Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC)
In partnership with the Boston Alliance for Community Health (BACH)
Boston Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH)
Community Engagement Summer Internship

Boston Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH), is a 3-year, Center for Disease Control funded initiative to reduce the burden of chronic disease by addressing the health behavior risks of tobacco exposure, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity. Collectively, these three risk behaviors are estimated to be the underlying cause of more than a third of all deaths in the US. (Mokdad, 2000). Boston PICH aims to create sustainable voluntary policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes in the neighborhoods and organizations where Bostonians spend their daily lives so that healthier choices are the easier choices for individuals to make. Boston PICH builds on Boston’s strong record of collaborative initiatives over the last decade to implement policy, systems, and environmental changes addressing chronic disease risk factors. It includes strategies that operate at multiple levels: citywide; focused approaches that reach low-income residents and public school students; and neighborhood-specific initiatives in Mattapan and North Dorchester.

Boston PICH aims to create sustainable changes in the neighborhoods and organizations where Bostonians spend their daily lives so that healthier choices are the easier choices for individuals to make. Because these types of changes may be in Policies, Systems and/or the physical or social Environment of the community or specific settings, we refer to them as PSE improvements. Some examples of PSE improvements that have created conditions for improved population health in Boston and elsewhere include workplace tobacco bans, the elimination of artificial trans-fat from most of the food supply, and increasing urban bicycling through installing bike lanes, signage, bike racks, and related infrastructure.

Strategies to achieve the specified PSE improvements will include bringing diverse stakeholders across sectors together; offering training and technical assistance to organizations and resident Champions, and communicating to organizations, residents and constituencies the health, economic and social impact value of making changes that support healthier behaviors.

A key part of PICH’s community engagement strategy will be mobilizing community members, through an initiative called Healthy Community Champions, to be grassroots ambassadors and educators at the neighborhood level. Healthy Community Champions will be recruited and supported by community-based organizations and coalitions that are familiar with the residents, resources and culture of their individual neighborhoods. In addition to contributing to meeting the specific goals of PICH, this will build a sustainable and vital network of community residents trained in public health issues and ways to improve their daily lives and those of their families and neighbors. The purpose of the Healthy Community Champions initiative is to mobilize community engagement and support for the Boston PICH goals in order to widen their impact, and to increase community ownership of the initiative. It is anticipated that up to 70 residents citywide will be engaged, trained, supported and receive a financial incentive to be effective champions for the PSE improvements and lead to a multiplier effect through peer-to-peer work, primarily at the neighborhood level.

The PICH Community Engagement Summer Intern will actively contribute to the success of the Health Community Champions 2015 Training and Technical Assistance Program. She/he will support PICH trainers and consultants serving 12 Boston based community based organizations or coalitions, and up to 70 community champions/trainees this summer. This is a great opportunity for someone who has experience (or is interested in gaining experience) in training/event/meeting planning, logistical coordination, social media and marketing. Individuals with strong attention to detail, good interpersonal and communication skills, and an interest in serving in a community health environment will thrive in this internship.

A benefit of this internship is the opportunity to participate in a federally funded, city-wide public health initiative and community health trainings. The successful candidate will be housed at the Boston Alliance for Community Health, with occasional meetings at the Boston Public Health Commission and other spaces across Boston, as required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and manage the needs of PICH training consultants
• Document lessons learned, training program successes and challenges
• Create or update training and event notices
• Coordinate training logistics (e.g. preparing space, help set up/break down, ordering meals consistent with BPHC healthy food guidelines etc.)
• Prepare materials for trainings, learning communities and special presentations
• Transcribe meeting and training notes
• Compile and record evaluation forms from meetings, trainings, and learning communities
• Support the PICH Training Coordinator , as needed

Candidate Qualifications:

• Demonstrated optimism.
• Ideally, 3rd or 4th year Baccalaureate candidates, in the fields of community health, public health, sustainable development, social work or related field, or qualified post high school candidates with lived experiences.
• Candidates must have previous work or internship experience.
• Commitment to the BACH and PICH project values.
• Experience, or strong interest in training coordination, event planning and logistical support.
• Able to manage several tasks and situations simultaneously.
• High level of professionalism, self-motivation and a demonstrated ability to commit to and follow through on projects.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience with (or willingness to learn) Constant Contact, Survey Monkey
• Experience working with diverse adult and youth learners.
• Professional or personal experience working on social justice issues.
• Commitment to role of public health in promoting racial justice and health equity

Benefits:

• Attend public health trainings and other professional development events.
• Opportunity to network with public health, community based organizations and non-profit professionals.
• Gain knowledge and experience in training, consultancy support and facilitation.
• Work with a knowledgeable team of professionals.
• Stipend for 10 weeks, at rate of $ 16 -$18 per hour, depending on experience.

Time Commitment:

• Minimum of 35 hours per week from late May to mid-August.
• Regular business hours (generally between 9-5pm, Monday through Friday, excluding Holidays with trainings scheduled for some Saturday mornings, and one week day evening from June to early August).
• Availability for the entire 10 week period is required.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of work duties that will be required in this position. It is not intended to limit, or in any way modify, the rights of any supervisor to assign, direct, and contract work of staff under his/her supervision. The use of a particular illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties, not mentioned, that are of a similar level or difficulty.

Application instructions:

To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter and available start date to Tamika R. Francis, PICH Coordinator, Boston Alliance for Community Health, tfrancis@hria.org. Deadline April 30, 2015, at 5pm. No phone calls please.