Community Health Internship

GUIDELINES AND ELIGIBILITY FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COMING SOON.

The Biology Scholars Program Community Health Internship (CHI) is designed to help BSP students learn how to develop their own sustainable community health projects. Interested students will attend a series of workshops in the spring to help them develop their projects and write a grant proposal. Selected projects will receive funding to implement the project in the following Summer. In addition to supporting these specific projects, our goal is that students will learn transferable skills and networks that will be useful to them in their future health careers.

 

Students will design and execute projects that interconnect
personal health within the larger context of community health promotion. Students are required to partner with a non-profit currently serving their target community or with expertise in the student's health issue of interest. The goal of the partnership is two-fold: to benefit both the students and the organizations. Students gain legitimacy with their target community, receive mentoring and develop collaborative networking skills that will serve them as professionals. The direct service the student provides to the community will enrich the resources offered by the non-profit because the student will identify innovate solutions to address an unfulfilled need.

 

Overview

 

During the Spring semester, interested BSP students will attend 5 workshops that are designed to teach participants how to develop a community health project and write a grant proposal. At the end of the semester, students will submit their grant proposals and up to 5 proposals will be selected for funding. Funding consists of up to $300 for supplies and $2750 in financial support intended to be used for living expenses during the Summer internship period.

 

Students whose projects are selected for the funded internship will implement them during the Summer and participate in weekly meetings with BSP staff and other CHI interns to discuss the status of their projects. At the end of the Summer, CHI interns will give a talk about their project at a symposium where they will share their experiences, knowledge gained, and the outcomes of their projects.

 

 

Eligibility & Requirments

• You must be a UC Berkeley Biology Scholars Program member to participate.
• You must become a member of BSP’s Pre-Health Pathway if you want to participate in the summer internship. If you are not already a member, please discuss your situation with an advisor.
• This internship is better suited for students with minimal academic obligations in the summer (e.g. seniors, recent graduates and post-bac students).
• Participation in all program components is mandatory.
• You are required to complete any surveys or evaluations when asked by BSP staff so that we may evaluate the program’s outcomes.

Summer 2012 Requirements: Implement Project Plan (if selected for funding) 

1. Minimum weekly commitment of at least 12 hours per week for individual projects. Joint projects are also possible - if you are interested, please discuss this with BSP Staff
2. Projects should be started no later than June 2012
3. Mandatory weekly group meetings where you will present on the status of your project
4. Mandatory participation in a symposium at the end of the Summer (August 2012)
5. Turn in a progress report at the end of the summer

 

Spring 2012 Requirements: Develop a Project

1. Attend all the workshops and office hours (see below)
2. Mandatory check in with a BSP advisor about Spring class schedule 
3. Submit a proposal due April 27, 2012

*Up to 5 proposals will be selected for funding*

 

Spring Workshops

Here is a sample of the workshops held in Spring 2012. The workshop series and dates for Spring 2013 will be available at the end of Fall 2012.

 

1. Community Needs Assessment: What existing organizations work with the community and/or on the health issue that you are interested in?  What services do they offer?  Where is the gap in the services available to your target community?  (Week of 2/27)
2. Program Planning: How will your project address the gap?  What methods will you use?  Who will support you? How can you make your project sustainable after the internship? (Week of 3/5)
3. Strategic Planning Open Office Hours: BSP Staff will help students with questions on how to make contacts in the community, reviewing needs assessments, how to identify target community and organizations that can support the project (Week of 3/12 or by appointment)
4. Training and Evaluation: What skills do you need in order to do this work? How will you get any additional training that you need?  How will you evaluate the impact of your project?  (Week of 3/19)
5. Grant Writing: What makes a successful grant?  What components should be included in a grant?  What criteria will grant reviewers use when reviewing your proposal? (Week of 4/2)  
6. Review Open Hours: BSP staff will give feedback on proposal drafts and answer any remaining questions (by appointment)

 

For more information, please call (510) 643-4150 to speak with BSP Advisor Diana Flores in 2018 VLSB or send and email to BSP.