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Program and Policy Intern, Overdose Prevention

At Vital Strategies we value learning and personal development which is why we believe it is important to mentor future professionals who will grow personally and professionally and create impact in the public health sector. As a Vital intern you will have the chance to develop skills and contribute to our initiatives through engaging, meaningful work assignments that can help jump start your career in public health.

We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences, whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make Vital’s work more inclusive. All internships at Vital Strategies and Resole to Save Lives are paid opportunities. We encourage people of all racial, economic, social, cultural, sexual orientation, and gender expressions to apply.

The Opportunity
Vital Strategies Overdose Prevention Program partners with state and local governments and community organizations, to fund and implement interventions and achieve policy and practice changes towards a sustainable reduction in overdose deaths. We are currently working in four states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Our program spans sectors and stakeholders, and focuses in four priority domains related to drug use and overdose:
  • Expanding access to medications: naloxone, buprenorphine, and methadone.
  • Mobilizing communities, promoting racial equity, and strengthening community-based services and support for people who use drugs
  • Transforming the response to drug use from a criminal-moral problem to a health issue
  • Using data to inform policy and response

Responsibilities
Student internship positions are available with the core program team and will work on state-based projects in one or more of the following tracks:
  1. Promoting racial equity in community-based harm reduction services
  2. Expanding low-threshold access to agonist medications for opioid use disorder
  3. Implementing a health-based response to drug use in criminal legal systems
  4. Coalition-building and community mobilization for policy change

Specific tasks would include:
  • Participating in calls with state and city government and community stakeholders
  • Reviewing and summarizing existing research on policies and best practices in the field of substance use and harm reduction
  • Assisting the program team in tracking project metrics and status updates
  • Reviewing and summarizing data related to overdose surveillance and trends in the program’s cities and states
  • Other research and tasks under direction of Overdose Prevention Program staff

Qualifications
Education and Work Experience
  • Undergraduate (rising senior or junior) or graduate student studying public health, public policy, health law and policy, preferred
  • Experience in conducting research, a plus

Skills and Knowledge
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Excellent written communication skills
  • Ability to interpret and understand data a plus
  • Familiarity or strong interest in substance use harm reduction
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and autonomously
  • Comfortable with taking initiative and being resourceful
  • Ability to adapt to new technologies
  • Ability to manage and maintain confidential and sensitive information