Illinois Alliance to Prevent
Obesity (IAPO) Intern
1. Description of the project/placement/practicum
Through this unique training opportunity, interns will gain hands-on experience in several possible areas including: government relations/public policy development, communications/media relations, and/or health and policy research, and, all the while, you will be making a significant difference in the effort to curb Illinois’ obesity epidemic!
2. Description of Illinois Public Health Institute
The Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) mobilizes stakeholders, catalyzes partnerships, and leads action to promote prevention and improve public health systems in order to maximize health, health equity and quality of life for the people of Illinois. IPHI administers a number of partnership-driven projects addressing specific program areas, including the Center for Community Capacity Development (CCCD), the Center for Health and Information Technology (CHIT), and the Center for Policy and Partnership Initiatives (CPPI).
The Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity (IAPO) is a statewide coalition launched and coordinated by the Illinois Public Health Institute. The primary goal of IAPO is to ensure that trends in obesity in Illinois are stable in 2015 and moving downward by 2018. Through public education and direct-action organizing, the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity seeks to:
-Propose new and bold solutions to the obesity epidemic through coordinated and comprehensive policy, systems, and environmental changes (PSE).
-Build a visible statewide movement to reduce obesity.
-Raise obesity reduction and prevention to the top of the policy and public health agendas.
-Disseminate and promote best practices and current information.
3. Expected project outcome or product
Our interns are expected to become part of our team by working on various projects such as:
-Helping to collect and analyze data for policy studies related to public health and obesity policy
-Writing or co-authoring articles for print, fact sheets, press releases, newsletters, briefing materials, website posts, social media posts, and letters to Legislators and the Executive branch
-Assisting with current policy and education campaigns
-Assisting with IAPO workgroup meetings, including conducting background research on topics of interest, developing workgroup resource materials, and/or reaching out to potential new workgroup members to participate
-Listening to, taking notes for, and participating in meetings with coalition partners to address current obesity PSE initiatives
-Drafting surveys, focus group outlines or other tools to collect input from coalition partners and priority communities on IAPO initiatives
4. Skills that would be desirable to accomplish this project
Qualified applicants will possess the following: excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong organizational skills; ability to take initiative on projects; comfort working independently and in a team; an interest in addressing the obesity epidemic through policy and systems change. Prior experience as a research assistant, community organizer, policy intern, or writer is highly desirable, though not required.
5. Location where the intern would be housed
The intern will have a designated space, with a desk and a computer at Illinois Public Health Institute, 954 West Washington, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607.
6. Compensation and duration of the internship
This is an unpaid position. The selected candidate will be expected to work at least 15 hours per week. The work hours will be somewhat flexible to accommodate the intern’s academic schedule and planned time off, if requested in advance. IPHI will be happy to work with the student’s institution to support course credit or practicum requirements.
7. How to apply
No phone calls, please. To apply, send the following three items
-a personalized cover letter referencing the candidate’s relevant experience and training and how they fit the internship opportunity
-a resume or curriculum vitae
-one writing sample, no longer than five pages to internships@iphionline.org.
Applications without all three requirements will not be considered.
8. Equal Opportunity Employer
The Illinois Public Health Institute is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We commit to our coworkers, applicants and community to have internships and job opportunities open to everyone equally. It is the policy and practice of IPHI not to discriminate against any coworker or applicant on hiring decisions or career advancement because of race, color, religion national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, status as a disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era, or any other personal characteristic which is not a relevant qualification to the specific position
For more information visit the IPHI website at http://iphionline.org/about-iphi/positions-available-at-iphi/internships/iapo-intern/
1. Description of the project/placement/practicum
Through this unique training opportunity, interns will gain hands-on experience in several possible areas including: government relations/public policy development, communications/media relations, and/or health and policy research, and, all the while, you will be making a significant difference in the effort to curb Illinois’ obesity epidemic!
2. Description of Illinois Public Health Institute
The Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) mobilizes stakeholders, catalyzes partnerships, and leads action to promote prevention and improve public health systems in order to maximize health, health equity and quality of life for the people of Illinois. IPHI administers a number of partnership-driven projects addressing specific program areas, including the Center for Community Capacity Development (CCCD), the Center for Health and Information Technology (CHIT), and the Center for Policy and Partnership Initiatives (CPPI).
The Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity (IAPO) is a statewide coalition launched and coordinated by the Illinois Public Health Institute. The primary goal of IAPO is to ensure that trends in obesity in Illinois are stable in 2015 and moving downward by 2018. Through public education and direct-action organizing, the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity seeks to:
-Propose new and bold solutions to the obesity epidemic through coordinated and comprehensive policy, systems, and environmental changes (PSE).
-Build a visible statewide movement to reduce obesity.
-Raise obesity reduction and prevention to the top of the policy and public health agendas.
-Disseminate and promote best practices and current information.
3. Expected project outcome or product
Our interns are expected to become part of our team by working on various projects such as:
-Helping to collect and analyze data for policy studies related to public health and obesity policy
-Writing or co-authoring articles for print, fact sheets, press releases, newsletters, briefing materials, website posts, social media posts, and letters to Legislators and the Executive branch
-Assisting with current policy and education campaigns
-Assisting with IAPO workgroup meetings, including conducting background research on topics of interest, developing workgroup resource materials, and/or reaching out to potential new workgroup members to participate
-Listening to, taking notes for, and participating in meetings with coalition partners to address current obesity PSE initiatives
-Drafting surveys, focus group outlines or other tools to collect input from coalition partners and priority communities on IAPO initiatives
4. Skills that would be desirable to accomplish this project
Qualified applicants will possess the following: excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong organizational skills; ability to take initiative on projects; comfort working independently and in a team; an interest in addressing the obesity epidemic through policy and systems change. Prior experience as a research assistant, community organizer, policy intern, or writer is highly desirable, though not required.
5. Location where the intern would be housed
The intern will have a designated space, with a desk and a computer at Illinois Public Health Institute, 954 West Washington, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607.
6. Compensation and duration of the internship
This is an unpaid position. The selected candidate will be expected to work at least 15 hours per week. The work hours will be somewhat flexible to accommodate the intern’s academic schedule and planned time off, if requested in advance. IPHI will be happy to work with the student’s institution to support course credit or practicum requirements.
7. How to apply
No phone calls, please. To apply, send the following three items
-a personalized cover letter referencing the candidate’s relevant experience and training and how they fit the internship opportunity
-a resume or curriculum vitae
-one writing sample, no longer than five pages to internships@iphionline.org.
Applications without all three requirements will not be considered.
8. Equal Opportunity Employer
The Illinois Public Health Institute is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We commit to our coworkers, applicants and community to have internships and job opportunities open to everyone equally. It is the policy and practice of IPHI not to discriminate against any coworker or applicant on hiring decisions or career advancement because of race, color, religion national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, status as a disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era, or any other personal characteristic which is not a relevant qualification to the specific position
For more information visit the IPHI website at http://iphionline.org/about-iphi/positions-available-at-iphi/internships/iapo-intern/
