Strengthening our Services – A Spotlight on our Two Generation Intern

Covenant House is blessed to have talented interns on our team every semester. This week we wanted to highlight Kiara Cruz, our exceptional intern working on our Two Generation program!

From the first day of meeting Kiara, Two Generation Program Manager Ebonee knew that Kiara would be a great fit for assisting in the development of the program. Currently a Master of Public Health Candidate at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Kiara’s favorite part of interning is the ability to apply her public health knowledge to the program to make real change in the community, truly improving the lives of mothers and children we serve.

The Two Generation program strengthens several services to homeless young mothers and children by providing case management, behavioral healthcare, early childhood development, educational and vocational services, and trauma informed counseling. Kiara specifically ensures the success of this program by creating program planning tools, developing the method, and finally implementing the plan. Through this work, Kiara has been a vital element in incorporating the Two Generation Approach in the Covenant House mission.

Ebonee has been thrilled to have Kiara on her team, and frequently sings her praises. “Kiara has a holistic way of critical thinking as it relates to the needs of our young families,” says Ebonee. Additionally, her creative, out-of-the-box thinking style brings innovation to the field, constantly inventing new ways to build engagement between the staff and the residents.

We are incredibly grateful to have such a passionate and dedicated spirit to support us here at the Covenant House. We know you’ll do remarkable things for others, Kiara!