Social Concerns
Summer Fellowship

ARCH (Accompanying Returning Citizens With Hope)

Site Address:

373 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43230

Columbus

,

OH

43230

Franklin

Website:

archreentry.com

Volunteer Non US Citizen

This student could not go into correctional facilities and would need a modified plan

Categories:
Language Preferences:

Location Details

Description

Accompanying Returning Citizens with Hope (ARCH) is a Columbus-based nonprofit that supports individuals returning from incarceration as they rebuild their lives through stable housing, employment, and community connection. ARCH partners directly with correctional institutions, employers, and service providers to remove barriers and create equitable pathways to success. Our programs include workforce training in fields such as solar energy and hospitality, housing assistance, and wrap-around support that promotes personal stability and growth. Interns at ARCH will gain hands-on experience in reentry services, community engagement, nonprofit operations, and social impact programming designed to create lasting change for returning citizens and their families.

Student Role

Students interning with Accompanying Returning Citizens with Hope (ARCH) will have the opportunity to engage directly with individuals returning from incarceration as they navigate housing, employment, and workforce development programs. The majority of the students time will be spent relationally, working alongside ARCH case managers and staff to assist clients during meetings, interviews, focus groups, and workforce readiness sessions. Students will help participants connect with community resources and may assist with data collection and qualitative analysis for ongoing focus groups exploring barriers to employment and licensure for those pursuing careers in peer support, CDCA, and social work. In addition to client-facing engagement, students may contribute to marketing and communications efforts by creating outreach materials, updating the ARCH website, developing impact videos, collecting participant testimonials, and documenting the organizations impact for use on social media and with community partners. Other responsibilities may include assisting with program coordination, intake documentation, and outreach activities. Depending on interest, students may also support policy research or advocacy projects related to reentry and criminal legal reform. This placement is ideal for students interested in social work, public policy, communications, criminal justice reform, or community-based research, offering both hands-on experience with clients and meaningful opportunities to document and communicate the impact of reentry work in the community.

Work Schedule

Students will generally maintain a full-time schedule of approximately 35-40 hours per week, working Monday through Friday, typically between 8:00 a.m-4:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m-5:00 p.m. Most activities, including meetings with clients, case management support, and program coordination, occur during standard business hours. Occasionally, students may participate in evening or weekend activities such as recording impact videos, attending community events, or meeting with clients whose schedules require flexibility but these instances are limited. Any hours outside the standard schedule can be flexed during the week to maintain a balanced workload.

Orientation

Prior to the start of the internship, ARCH will meet with students twice via Zoom to introduce them to the organization, review expectations, and discuss the specific focus of their projects and learning goals. These sessions will also include an overview of our mission, core programs, and the populations we serve, as well as initial preparation for engaging with returning citizens and understanding the dynamics of reentry work. Upon arrival in Columbus, students will receive an on-site orientation that includes a tour of ARCH facilities, introductions to staff and partner organizations, review of confidentiality and professional boundaries, and shadowing opportunities with case managers and program staff. This orientation ensures students are equipped to engage respectfully and effectively with participants. Throughout the 8-week placement, students will receive weekly one-on-one supervision from an assigned ARCH staff member. These sessions will provide structured time for reflection, problem-solving, and skill development. Students will also have opportunities for informal check-ins during the week with other staff and team members to support project work, client engagement, and integration into the organizations day-to-day operations.

Housing Information

Students participating in the program will live in Ohio State University (OSU) dormitories, as arranged by the University of Notre Dame, consistent with the housing arrangements used in previous summers. Students will reside in a university residential setting with other Notre Dame interns and peers engaged in community-based placements throughout Columbus. ARCH also operates a womens transitional house and may be able to accommodate one female student in that space, pending approval from the University of Notre Dame. This home provides a safe and supportive environment that is part of ARCHs housing network, located within the community we serve. We prefer a student have access to a personal vehicle, as some program activities may involve travel to correctional institutions or community partner sites. ARCH hopes to offer students the opportunity to participate in or observe programs inside a prison setting, which would benefit from independent transportation. ARCH staff will assist all students with orientation to the Columbus area, including guidance on local transportation options and community resources.

Student Preferences

Flexible, independent, self-motivated, video/marketing skills

Start And End Dates

Eight consecutive weeks between May 17 and August 16, 2026