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Allegheny County Department of Human Services Internship

Allegheny County Department of Human Services
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Allegheny County Department of Human Services Internship Openings

 

About the Job

The Department of Human Services is seeking creative, hard-working, skilled and highly collaborative graduate and undergraduate students to help DHS do its best job of serving vulnerable people in Allegheny County.

 

We have a lot to do to deliver quality social services in equitable ways, and it takes staff to do planning, budgeting, analytics, program design, community engagement, training, and research. Interns have accomplished amazing things by working in those (and many other) types of work, and they often decide to work here after graduation.

 

Where you'll work

Most interns are based at our downtown Pittsburgh office (One Smithfield Street), South Side (Wharton Avenue), or North Side (River Avenue), but we also have locations throughout the county.

 

What to do if you're interested

We have a wide array of possible internships available--when you click on the Apply button, upload your resume and a cover letter; and then answer a few simple questions at the end of the application. These questions ask you to indicate the program areas you're interested in (e.g., housing/homelessness, aging, immigrants and internationals...) and the types of work you'd like to do/build your skills in (e.g., analysis, research, client service, training, improving equity...) Our internship coordinator will then send your application to leaders in DHS who may be interested in talking with you; and will email you to let you know the status of your application.

 

Requirements

- Enrolled as a student at a college or university

- Can work at least 20 hours week/semester. (Up to 29 hours/week)

- Allegheny County paid interns are required to fulfill the federal I-9 documentation. For a list of acceptable documents, please refer to page 2 in the link : I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification (uscis.gov)

 

Compensation

$15/hour

(This does not vary by education level)

 

Internship positions are currently available in the following offices: 

Office of Analytics, Technology, and Planning (ATP) – ongoing

The Office of Analytics, Technology and Planning (ATP) provides innovative research, evaluation, and planning to program offices to support program implementation and improvement. Within ATP, we have the follow opportunities:

  • The Analytics Intern will serve in ATP to conduct research and analysis to inform improvements in how human services are designed or delivered.  This includes services to support people with substance use disorders and/or mental health challenges, services to strengthen families, especially those with young children, child welfare services, services for older adults and services for people who need developmental supports.  The intern may also conduct research and analysis on local systems including public education, health, or criminal justice or work to support ways to improve operational analytics within DHS. Interns must be proficient in one or more of the following: querying relational databases, data visualizations, R or Python, mapping in ArcGIS or R.
  • The Product/UX Design Intern will collaborate with seasoned product managers and engineers to tackle real-world problems. Your internship will involve hands-on experience, including conducting user research, creating user story maps, building prototypes, and designing delightful user interfaces. Qualifications for this role include pursuing a degree in Interaction Design, Visual Communication, or related fields, proficiency in design tools like Figma, a strong understanding of user-centered design principles, and an eagerness to contribute to real-world design challenges. (June 1, 2024)
  • The Justice Collaborations Intern will be introduced to opportunities in county government human services with a focus on the intersection with the criminal legal system. Through this internship, student interns will gain first-hand knowledge of DHS as a whole as well as the needs of individuals and families in our community who have been impacted by the criminal legal system. Throughout the internship, interns will have weekly supervision meetings and opportunities to interact with other student interns. Students in Social Work, Public Health, Public Policy, and other relevant programs are encouraged to apply. Applications are being accepted for internships over the 2023-24 academic year. Specialized skills required: active listening, strong oral and written communication skills including for stakeholder facilitation purposes
    • The Justice Collaborations team develops, plans, and implements cross-system projects to improve human services supports for individuals in crisis and ensure justice-involved individuals have access to human services and remain in the community whenever possible. We also strive to reduce racial disparities through this work. Our team uses a person-centered, harm reductive, and anti-racist approach in planning and implementation. Interns with the Justice Collaborations team will work with the team to identify a project that allows them to practice and exhibit competencies that are expected from their academic program and support the work of the Justice Collaborations Team.
    • Examples of projects may include:
      Researching evidence based and promising practice models to inform the development of new program or process.
      Supporting facilitation of a stakeholder workgroup to assess and/or address a systemic challenge.
      Mapping a system process and identifying potential improvements.
      Coordinating cross-system collaboration for complex cases.
      Collecting and collating grant data for reporting.
      Developing a training for stakeholders.
      Throughout the internship, students will:
      Exhibit professional conduct.
      Attend weekly supervision meetings.
      Conduct a project that demonstrates academic program competencies and present it at the end of the internship.
      Participate in opportunities to learn about justice partners and DHS program offices.
      Attend DHS All Staff Meetings.
      Attend Justice Collaborations Team Meetings.
      Perform all functions using an anti-racist framework.  (September 2024 - 2025 / potential for 2 semesters)

Location: Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222

 

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) – May 2024 – June 2025

The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is responsible for services and programs to support Allegheny County’s older adult population. Interns will serve in AAA’s Division of Special Services and Strategic Initiatives to support AAA in the recruitment, training, and management of individuals who support and advocate for older adults in personal care. This role provides a unique opportunity to engage in the development of new government initiatives and provide input that will improve the experiences of older adults in Allegheny County. Travel will be required as a part of this role.

