Prospective Interns

General Information

Project RAISE interns will seek an internship placement in the same way as all other interns in their training program–that is, the intern will work directly with the school district and their university program to secure a placement. At the same time (or after the placement is secured), the prospective intern will also submit an application to join Project RAISE.

Who should apply to Project RAISE?

Future school-based mental health professionals who share our commitment to support students, school staff, and families in rural communities. More specifically, we are looking for students who are studying in school counseling, school psychology, or school social work programs who are seeking an internship AND early career experience (at least two years) in a rural Tennessee school district (please note: the internship placement and early career experiences must be directly with the Project RAISE school district; experiences cannot be with a third-party contractor who provides services in the school district). Students should also expect to be obtaining employment with the rural Tennessee school district immediately after fulfilling their internship requirements (completing their degree program/obtaining relevant licensure/certification).

To learn more about licensure requirements, please refer to the Tennessee Department of Education’s guidance or email the educator licensure office.

When should a prospective intern apply to Project RAISE?

A prospective intern can apply at any time prior to the start of their internship; we accept applications on a rolling basis. While space is limited, we are not able to award a Project RAISE spot until the university program is able to confirm that the prospective intern is eligible for the internship experience in their respective program and the school district is able to confirm that the placement has been secured in order to fill a vacancy in the district.

Placement Process

To RAISE your expectations for your career and the educational experiences of your future students, apply to Project RAISE! Whether you are thinking about your future internship opportunity or looking to start in the near future, here is some information about what you can expect.

Thinking About Your Internship

For students who are thinking about their internship, we invite you to learn more about and consider including Project RAISE as a part of your experience. We encourage you to follow your academic program’s recommendation regarding the timeline to start applying to school district(s) and/or working together with your field-coordinator to secure an internship site. You’ll want to submit the Project RAISE application around that same time—we suggest submitting the Project RAISE application in the semester before you plan to start your internship. While we will accept applications on a rolling basis, submitting the application too far in advance may mean that you will not likely be able to submit needed information to verify your internship eligibility and placement to confirm a spot. At the same time, please keep in mind that we will need time to collect and review application materials and will have limited spots.

The Project RAISE application does not serve as an application to any Project RAISE school district(s) and Project RAISE is not able to select, recommend, or place interns in school districts.

Applying

If you are currently applying to school districts or working with your program’s field coordinator to find a placement, now is the time to apply for Project RAISE. You’ll have the opportunity to identify up to three Project RAISE school districts where you are interested in completing your internship experience. With your permission, we’ll share your contact information with those districts to let them know, but we also encourage you to reach out to the designated contact person [link to district contact page] and/or proceed with each district’s application process.

The Project RAISE application does not serve as an application to any Project RAISE school district(s) and Project RAISE is not able to select, recommend, or place interns in school districts.

Waiting for a Response

If you have already applied to a Project RAISE district(s) for an internship position and are waiting for a response, please be sure to also submit the Project RAISE application—you do not need to wait for a response from the school district(s) before submitting our application. While you may be offered an internship in a school district, Project RAISE is not able to confirm a spot without the application. If your application is received prior to hearing a decision from the school district, you’ll follow up with those details as they are available.

Confirming Placement

For future interns who have already confirmed a placement in a Project RAISE district, but have not submitted the Project RAISE application—don’t forget this needed step. We will need to confirm your eligibility for your internship experience with your university program, as well as your placement with the Project RAISE district. Funds are not guaranteed to all interns in a Project RAISE district; therefore, you’ll want to be sure to complete and submit the application materials for consideration.

As you move forward in the Project RAISE application/confirmation process, please keep the following in mind:

All Project RAISE interns who accept these funds are required to provide school-based mental health services in Tennessee public schools (as an employee of the school district or in a specific state-funded school-based behavioral health liaison position) for two years after completion of their internship (at least one year must be in a rural school district). There is no guarantee for employment in the school district after completion of all internship requirements. Interns who do not fulfill this requirement may be obligated to repay funds to the project.

