Social Work in Public Health

Project Description

This internship provides a dynamic and meaningful opportunity for a master's-level social work student to grow as a practitioner while addressing gaps in health outcomes among pregnant persons and infants up to 18 months old receiving Medicaid. The intern will serve as part of a team of home visiting professionals. The intern will learn how to best support positive maternal and infant health through education, relationship building, advocacy, resource connection and systems-level insight. Specific activities include home visits, joining clients at appointments in the community, documenting and connecting with community partners. The intern will conduct maternal and infant risk assessments. Activities will include assisting clients in accessing and maintaining benefits such as WIC, SNAP, housing resources, mental health referrals, and other services to support overall well-being. The use of specific screening tools may be required. Maintaining documentation according to program policies will be essential. Weekly supervision and team meetings will also occur. By the end of the internship, the clinical MSW intern will be able to build trust and rapport with enrolled families using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and client-centered approaches; conduct assessments; navigate community resources; case manage pregnant persons and coordinate with other public health professionals (such as nurses and community health workers), OB/GYN offices, family doctors’ offices and other community- based organizations. In addition, the intern will be able to apply a socially conscious view of the social determinates of health and their impact on perinatal persons, infants and their families.

Importance to Public Health

Pregnancy, the postpartum period and early infancy are all life stages deeply impacted by social determinants of health (SDOH), including income, housing, transportation, food access, education, and healthcare. Medicaid-eligible clients continue to face additional barriers that threaten maternal and infant health outcomes. For the health department, addressing these needs aligns with our commitment to promote a healthier community for all. When basic needs are prioritized, clients are better able to engage with the services offered, leading to more effective outcomes and stronger, healthier communities. This internship is designed to develop a Master of Social Work (MSW) student to directly support pregnant individuals and families enrolled in Michigan Medicaid. There will be a particular emphasis on addressing the social and systemic needs that shape this populations' health and well-being. The intern will gain clinical, community collaboration and advocacy skills that prioritize historically under-served populations.

Project Deliverables

Deliverables might include, but are not limited to, any of the following: 

• A poster summarizing the social determinants of health most frequently unmet for pregnant Kent County Medicaid families, successful intervention strategies and client engagement practices and agency, community, policy and systems-level recommendations to improve perinatal and infant care. 
• A reflective paper or case study analyzing one client’s care journey, incorporating theory, ethics, and social work frameworks. 
• A case study comparing the birth and delivery experiences of three persons at the three different birthing hospitals in the community. 
• A portfolio outlining such topics as transition planning and/or best practices.