Careers, Internships & Volunteering

Non-paid internship; work on projects with Health Education Specialists in Tobacco Prevention and Cessation, and Physical Activity and Nutrition Programs.

Major Areas of Responsibility:

• Establish and maintain an effective working relationship with the Health Educators, Community Health staff Members, and other interns on your team;
• Attend a mandatory orientation with Public Health Staff to ensure confidentiality and agency policies;
• Assist with various Physical Activity and Nutrition Program trainings, follow-up and assist with the action plans and reports;
• Assess parks and convenience stores related to tobacco free policies;
• Present tobacco information to students and school staff;
• Create worksite wellness monthly messages for the agency;
• Input pre- and post-survey data;
• Assist and attend Youth Adult Partnership meetings and activities;
• Market health education programs throughout the area;
• Track and update participant contact information;
• Participate in community coalition, when available.

Requirements:

• Junior in college, minimum
• Completion of Program Planning and Implementation and Community Health Methods or equivalent
• Current on immunizations (Varicella, Tdap, MMR)
• Valid Driver’s License
• Proficient in Microsoft Office

Program Overview:

The Parents as Teachers (PAT) Home Visiting Program is an evidence-based early childhood model that promotes optimal child development, family well-being, and school readiness through personal visits, screenings, and community connections. Interns support certified Parent Educators within Eastern Idaho Public Health as they work with families from pregnancy through kindergarten entry. Interns will also support group connection meetings, community early childhood initiatives such as Strengthening Families month, Block Fest and Play and Learning Sessions (PALS).

Purpose

This internship provides students with hands-on experience in:

• Public health practice
• Early childhood development
• Family engagement and support
• Program administration and data collection

Interns will gain insight into how early childhood home visiting strengthens families and contributes to healthier communities.

Qualifications:

Students Studying:

• Public Health
• Social Work
• Human Development & Family Studies
• Early Childhood Education
• Psychology
• Other related human services fields
• Driver’s License

Intern Responsibilities:

Intern duties may include:

1. Family & Child Support Activities

• Observe home visits with certified Parent Educators
• Assist with preparing parent education materials
• Help facilitate developmental activities for infants and young children
• Support group connections and parent workshops, Block Fest events, PALS Sessions

2. Developmental Screening Support

• Assist in administering or scoring screening tools (e.g., ASQ, ASQ-SE, Piccolo, PHQ-9, Relationship Assestment Tool (RAT)).
• Help with documentation and follow-up recommendations

3. Program Operations

• Data entry into approved systems
• Updating resource lists for families
• Shadowing team members across disciplines (nursing, WIC, community health educators, etc.)
• Supporting outreach, community events, or family recruitment

4. Professional Development

• Attend staff meetings, training, and reflective supervision sessions
• Learn about trauma-informed care, protective factors, and family-centered practice

Internship Requirements

• Current enrollment in a college or university program
• Background check and confidentiality agreement
• TB test or immunization documentation (varies by district)
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries
• Reliable transportation for office-based work and potential community events

Interns do not conduct independent home visits.

Skills Gained

• Family engagement techniques
• Knowledge of child development (prenatal through age 5)
• Public health program workflows
• Documentation and data quality
• Cultural humility and trauma-informed practice
• Interdisciplinary collaboration

Schedule & Hours

• Flexible scheduling available during regular business hours
• Minimum hour commitment determined by the academic program (typically 120–300 hours per semester)
• Hybrid opportunities may be possible depending on district needs

Supervision & Evaluation

Interns receive:

• A dedicated supervisor
• Ongoing coaching and reflective supervision
• Midpoint and final evaluations (or as required by the academic institution

Benefits of the PAT Internship

• Opportunity to make an impact in family and early childhood outcomes
• Real-world experience in a nationally recognized evidence-based model
• Exposure to public health careers and community systems
• Professional references upon successful completion

• Explore career path
• Contact hours toward medical, therapy, and other schools
• Practice compassion
• Develop and refine professional skills
• Network with other professionals in the field
• Gain valuable work experience
• Resume builder
• Professional training opportunities
• Gain confidence

*Employers overwhelmingly point to internship experience as one of the most important factors they consider in hiring new college graduates for full time positions.

• After the application deadline, applicants may be e-mailed to schedule an interview date and time
• Face-to-face, in person, interviews are generally required
• Community Health Staff conduct interview
• Please bring resume, if not included with application
• Internship offers will be extended via e-mail within a week of completion of interview process
• If you are not accepted as an intern, you will be informed via e-mail