Health Policy & Planning Internships

Internship Overview

The Health Policy & Planning (HPP) Internship Program is designed to provide work opportunities and practical learning experiences in public health, policy, planning, and research, with an emphasis in health equity and place-based primary prevention. We are recruiting two (2) intern positions, Civic Engagement Intern and Racial Health Equity Intern for the 2018 Summer (June – August).   

HPP Framework: Primary Prevention & Health Equity

There is a growing recognition that where we live, work, play and go to school shape our health. HPP focuses on building healthy, equitable communities that prevent people from getting sick in the first place. HPP works to ensure all people have the opportunity for health and well-being and seeks to build health equity by addressing the root causes of poor health, such as the social, economic, and physical conditions around us. To achieve this goal, HPP employs expertise in policy, planning, research, equity, epidemiology, communications, and advocacy. HPP has a particular focus on supporting populations with higher rates of preventable health issues and in places with the fewest opportunities for health. HPP is currently focused on four areas of work: 1) Stable and affordable housing: protects health and provides the ability to engage in healthy opportunities, 2) Complete neighborhoods: make it easy for residents to be healthy every day in their own communities, 3) High quality education: creates pathways to better health, and 4) Strong local economy: builds household financial security for all.

Civic Engagement and Health Intern Overview

The Civic Engagement and Health Intern will assist Health System staff in researching the impact of civic engagement on community health and developing strategies for addressing the root causes of racial health inequities. They will conduct a literature review, analyze current conditions, synthesize model practices, and help communicate the connections between social inclusion and health. More specifically, they will work on any of the following:

• Conduct a literature review on the health impacts of social exclusion and civic engagement.
• Support analysis of local leadership development and civic engagement assets, needs, and gaps
• Conduct an analysis of model practices that optimize civic engagement of marginalized populations
• Develop strategic communications material to share research findings
• Support stakeholder forums on racial health equity and civic engagement

Learn more about the Civic Engagement intern opportunity or apply today!

Racial Health Equity Intern Overview

The Racial Health Equity Intern will assist Health System staff in researching the root causes of racial health inequities by place, to inform policy and systems change strategies that can reduce racial health disparities in San Mateo County. They will analyze historical documents, conduct key informant interviews, review literature, and help communicate the connections between racial equity and health. More specifically, they will work on any of the following:

• Conduct historical research on racial inclusion and exclusion in the making of the built environment and educational systems in key priority jurisdictions
• Develop strategic communications material to effectively share research findings 
• Support the development of stakeholder forums on racial health equity
• Support the dissemination of an infographic on racial health equity

Learn more about the Racial Health Equity intern opportunity or apply today!

Important Internship Program Dates

Summer 2018

Recruitment Opens: Friday, March 30, 2018
Deadline: Friday, April 27, 2018 at noon
Interviews/Selections: May 7 – 10
Internship: Starts June 4, ends August 31  (flexible)
Application Packets: 
Civic Engagement Intern Application Packet
Racial Health Equity Intern Application Packet

Internship Eligibility

• Current graduate level students and recent graduates – up to one year after graduation date are eligible to apply. You may not be a current San Mateo County employee.
• Successful applicants will possess a deep passion for addressing health inequities and experience working to change them. Relevant experience may include:
  • Personal or family experience dealing with inequitable economic, social, health and educational systems and environments. For instance: being the first in your family to attend higher education, growing up in a low-income neighborhood, experiencing housing/financial instability, or facing racial/ethnic or other types of discrimination.
  • Professional experience in a program that promotes equity (this can be through a multitude of intervention types and variety of locations or organizations

Internship Term & Pay

This HPP Internship program runs year round. The Summer Internship runs from June to August 2018, and the intern must commit to working between 32-40 hours per week. Reasonable timeframe adjustments can be negotiated. Graduate students are paid $20.50 per hour.