Location: Birmingham Towers: 2100 Wharton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

 

The Office of Administration (OA) 

The Office of Administration is responsible for overseeing funding sources, accounts payable, financial reports, human resources, travel, IT, budget analysis and grants management.

  • The Policy Intern will assist the Policy Manager by conducting research and assisting in writing, editing, and formatting policies and procedures across various DHS offices. Topics may include child welfare, mental/behavioral health, homelessness, health and safety, compliance, operations, best practices, cybersecurity, data privacy, and more. The Policy Intern will primarily work independently on policy documents and research but will also facilitate meetings and collaborate with subject matter experts and stakeholders as needed. This role is ideal for majors with a writing focus, or individuals passionate about policy research and writing, who appreciate a mix of solitary and collaborative work. It requires exceptional research and writing skills, with a focus on clear and concise communication for various audiences, as well as good listening skills when engaging with diverse teams. (September 2024 - December 2024)

Location: Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222

 

The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) - May 2024 - ongoing

The Office of Behavioral Health provides supports for services to adults, young adults and children with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Also oversees non-emergency medical transportation (MATP).

  • The BDAS Intern (Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services, OBH) will build and maintain relationships with individuals and communities affected by drug and alcohol issues; provide information and support to individuals seeking help for drug and alcohol problems; advocate for the needs and rights of individuals with drug and alcohol issues within the community; co-organize and co-facilitate workshops, and events to raise awareness and reduce stigma around drug and alcohol use; collaborate with other community organizations, health professionals, and government agencies to ensure individuals have access to a comprehensive range of support services; Co-develop and implement community-based initiatives to prevent drug and alcohol misuse and promote healthy lifestyles; co-conduct outreach activities to reach individuals who may be reluctant to seek help for their drug and alcohol problems; provide training and education to community members and organizations on drug and alcohol issues and how to support individuals in need and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of community engagement activities and adjusting strategies as needed.
  • The Special Projects Intern will work with the OBH Special Projects unit and the Community Wellness Team in the Bureau of Program Operations, OBH to help design and implement activities to advance outreach and recovery, such as with ACCR and Stand Together to promote community wellness. Candidate will also have the opportunity to shadow Justice Related Services given interest in forensic mental health.

Location: Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222

 

The Office of Equity and Engagement (OEE) - May 2024 - September 2024

The Office of Equity and Engagement supports DHS’s mission by providing a range of equity/inclusion, engagement and communication functions.

  •  The Community Engagement Intern will be providing supports to our community engagement efforts through our tabling program. The primary ask will be to aid in the thought process and development of training for DHS staff who volunteer to table events throughout the county. We are interested in creating a DHS resources training as well as develop a schedule for training on Mental Health First Aid, Narcan, First Aid and Safety (with a high focus on diversion techniques). The intern in this position will work alongside the Community Engagement Senior Manager and the Community Engagement Coordinator within the Office of Equity and Engagement. (May 20 - August 23, 2024)
  • The Race Equity Interns will support the growth, development, and implementation of the DHS Race Equity Strategy. Their goal will be to analyze current DHS system processes, policies, and practices for equity, identifying specific areas contributing to racial disparities. They will learn and work with our Government Alliance on Racial Equity (GARE) tools and concepts to bolster their knowledge and skills in government-sponsored racial equity work while expanding their professional network. Race Equity Interns will spend time shadowing Racial Equity Fellows, and Equity Program Managers to learn skills in content development, group/one-on-one discussion facilitation, and general knowledge on race equity and its intersections. They will support Equity Program Managers in daily tasks and outcomes focusing on planning and project development. Act as boots on the ground for tabling and community events representing OEE and DHS as race equity personnel.
    Race Equity Interns should have a working knowledge of race, power, and oppression historically and contemporarily. An interest in government and policy work directly impacting the social determinants of health and wellness for our most underserved populations. Ability to work independently and collaboratively to meet deadlines and achieve strategic goals. A community-oriented mindset and commitment to serving the most underserved demographics, through a transparent, collaborative, and community-first approach. Data analysis skills would be helpful. (July 8 - September 18, 2024)
  • The DHS Language Access's translation and interpreting project coordination Language Access Internship is designed for linguistics and translation students who are interested in acquiring expertise in professional translation project coordination and raising their awareness around local and national language access issues. Skills needed are: CAT tools knowledge, MTPE skills, DTP skills and you should be Tech savvy. (July 1 - January, 2025)

Location: 810 River Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

 

  • The Video Production Intern will be passionate about video production looking for an opportunity to hone your skills while making a positive impact in your community. Join our team at the Department of Human Services in as a Video Production Intern! This is your chance to gain hands-on experience, work on meaningful projects, and showcase your creativity while supporting important initiatives that directly benefit our community. If you're a motivated individual with a passion for storytelling through video, we want to hear from you!
    You'll assist in every aspect of the production from finding video and story ideas, talking to key stakeholders of those ideas and projects, scouting shoot locations and setting up camera, lights and audio for production, interviewing subjects (in-person and virtually), creating animated videos on various platforms, and editing videos and delivering a final product. And you'll do it all while working collaboratively with the Video Production Manager, Video Producer and the communications team in the Office of Equity and Engagement! Video production skillsets (editing, filming, audio set up, graphics animation). (June 3 - September 2, 2024)

Location: Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222