Project RAISE only provides funds to individuals who intern in a rural school district served by the program. The experience cannot be completed with a third-party contractor who provides services in the district/school, unless providing specific state-funded services in school-based behavioral health liaison positions.

Project RAISE funds are not available to interns who accept a job-embedded/paid placement or to interns who are currently receiving/have previously received other grant funding pertaining to the current academic program/internship experience.

Interns will be expected to participate in various training and community-building activities during the internship and throughout the duration of their commitment. Specific events, including the Summer Kickoff and the new intern information session are required.

The Project RAISE application process will require verification that all prerequisite courses and/or field-based experiences (e.g., practicum) have been/will be completed prior to beginning the Project RAISE experience and receiving funds. The university contact you identified in your application has received a request to confirm your eligibility for the internship experience, as well as details that include your anticipated start date, required number of hours, the duration of your internship, etc. Please follow up with your university contact to ensure that the information is submitted.

Each school district will set their own placement confirmation process, which may include interview(s), background check, etc. The school district is responsible for identifying a site/field-based supervisor.

Project RAISE does not set any standards or requirements for the internship experience. The intern and supervisor are responsible to comply with and fulfill requirements set forth by the university program, the licensing/credentialing board, and/or school district.

To learn more about licensure requirements, please refer to the Tennessee Department of Education’s guidance or email the educator licensure office.

Project RAISE placements will be in districts with demonstrated need for school-based mental health supports and services (i.e., current and/or anticipated vacant position in your field of practice). The list of eligible districts may change over the course of the project.

Project RAISE will act in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act with regard to disclosure of the intern’s information.

Stipends

Compensation

Stipend payments are determined by Project RAISE in consideration of the total number of hours generally required by university programs and for state licensure/certification. To receive the total amount, interns must complete all required hours in the Project RAISE school district.

School Counseling

School Counseling (600-hour internship) –

Please note that availability of stipend funds is dependent on the continuation of federal grant funding and is not guaranteed. Project RAISE will notify participants of changes to funding availability if/when there are changes that will impact participants, benefits, and payments. Neither Project RAISE nor affiliated school districts will be liable for unpaid funds or unfulfilled benefits due to changes in overall project funding.

School Psychology

School Psychology (1200-hour internship)

School Social Work

Master’s-Level School Social Work (600-hour internship)

Job-Embedded Placement

Interns who are offered/accept a job-embedded internship placement can continue as participants of Project RAISE but will not be eligible to receive funds.

Other Funding Sources

Interns may not eligible to receive Project RAISE funds if they have received other grant-funded money pertaining to the completion of the current degree program, especially if receipt of those funds was contingent on fulfilling a requirement to work in a school-based mental health position in a public school. Stipend recipients cannot concurrently fulfill obligations required by different funding sources. Interns can continue as participants of Project RAISE but will not be eligible to receive funds.

Repayment

Receipt of Project RAISE funds is contingent on the agreement that interns will provide school-based mental health services in Tennessee public schools for two years after completion of the internship, of which one year must be in a rural Project RAISE school district.

Interns are not guaranteed employment in the district where the internship experience was completed and may seek employment in another district in Tennessee (relocation expenses will not be covered by Project RAISE) if/when a position is not available/offered.

Interns do not have to remain employed by the same district throughout the duration of the two-year obligation, but must fulfill at least one year in a Project RAISE district.

Employment MUST be as a School Counselor, School Psychologist, or School Social Worker (depending on field of study) in a Tennessee public school district. The exception may be for specific state-funded school-based behavioral health liaison positions available in school districts.

Interns who elect or are unable to fulfill this obligation may be responsible to repay funds to Project RAISE.

