DHPE Internship Program

Thometta Cozart, MS, MPH, CPH, CHES

Internship & Fellowship Manager

Objectives

• To provide a history of DHPE Internship

Program

• To provide an overview of DHPE

Internship Program

• To share stories and types of projects the

interns completed

May 2000

CDC and Association of State and Territorial

Directors of Health Promotion and Public

Health Education (DHPE) Minority Health

Workgroup convened a meeting with

representatives from Minority-Serving

Institutions (MSIs) to discuss ways to

strengthen their health education programs

Eight Key Goals:

• Increase presence

• Enhance cultural

competency

• Encourage professional

development of faculty

• Acquire appropriate

teaching resources

Eight Key Goals:

• Create partnerships

• Expand recruitment

• Improve retention

• Strengthen professional

development of

students

MISSION

The Directors of Health Promotion and Education/

CDC Internship Program for Students of

Minority-Serving Institutions exists to strengthen the development of minority students by creating

partnerships between minority-serving institutions

and the public health community.

GOALS

• To create a highly qualified, diverse public health workforce

• To recruit and retain minorities in public health education

• To provide leadership, services and better health outcomes for all communities

PROGRAM DESIGN • 12-week Sessions (Fall, Spring, and Summer)

• Core Competencies of Health Education

• Introduction to the Ten Essentials of Public Health

• Competencies in Health Equity and Disparities and Social Determinants of Health

• Professional Development, Public Health Leadership and Mentoring

• Evaluation

Fall 2002 Pilot

• 27 Interns (graduate, undergraduate and

associates)

• MSIs:

– Florida International University

– North Carolina Central University

– Ogala Lakota College

– Texas Southern University

• Paper System

How has the program grown?

Projects Completed by Interns

Ramona Scarlett, North Carolina Central University

Make Sure You Know the T.R.U.T.H.: A Program to Decrease Tobacco Use and

Initiation among Youth Ages 12-18 in Durham County

Maridali De Leon, University of Puerto Rico

Evaluating the Impact of Coal Combustion Waste on Puerto Rico’s Southern

Communities

Francis Reyes, University of Texas El Paso

Disseminate Emergency Preparedness Trainings, Strategic National Stockpile,

Crisis Emergency Risk Communication, and Category A Biological Agents) within

the City of El Paso Department of Public Health

Applying for the 2015

Summer Program

Internship Deadlines and Periods

Spring Semester Summer Session

Application

Deadline

November 1 March 1

Acceptance

Notification

December 1 April 15

Internship Begins January 15 May 25

Internship Ends April 15 August 14

Application Components • Step One: Application

– Semester

– Three Cities of Choice

– Expertise of Choice

• Behavioral Science or Population-Based Needs Assessments

• Social Marketing or Program Development/Evaluation

– Experience Health Topic Area(s)

• Minority or Women’s Health

• HIV/AIDS or Chronic Diseases

– Academic History

• Current GPA

– Computer Literacy and Language Skills

Application Components

• Step One: Application

– Statement of Professional Interest

• Maximum of 1,000 words

• What does public health mean to you?

• What skills and abilities might you bring to a health agency

and to the field of public health?

• Discuss your academic and personal/work experiences that

have shaped your professional desires

• Discuss your personal SWOT analysis

• How would this internship assist you in pursuing your

career goals?

Application Components

• Step Two: Transcripts

– Upload Partial Bachelor’s Degree Courses or

Bachelor’s Degree and Partial Graduate’s Degree

• Unofficial is OK for upload, Officials needed if

selected

– Photo – Professional Headshot only

• Step Three: Three Recommendations

– Academic Advisor, Professional or Faculty and Personal

• Step Four: Time Available during the Week

Compensation / Benefits • Assistance with CHES (MCHES) exam;

• Access to Shaping Policy for Health trainings;

• Provide ten professional development webinars, such as

resume critiques, cultural competency and logic models;

• Provide one-on-one individual career coaching;

• Provide employment announcements;

• Reimbursement for mileage to sites/events beyond internship

site;

• Access to federal, regional, state and local health

organizations, such as CDC and HHS; and

• Provide an hourly stipend - $12 for undergrads and

$15 for graduate students.

Questions?

Contact: Thometta Cozart, MS,

MPH, CPH, CHES

tcozart@dhpe.org