Community Engagement & Research Intern

Community Engagement & Research Intern (FosterPower PA App)

Are you a former foster youth passionate about using your lived experience to make a real difference? We are looking for a driven Community Engagement & Research Intern to help us build a groundbreaking new tool: the FosterPower PA app. This is a unique opportunity to turn your insights into action, ensuring that the next generation of youth in the Pennsylvania dependency system has the knowledge, resources, and power they need to advocate for themselves. If you are a natural leader who wants to amplify the voices of young people and shape technology that truly matters, we want you on our team.

About the Child Advocacy Unit & FosterPower PA
The Child Advocacy Unit (CAU) is a collaborative team of attorneys, social workers, and peer advocates dedicated to providing high-quality, client-centered legal representation to dependent clients from birth to 21 years old. We advocate in court for effective, community-based services and develop appropriate permanency plans for every child and youth we serve.

Recently, the CAU was awarded a grant to develop and launch the FosterPower PA app. The purpose of this app is to empower foster youth by helping them understand the court process, their rights, and the resources available to them through the foster system in Pennsylvania.

The Role

We are seeking a part time Community Engagement & Research Intern to serve as the vital link between our app development team and the youth the app will serve. In this role, you will lead grassroots outreach, build trust within the community, and ensure that the voices of young people directly shape the design and functionality of the FosterPower App. You will work up to 20 hours per week at an hourly rate of $24. Please note this is a grant-funded role and is not guaranteed past March 31, 2027. This position does not include employer benefits.

What You Will Do

• Facilitate Lived-Experience Learning Communities: Design and host groups bringing together teens and young adults with lived experience in the foster system. Guide discussions to discover what information and features they find most helpful.
• Drive Statewide Recruitment: Under supervision, develop and execute outreach strategies in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania to recruit young people for our Learning Communities and early-stage beta testing.
• Build Professional Partnerships: Actively engage with peer organizations, social workers, and child welfare professionals to gather diverse insights and expand the app’s community network.
• Synthesize Feedback: Collect, organize, and clearly communicate user feedback and field insights to the core project team to guide the app’s development and updates.
• Act as an App Ambassador: Provide information and live demonstrations of the app to professionals and youth by presenting at conferences, participating in community panels, and engaging in one-on-one outreach.

What You Need

• Lived Experience: You must have former experience as a youth in foster care and have transitioned out of the dependency system at least two (2) years ago.
• Age Requirement: You must be over 21 years of age.
• Education: A High School Diploma or GED is preferred; current college enrollment or some college experience is a strong plus.
• Leadership & Teamwork: You demonstrate strong leadership qualities, are naturally team-oriented, and possess excellent interpersonal skills. Prior group facilitation experience is a major plus.
• Communication Skills: You are highly competent in both written and verbal communication, with the ability to adjust your style when speaking with management, IT professionals, external partners, and foster youth.
• Inclusive Mindset: You have a proven ability to work respectfully and effectively with highly diverse populations.
• Organized & Driven: You are highly organized, take initiative, and are willing to learn how to input data and collaborate with Data Analysts.
• Language Skills: The ability to speak Spanish is preferred, but not required.
• Must be willing to complete all identified job and advocacy training.
• Clearances: Must successfully complete child abuse clearances and background checks.
• Ability to work in a hybrid capacity.
• Ability to travel within Philadelphia for community meetings and client outreach.

To apply

Pleaseapply onlinewith resume and cover letter detailing your interest and relevant experience

Who is the Defender Association?

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is more than just a law firm. We’re the community’s lawyers. The Defender team – more than 500 attorneys, social workers, investigators, administrators, and other staff – make sure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality defense when facing criminal charges. Our mission-driven, client-centered model focuses on outcomes that support a system that is fundamentally fair and creates safer, stronger communities. Follow us @PhilllyDefenders (Twitter, Instagram & TikTok) and on LinkedIn.

The Defender Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Defender Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.