this application and future employment with the state of Iowa.

• Yes - I understand and agree.
• No

02

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Have you filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq?

• No - I have NOT filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq
• Yes - I HAVE filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq

03

Are you CURRENTLY enrolled in an Associates, Bachelors or post graduate program?

• Yes
• No

04

Which semester are you interested in joining us?

• Fall 2026 (September-December 2026)
• Spring 2027 (January-April 2027)

05

What is your current major or area of study?

06

What motivated you to apply to our organization specifically?

07

What are your main career goals, and how do you see this internship helping you achieve them?

08

Please tell us what skills or areas of knowledge youre hoping to develop through this internship.

09

Approximately how many hours per week are you available to commit to this internship?

10

When are you available to start, if offered the internship?

11

How many total hours are required by your institution to complete this internship?

12

How did you hear about our internship program?

Required Question

Employer State of Iowa

Agency 225 Corrections - Community Based Corrections - Des Moines Address 1000 Washington Ave

Des Moines, Iowa, 50314

Website https://doc.iowa.gov/find-facility/fifth-district