The family and consumer sciences internship program is preparing 23 students to graduate this semester. The program is a pilot class students take as an internship requirement for graduation.

These interns work like counselors for students who need counseling and operate like most social workers do by making sure that these students function efficiently.

Last year, only two students were involved in the program. This year, St. James Parish wanted 12 students to work with the school board, but only eight students signed up.

Although the school board did not get the number of students it hoped it would, these students started working as mentors for the schools in St. James Parish.

Working with students at various schools is just one duty the interns have.

Basic duties are monitoring students on an individual basis and continually checking on them.

Interns get paid to function and work directly with the principals at these schools.

Dr. Judy Petit is a licensed professional who is on site to monitor the interns.

Jean Hemard, assistant professor of family and consumer science department, and Monica Oncale, also an assistant professor in the family and consumer science department, are the two coordinators of the program.

Hemard did a lot of creation of the program together with the family and consumer science department.

“There has never been so many interns working under one particular program,” Hemard said.

“We are looking for self-motivated, reliable, dependable students.”

This program is also an outreach program from St. James Parish for those students who may be going through difficult times.

“Sometimes, what happens is that there is no one to follow up on these children,” Hemard said.

“We hope that the program identifies their problems and helps them.”

This program calls for the daily interaction between interns and students.

“This is like the final training for these students before they graduate,” Hemard said.

The family and consumer science department in conjunction with St. James Parish is using this opportunity to aid both interns and students.