The University of Southern California (USC) Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work awarded its 2026 Agency of the Year to Learn4Life, a network of 80+ public charter high schools. Learn4Life has created a robust social worker internship program through USC and other colleges and universities throughout the country.

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Learn4Life students participate in social emotional wellness activities coordinated by social work college interns earning their practicum hours while serving the high schools

Learn4Life’s accredited school social worker team works with approximately 40 social worker interns who get on-the-job training at the schools for a year. The internship program is in its 10th year, creating a steady pipeline of new social workers who are ready to be hired in permanent positions.

“We take the time to teach, guide and protect the wellbeing of the next generation of social workers,” said Lorena Galaviz, director of school counseling and student support at Learn4Life. “Our personalized learning model means our high school students receive one-on-one attention and flexibility to flourish in the way each learns best. We take the same approach with our social worker interns, which has made our schools an excellent training ground.”

According to Galaviz, social and emotional learning is a cornerstone of school social work, providing a framework for teaching students critical skills like self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. The social worker interns at Learn4Life have created fun programs for the students that range from wellness days at a park and therapy dogs to yoga, gardening, drum circles and cultural awareness programs.

While school counselors support academics, social-emotional health, and college or career placement, school social workers help keep students in school by supporting their social-emotional needs through creating a seamless link between the home, school and community. These two roles usually operate in silos at traditional schools but at Learn4Life, school counselors and social workers are closely integrated to streamline the delivery of resources and support to students.

The Agency of the Year Award recognizes the exceptional training, mentorship and unique learning opportunities Learn4Life provides to master’s-level school social work interns – experiences that are not typically available in traditional high school settings.

Along with its partnership with USC, Learn4Life provides internships to social worker students from Cal State Long Beach, Arizona State, Azusa Pacific, Grand Canyon University and more.

For more information about Learn4Life’s support of the whole student, visit https://learn4life.org/resources/counseling/.

About Learn4Life

Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public high schools that provide students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 64,000 students through a year-round program, we help them prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit www.learn4life.org.

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The Agency of the Year Award recognizes the exceptional training, mentorship and unique learning opportunities Learn4Life provides to master’s-level school social work interns