DCHS - Gateway Center Navigator/Advocate Internship - Full-time / Part-time

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$16.30 - $30.00 Hourly

Department:

Department of County Human Services (DCHS)

Job Type:

Intern

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

April 08, 2026

The Opportunity:

Gateway Center Navigator/Advocate InternshipCollege to County Intern 2026  - Department of County Human Services/ Domestic and Sexual Violence Coordination Office/ Gateway Center for Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

Pay Rate: $24 per hour
Job Type: Temporary College Intern

Duration:  Summer 2026

Hours: 30-40 hours a week 

Telework: Remote or Hybrid position. 

Physical Location:  Gateway Center: 10305 East Burnside Street, Portland, OR 97216 (102nd and East Burnside St)

Does This Position Require Driving a County Vehicle? If so, please explain why and frequency: N/A

TriMet Passes are available if transportation to County facilities is required. 

Eligibility requirements and more details found on our College to County

The Gateway Center is multi-disciplinary agency that serves survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault as well as their children.

The Gateway Center provides short-term triage and crisis response to all survivors of domestic and sexual violence who reach out to us for help. We are currently operating a hybrid model of services in which some services are provided telephonically and other services are in person. Services include crisis response, safety planning, danger assessment, restraining order facilitation, information and referrals alongside a wide variety of partners including the Oregon Department of Human Services, Legal Aid services of Oregon, Oregon Crime Victims’ Law Center, Disability Rights Oregon, Disability Awareness Resource Team, the YWCA’s Housing Program, Lifeworks NW therapy services and Impact NW Parent/ Child Therapy services, among many others. We are the first point of contact for many survivors seeking services from the wider continuum of domestic and sexual service providers in Multnomah County. 

Link to the Gateway Center

Internship Description:

Interns who join the Gateway Center Intake Team will receive extensive training in order to provide comprehensive advocacy services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Once trained, interns will be working with survivors providing direct advocacy and also connecting them with other services and resources that they need. In many instances, survivors need support in applying for restraining orders. They may also need support with housing or other needs. Interns will be supported by all members of the Gateway Center Intake Team, and will never work without deep support from professional team members. That said, the role involves exposure to traumatic information and events and candidates should assess their ability to provide crisis services prior to application. 

This internship provides an excellent opportunity to learn about coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence that includes: civil legal assistance, criminal justice system response, court access, public benefits by the Oregon Department of Human Services, housing resources for DV/SA survivors, DV/SA culturally-specific services, counseling services for survivors and their children, etc. 

If this position interests you, but you still have questions, please do apply and we can provide additional detailed information about the job duties and context. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Deliver trauma-informed and survivor-centered services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault

• Exercise trauma-informed communication in person and over the phone

• Conduct comprehensive safety planning and danger assessment

• Work in collaboration with survivors to determine and address their needs

• Make appropriate referrals

• Assist participants with filing protective orders 

• Assist participants with filling out housing assessments (Safety Stabilization Assessments “SSAs”)

• Assist with front desk reception and mainline

• Other duties as assigned

Education and Experience Qualifications:

• Candidates should be enrolled in a college/university academic institution or have completed a degree within the last year.

• Expresses warm, caring, and friendly attitude towards community members (ability to treat others with respect and have a customer service orientation) 

• Ability to respect and maintain confidentiality

• Willing to train up to be a domestic/ sexual violence advocate (Complete DV 101 and other mandatory training)/ on the job training provided

• Willingness to work with community members experiencing crisis/ trauma

• Knowledge of systemic oppressive systems including racism, capitalism, patriarchy, homophobia, ableism, xenophobia, etc. Willingness to take responsibility for personal bias and seek to not allow biases to influence service delivery

• Interest in and ability to work with survivors from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds 

• Good team player/ willing  to ask questions and engage in continuous learning/ Ability to collaborate with the Gateway Center Intake Team, Other Navigators and Community Partners

• Ability to meet deadlines and pay attention to details 

In accordance with , Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Cole Whitehurst

Email:

cole.whitehurst@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (971) 2713709

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Job Profile:

8007 - College Intern