Various (Health Ed) - Apache Junction site

COMMUNITY PARTNER

Greater Valley Area Health Education Center c/o Empowerment Systems, Inc.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP

Duties

The Greater Valley Area Health Education Center (GVAHEC) is one of five area health education centers (AHEC) in Arizona.  Our mission is to improve the recruitment, diversity, distribution, and retention of culturally competent personnel providing health services in rural and medically underserved communities.  The GVAHEC is administered by Empowerment Systems, a community based not for profit organization that focuses its work around four key areas: health education and promotion, health informatics, workforce development, and non-profit service support.  The GVAHEC service area includes: Northern Pinal County, Maricopa County, and a portion of Yavapai County. Empowerment Systems and the GVAHEC have extensive collaborative relationships with other community based organizations that support the mission of the AHEC’s. To that end, the GVAHEC is able to offer an inter-disciplinary field experience in community based health education and health promotion. 

Duration:
Approximately 14 weeks between January-April, May-August, or September – December.  Other combinations will be considered.

Intern Duties May Include:
GVAHEC Interns can expect to work on a variety of projects and tasks that promote and support the work of the organization.  This may include working with our collaborative partners and organizations, advocacy, community outreach and education, research, conference planning, data entry, and health promotion program development and delivery. GVAHEC interns will have the ability to align their activities with their personal and professional interests, creating a portfolio that will be used to document learning objectives as they are achieved.  Interns may select from activities such as:

Policy and Advocacy:
•    Work closely with professional organizations such as AzPHA, AzRHA, Council of Human Service Providers, and other partners to plan and organize materials and activities to influence national/state/local legislative policy.
•    Update advocacy materials, fact sheets.
•    Plan and implement legislative activities to implement resolutions.
•    Assist with development and preparation of testimony for various legislative and/or Congressional hearings.
•    Assist with direct outreach and communication to GVAHEC partners, mailings, e-mails and phone calls to promote GVAHEC advocacy priorities and activities.
•    Work directly with GVHAEC partners to research and draft resolutions that provide an organizational foundation for important issues.
•    Assist with planning, implementation or follow-up to Annual Policy forums.

Program Planning & Communications:
• Develop original health information literature hand-outs for professional or lay audiences.
• Network with existing GVAHEC partners and collaborative organizations, and identify new organizations whose missions and objectives complement that of GVHAEC and with whom new partnerships should be pursued.
• Represent GVAHEC and offer health education input at coalition meetings.
• Assist with public relations, including development of press releases and promotional materials for specific topics or advancing the profession of health education.
• Assist with direct outreach and communication to SOPHE members, chapters, and partner organizations through faxes, mailings, e-mails and phone calls.

Health Education Research:
• Assist in gathering and organizing background materials for GVAHEC grants, cooperative agreements, and special topics.
• Research and report on GVAHEC priority topic areas as identified in the scope of work.
• Attend and report on local seminars and briefings to gather information as needed.

GVAHEC Workshops and Seminars:
• Provide direct assistance in developing database of meeting speakers, AV needs, and related communications to speakers, poster presenters.
• Organize materials for meeting sessions and work with GVAHEC Planning Committee for CEU/ CME application.

Other:
• Deliver direct program support to GVAHEC staff, projects and activities as needed.
• Assist in data entry for various projects, ranging from membership updates to survey data, mailings, answering inquiries, etc.

Sample Intern Projects:
•    Development and delivery of a community based health education series on a given health topic such as diabetes prevention, wellness, weight management, heart health, stress management, etc.
•    Assist with the development and implementation of coordinated school health programs.
•    As part of an interdisciplinary team, conduct a falls prevention program for seniors
•    Work with public health departments and/or AHCCCS to conduct health education programs
•    Work with partner agencies to conduct research and survey program participants as part of an internal review process
•    Assist in the development of web based education programs for targeted audiences.
•    Assist professional organizations with the coordination of events and poster sessions.
•    Assisting with grant writing, proposal development.

Population served

The GVAHEC site in Apache Junction works in partnership with the Center. Projects will focus on those individuals who live in a 10 mile radius from the location. Services will be provided to families with uninsured or underinsured children and who are likely to be living at or below 200% of the poverty level.  Our goal is to provide information, resources, or services to residents in the Apache Junction and surrounding areas. 

Community need/impact

The Apache Junction community and surrounding areas have limited resources that are available to those with limited income and discretionary spending.  The goal of the internship is to work with staff and other students to identify/assess community needs, develop programs that address these needs, market programs, track participation, and evaluate program outcomes.

The overall goal is to improve the health and well being of residents in the GVAHEC service area.