Office of Health Equity Tribal Health Program Intern

Office of Health Equity Tribal Health Program Intern

Intern Project Name: DPH Department-Wide Tribal Health Framework 
Intern Role: Tribal Health Project and Administrative Support 

Targeted Majors:  Undergraduates and Graduates in programs listed or related to;  

Public Health, Public Policy, Health Administration, Organizational Strategic Leadership, Ethnic Studies, Native American/Indigenous Studies, Sociology (data-driven and community-based research), or any equivalent/similar educational credentials 
Hours Per Week: Part-time, 10-20 hours weekly  

Internship Length: Spring 2027 with an opportunity to begin Fall 2026 if schedule allows 

Work Arrangement: Hybrid/ In-person community events. 

Work Location: DPH’s new office is anticipated to open in downtown Boston by the end of Fall 2026.

*This internship is unpaid and students must be receiving some type of academic credit to be considered for the opportunity *

Position Overview

The Office of Health Equity and Community Engagement (OHECE)  works across the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), state and local partners, and communities to advance health equity. The Division of Community Engagement (DCE) sits within OACHE and works to strengthen inclusive, equity-centered partnerships with communities across the Commonwealth. 

Within DCE, the Tribal Health Program builds and strengthens relationships with Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, Tribal-serving organizations, and other Tribal health partners. The program leads and supports the DPH Department-Wide Tribal Health Framework, a coordinated approach for strengthening Tribal health work across DPH. Grounded in respect for Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, Indigenous leadership, and community-defined priorities, the Framework strengthens coordination across DPH programs, policies, data practices, and resources while supporting meaningful engagement and sustained relationships with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities.

Overview of Internship 

The primary focus of the internship will be supporting the DPH Department-Wide Tribal Health Framework, a coordinated approach for strengthening how DPH works across programs and with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities to advance Tribal health. The Framework is organized around key areas including data, procurement and contracting, technical assistance, legal and legislative considerations, and engagement and education.

The intern will provide project management and administrative support for implementation of the Framework, while also contributing to broader Tribal Health Program activities that strengthen Tribal-State relationships, support Tribal sovereignty, advance health equity, and improve public health outcomes for Tribal and Indigenous communities.

 

The intern will work closely with the Tribal Health Strategist, DPH Tribal Health Core Strategy Team, Framework Pillar Leads, and other DPH partners to support the continued development and implementation of DCE's Tribal Health work

Key Responsibilities

The intern may support work in the following areas:

• Project Coordination: Assist with project timelines, work plans, milestones, deliverables, status updates, meeting agendas, meeting notes, and follow-up activities related to the Tribal Health Framework.
• Framework Implementation: Support coordination across the Framework's pillars and assist with documenting priorities, activities, progress and opportunities for collaboration.
• Research and Analysis: Conduct literature and policy research related to Tribal and Indigenous health, including public health priorities, social determinants of health, and relevant federal, state and local policies.
• Tribal and Community Profiles: Support the Engagement and Education Pillar in maintaining and updating existing profiles of Massachusetts and New England Tribes to strengthen staff awareness and inform respectful communication and engagement.
• SharePoint Development and Management: Assist with developing, organizing, and maintaining the Tribal Health SharePoint site as a centralized resource for Framework materials, tools, meeting documentation, resources, and other Tribal Health information. Support ongoing updates to ensure information is organized, current and accessible to appropriate DPH staff.
• Data and Reporting: Support data quality improvement, program evaluation, dashboards, reports, presentations and other tools used to understand and communicate Tribal Health activities across DPH.
• Engagement Support: Assist with coordination and logistics for Tribal listening sessions, meetings, site visits, community engagement activities and Tribal cultural events, as appropriate.
• Program Administration: Support scheduling, correspondence, documentation, webinars, presentations, meeting coordination and other administrative needs of the Tribal Health Program and Framework.

Desired Skills and Competencies

• Interest in Tribal Health, Indigenous communities, health equity, or public health  
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point and virtual collaboration platforms
• Basic knowledge of Tribal and Indigenous People
• Experience with project management principles or project coordination
• Experience conducting research, critical thinking and problem solving
• Familiar with public health or healthcare systems
• Experience working with culturally diverse communities
• Ability to work independently at times