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 on health equity and place-based primary prevention. 

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, 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. 

Focus of Internship Projects

San Mateo County Health is seeking graduate-level (master’s degree) student interns to join the HPP team, a program within the Public Health, Policy and Planning Division. 

Health Education Intern

The focus of the Health Education Intern will be to assist County Health staff in researching and developing strategic and culturally relevant communications materials to further advance health equity in San Mateo County.

More specifically, the Intern will work on any of the following:

• Using a health equity lens, support the development of engaging and culturally relevant social media and newsletter content 
• Collaborate with public health officer, Office of Community Affairs, and the COVID-19 response unit to develop materials in response to community requests and needs 
• Attend any relevant community and internal meetings 
• Assist health planners with virtual/in-person community stakeholder interviews 
• Assist in data collection and analysis 
• Assist in researching and designing an updated health equity webpage  ​

Communications Intern

The focus of the Communications Intern will be to assist County Health staff in researching and developing strategies to improve and enhance communication of health to further advance health equity in San Mateo County.

More specifically, the Intern will work on any of the following:

• Track and examine communications analytics and make recommendations based on results and best practices  
• Develop systems and templates to collect social media, newsletter, and webpage analytics 
• Using health equity lens, support the development of engaging social media content 
• Copy and edit content on various communications channels (social media, monthly newsletters, website)  
• Identify creative methods to improve the quality of existing communications and for increasing audience across all communication channels 
• Source stock photography and create motion graphics or short videos 

Important Internship Program Dates

Fall 2022

• Recruitment: July 6 – August 1
• Application Deadline: August 1, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. PST [NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS]
• Interviews: August 10-12
• Fall Internship begins: September 12 (flexible)

Internship Eligibility

• Health Education Intern: Current graduate level (in a master’s program) students and recent graduates from a master’s program focusing on Public Health: Health Education, Health Promotion and Education, Community Health Sciences, or similar Health Education focus- 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 programs that promote equity (this can be through a multitude of intervention types and variety of locations or organizations).
• Communications Intern: Current graduate level (in a master’s program) students and recent graduates from a master’s program focusing on communications, journalism, digital media, marketing, with experience in public health preferred – 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 programs that promote 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 Fall Internship cycle runs from September to December 2022, and the intern must commit to working between 16-20 hours per week. Reasonable timeframe adjustments can be negotiated. Current graduate students are paid between $25.97 and $34.63 per hour depending on experience.

How to Apply

Complete and submit an application packet with the following required attachments: 

1. Cover Letter: Please describe your interest in and qualifications for this internship in the cover letter including the position you are applying for.
2. Resume
3. Completed application and supplemental questionnaire 

Application Packets:

• The fall intern recruitment is now closed and no longer accepting applications.

Only completed applications will be reviewed; please contact us if you do not receive a confirmation we received your application within 2-3 business days. If selected, you will be invited for an interview.