MPH Practicum Opportunity – The Family Van, Harvard Medical School
Opportunity Type: Practicum Opportunities, Public Health OpportunitiesLocation: Boston, MA
Salary: N/A
Opening Date: March 22, 2019
Closing Date: April 20, 2019
Website: http://www.familyvan.org/
Contact Email: family_van@hms.harvard.edu
Multiple Public Health Practicum Opportunities Available
The Family Van, a community program of Harvard Medical School
Location: Greater Boston Area
Application Deadline: April 20, 2019
Time Commitment: 35 hours/week for at least 8 weeks
Work Term: June – August 2019
Compensation: This is an unpaid internship
About The Family Van:
Designed in collaboration with community partners more than twenty-five years ago, The Family Van increases access to health care and improves the health of residents in Boston’s most underserved communities. The Family Van’s mission is to empower community members by improving health literacy and providing preventive screenings in a welcoming and non-judgmental environment. Our diverse team is comprised of community health workers, health educators, HIV counselors, and volunteers, as well as other health professionals and community partners.
Project Descriptions:
The Family Van has multiple projects that are well-suited for a public health practicum opportunity. The students will spend 1 to 2 weeks on The Family Van to observe and assist with service delivery in order to develop a thorough understanding of current services. They will spend the remainder of their time working one of the following projects:
• Conduct an analysis of past and current collaborations, including a stakeholder and network analysis. Make recommendations for future collaboration efforts.
• Develop outreach plan that builds on existing “contingency plans” to make sure we can serve clients even when the Van is unable to go out due to mechanical problems or inclement weather.
• Conduct program evaluation to assess changes in health behaviors among clients, such as health care utilization and medication adherence.
• Assess the health literacy of our clients and make recommendations to improve our health promotion efforts to increase health literacy.
Specific Responsibilities/Activities:
• Conduct a literature review to identify evidence-based strategies and promising practices.
• Assess current services and understand gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design and implementation of a community-based health program.
Qualifications:
• Current student in an MPH or similar program or recent graduate, public health professional interested in the work.
• Experience working with culturally diverse staff and community.
• Experience with community-based public health in underserved communities
• Ability to prioritize and take initiative on multiple and complicated tasks.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
To apply, send your resume and cover letter to family_van@hms.harvard.edu by April 20, 2019. Applicants are strongly encouraged to learn more about The Family Van before applying by visiting our website at www.familyvan.org