Desy proposes paid JCS internships
/Giving hands-on experience
Juvenile Court Services Officer Nate Desy, at far right, spoke to the Crawford County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday of this week. Photo by Dan Mundt
Nate Desy, Juvenile Court Services (JCS) officer for the Third Judicial District in Iowa, visited the Crawford County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, February 13, to discuss the possibility of creating a paid internship program for college students interested in working in Juvenile Court Services.
“What we’re seeing in juvenile court is the new JCOs (juvenile court officers) coming in from college not having that hands-on experience,” Desy said.
Unpaid internships are available, but Desy noted that unpaid internships are difficult for college students.
A paid internship would be for individuals who intend to pursue JCS as a career, he said.
“I wouldn’t request this if I didn’t think that we were investing in the future,” Desy said.
He said he envisions providing a paid internship for college students who have already been through an unpaid internship and show initiative and motivation for a career related to JCS.
At that stage, the students may be considering making a choice between the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) or JCS.
He said he had inquired with JCS multiple times about creating a paid internship but had been turned down due to budget issues – but said he completely understands that perspective.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that it’s very rare for that to even happen,” Desy said.
Another possibility would be for the county to provide help with a similar internship for the county attorney’s office; Desy pointed out that he works often with Assistant County Attorney Martha Sibbel on DHS and JCS cases.
Desy said he is proposing a summer-only paid internship that would work with his office and the county attorney’s office; it would start with a formal interview process to determine what his office and the county attorney’s office need and what the student needs from the internship.
“What we do understand though is they (the students) benefit so much from those internships that when they do apply for those positions … they’re behind the eight ball and they understand exactly what’s going on,” he said.
He said the position would be for 20 to 25 hours per week at $11 or $12 per hour; he said there would not be an intern every summer.
Supervisor Craig Dozark asked if JCOs are required to take internships.
Desy said internships are not required, but he benefited enormously from his internship with former JCS officer Glen Barngrover when Desy was in college.
The supervisors and Crawford County Auditor Terri Martens had a brief discussion of whether a paid intern would work for the county (Desy works for the state) or if the intern might be hired under the county attorney’s office.
Supervisor Kyle Schultz said he could see the benefit of providing a paid internship.
Chairperson Jean Heiden said some red tape would have to be worked through.
Twelve weeks would work out to $3,600 under Desy’s proposal, Dozark said.
Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer said the dollar amount was not a lot for something that could help Desy and the county attorney.
“If we can figure out how to make it work correctly according to Iowa Code,” he said.
Desy said he understood if the answer is no, but he wanted to run the idea by the supervisors to see what they thought.
It would be money well spent if it helps keep younger citizens from ending up in the adult court system or in the mental health system, Schultz said.
Desy said it would be an investment in services, workers and the kids they serve.
Muhlbauer asked if other JCOs provide paid internships.
Desy said the JCOs he has talked to do not; the only paid internships are through the judicial branch.
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