Internship to Increase Access to Culturally Responsive Care
PLEASE NOTE: Although this posting may display a longer availability window on Handshake due to system requirements, applications for this internship must be submitted by March 20.
Description: The Health Equity Council – Mental Health Action Team (HEC MHAT) is a collaborative group of community-based organizations, health partners, community members, and community health workers and navigators in Kent County. Together, they work to develop strategies and implement solutions that reduce mental health stigma and improve access to mental health supports and other social services across Kent County.
The HEC MHAT is seeking an intern to support the work the Diverse Mental Health Providers subgroup. The subgroup seeks to increase the number of diverse mental health providers in Kent County. Three goals have been developed to achieve this goal:
- Work with colleges and universities to explore opportunities for adults with diverse backgrounds to enter the mental health field and share findings with the Health Equity Council-MHAT.
- Work with schools and Kent ISD to increase exposure of youth to mental health fields.
- Work to develop a plan to address current harmful practices toward clinicians within mental health agencies.
Importance to Public Health: Research has long since recognized the benefits of interventions done by professionals with identities reflective of the population they serve. When those doing the work share the identities of those seeking support engagement increases and harm is reduced. This is especially true for mental health services. This project seeks to increase the number of diverse mental health practitioners in Kent County, therefore decreasing barriers to culturally responsive care.
Project Deliverables:
- Goal 1:
- Develop visual for school tabling/presentations. This will strengthen storytelling/speaking skills to relay the importance of mental health.
- Attend at least one tabling event at a school.
- Help with networking/recruiting mental health providers as well as engagement opportunities. This will increase knowledge of the field and those in it within Kent County.
- Goal 2
- Attend college meetings where student will share their unique perspective on what universities could be doing to promote mental health careers and lessen barriers for those seeking them. This is systems level work.
- Goal 3
- Assist with dissemination of information.
- Research each issue that comes up as barriers to recruitment and retention of diverse mental health practitioners in Kent County
Minimum Qualifications: Students applying for this internship must be enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program. Computer proficiency is required.