As the 2014-2015 academic year concludes, NACCHO’s Local Public Health Policy and Practice Scholars Program completed a successful pilot year. Twenty graduate-level students from across the country gained firsthand knowledge of the domestic public health landscape and the roles of local health departments. Participants gained subject matter expertise, refined their writing and research skills, and expanded their network of public health professionals. Some highlights include the following:
- Policy Scholar, Agnes Jensen’s Story from the Field, Hepatitis-A Case Strengthens Partnerships and Exercises Epidemic Response
- Policy Scholar’s Preparedness Brief articles on Ebola response and resource allocation: Emergency Preparedness Funding and Ebola: A Look into the Efforts Being Made by a Rural Local Health Department in Ector County, Texas by Policy Scholar Junaed A. Siddiqui, MS and Resource Mobilization and Utilization in an Emergency: Pinal County Public Health Services District by Pooja Kothari, RN
Policy Scholars also conducted key informant interviews, drafted research and issue briefs, attended internal and external meetings, and developed infographics and presentations, among other projects.
NACCHO is now recruiting students for the 2015 summer session. Selected students will choose a focus area and contribute to NACCHO deliverables (policy statements, issue briefs, interviews, etc.) within this interest area. Focus areas include the following:
- Environmental Health Practice
- Environmental Health Security
- Healthcare Coalitions
- Maternal and Child Health
- Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
- Pandemic Influenza Preparedness/Pharmaceutical Countermeasures
- Public Health Law
- Public Health Preparedness Planning
- Risk Communication
For more information, please refer to the 2015 Local Public Health Policy and Practice fact sheet.
How to Apply
Students who have completed their first semester in a graduate-level program in public health, or a related discipline, are encouraged to apply. Applicants must receive academic credit for an internship or practicum. Selected students are expected to complete a minimum of 100 hours, to attend a half-day program orientation and a half-day closing meeting (via webinar or in-person), and must be able to work remotely. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through May 1st, 2015; students are encouraged to apply early. Interested students may apply through the online form.
Please direct questions to [email protected]
Know of a student who may be interested? Please share this information with your public health and university colleagues.