Interns who choose to leave during the internship experience will be required to pay back the total amount of funds received to that point.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in joining Project RAISE! We are thrilled to have you on board to help bring school-based mental health services to students in rural districts across the state of Tennessee. We are currently seeking interns in the fields of school counseling, school psychology, and school social work to serve students in 78 rural school districts.

We have a simple, two-step process to confirm your participation in our project. We will collect information about you, and then we’ll request information about your university/degree program and internship site.

Step 1

Submit the Project RAISE application at the link below.

Be prepared to provide your:

Internship placement plans (e.g., start term, number of required hours, internship site planning details)
Contact information
Educational experiences, including contact information of the program or field coordinator/department chair of your current program

Step 2

After securing an internship site, you will complete the Project RAISE application; a link will be provided to you when you submit the information in step one.

Be prepared to submit:

Copies of signed agreements (forms provided/required by your university program and/or school district may be accepted, please see examples available on the
Details about your internship:
- School district, contact information for site/field-based and university supervisors
Information about other project-related considerations for funding Assurances of project requirements
Copies of signed agreements (forms provided/required by your university program and/or school district may be accepted, please see examples available).

Due to overwhelming interest, we have opened up a waitlist for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 terms. You will be notified if a spot becomes available

Join the Project Raise Intern Waitlist Now

FAQs

There are 78 rural school districts affiliated with Project RAISE, how do I decide where I should look for an internship opportunity?

We know that there is a need for school-based mental health supports in all 78 rural school districts affiliated with Project RAISE, but we would encourage you to consider a few factors:

Does the internship position align with my program/degree requirements?
Does the internship position align with my interests/vision for my internship and early career experience (e.g., will I be able to learn from a variety of experiences, will I have access to needed resources/systems to support my work, how often and in what format will I have access to my supervisor and/or other school staff in my field)?
Is the district within a commutable location from where I currently reside or will I relocate to live in/close to the community?
Can I see myself working in this school district after my internship?
Does the district anticipate having a position available for me when I complete a successful internship experience?
Do I have the flexibility/willingness to move to another rural/Project RAISE district nearby in order to meet the post-internship requirements for Project RAISE if a position is not offered/available after my internship?

We encourage applicants to approach the site selection process in the same way that they would approach a job hunt. If the district does not readily provide answers to these questions, it is important that the applicant asks for more information. Remember, a job interview is an opportunity for all parties to ask questions and determine fitness for the position.

My university program determines internship placement, how will I know if placement in the Project RAISE district will fit my long-term needs/employment goals?

We understand that internship sites are sometimes determined by the university program. All applicants are required to follow their program requirements/procedures, but are encouraged to consult with their field placement coordinator/director regarding their interest in participating in Project RAISE and the opportunity to inquire with appropriate district personnel prior to identifying the specific Project RAISE district(s) in your placement preference(s).

A Project RAISE district is offering me an internship opportunity; however, they do not have a qualified field-based/site supervisor for this position. Will Project RAISE assign a supervisor or do I need to find a supervisor?

Project RAISE does not assign field-based/site supervisors in any field of practice, but we will work together with you, the school district, and/or your university program to identify a qualified field-based/site supervisor. We believe that the responsibility lies with the school district to identify/provide a qualified supervisor, but we will work together with your university program if there are program requirements or standard procedures to address this concern.

I am studying in a school counseling/school psychology/school social work program and am interested in connecting with Project RAISE for my internship and early career experiences — when should I apply to join Project RAISE?

You can apply at any time before the start of your internship, but we suggest that you apply in the semester before your internship when you are considering and/or applying to districts. Project RAISE participation will not be finalized until we’ve verified your eligibility for internship with your university program and your internship placement with the school district. If your internship site will be determined by your university program, please notify your program advisor/fieldwork coordinator of your intention to connect with Project RAISE. Understand that Project RAISE does not replace or define any procedures for the internship placement process, but having this discussion with your university program will hopefully increase your chances of confirming an internship site in a Project RAISE district.