Health Equity and Place Intern, PolicyLink – California

Organization: PolicyLink

Position Title: Center for Health Equity and Place Intern

Location: Oakland, California

Dates and compensation: June 1 – August 7, 2015; $21/hour

Application Deadline: March 6, 2015

Description: PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by Lifting Up What Works®. PolicyLink collaborates with a broad range of partners to implement strategies to ensure that everyone—including those from low-income communities of color—can contribute to and benefit from economic growth and prosperity.

PolicyLink operates a summer internship program for continuing graduate students (master’s or doctoral) in public policy, urban planning, and related fields. Internships are paid and the duration is generally 10 weeks. PolicyLink occasionally hosts interns during the academic year, depending on project needs and student interest.

We strive to provide each intern with two main opportunities: 1) a meaningful and challenging assignment (or set of assignments) that provides a chance to apply and hone the skills they are learning in graduate school to influence public policy; and 2) the opportunity to learn about the process of policy change and the way that PolicyLink accomplishes our mission of advancing economic, social, and racial equity through policy change.

Each intern plays an integral role in helping our organization further policy impact through research, communications, capacity building, and advocacy. We have had interns from nearly 20 different universities and colleges, in programs such as urban planning, public policy, public health, community development, information management, and journalism/communications.

Interns gain insight into the field by assuming responsibility for a project under the guidance of experienced professionals. Most internship positions are based in our Oakland office; however, if space is available and there is need, we also host interns in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and New York. Communications interns are based in our New York office.

The 2015 intern for the Center for Health Equity and Place will provide research and technical support on key projects focused on environmental and policy change strategies designed to improve health outcomes in low-income communities and regions across the country. The selected intern will provide support to the Center in the following key areas:

1) Assist team in advancing institutionalization of health equity with public health departments and academic institutions through convenings, development of toolkits, and creation of framing paper. Also required will be analysis of interview findings and convening discussions.

2) Research to support the development of indicators to assist communities in assessing health equity, tracking changes in health equity, and tying their advocacy efforts to those changes.

3) Tracking, monitoring, and analysis of national, state, or local policies and programs that promote and support healthy communities.

4) Opportunities to work across teams, including the Center for Infrastructure Equity, Boys and Men of Color, and Promise Neighborhoods.

Tasks may include literature reviews, web-based research, interviews with national experts and program leaders, data and indicators research. Written products may include internal research memos, community profiles or case studies, and drafts of external publications.

Internship projects may be tailored to the specific interests of the intern provided that they match the needs of existing project areas.

Qualifications/Skills:

Internship positions are open to graduate students in public health, urban planning, public policy, MSW, or related fields, with an interest in multifield environmental and policy approaches to improving health equity in communities.

Qualifications:

• Understanding of health equity.
• In-depth knowledge of place-based environmental change strategies.
• Commitment to economic and social equity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Policy / advocacy experience (not required).
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research, as well as the ability to organize and communicate research findings.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Extensive computer skills.
• Good team player.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

How to Apply: Candidates may apply for up to two internship opportunities. Separate applications should be sent for each position and the candidate should indicate if they have applied to two positions in their cover letter.

Applicants should submit a résumé, cover letter, and a list of three professional references to [email protected].

Please include in subject line: Your Name – Specific Internship Name.

We encourage you to submit the application components in a single document if possible (rather than three separate files) so we can print double-sided and save paper.

Interviews will take place during the month of March. Applicants will be contacted by telephone to schedule an interview that will take place in person or over the telephone. Candidates not selected for interviews will be notified by email in early April.