San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Office of Diversity and Equity Internship Program
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled
The application can be found at: https://www.smchealth.org/pod/job-internship-opportunities
About the Office of Diversity & Equity
The BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) advances health equity in behavioral health outcomes of marginalized communities throughout San Mateo County. ODE is dedicated to addressing health inequities and stigma in the areas of mental health and substance use and supporting wellness and recovery in San Mateo County. ODE works to achieve these goals by promoting cultural humility and competence, which are rooted in principles of social justice. To learn more about ODE’s work, visit www.smchealth.org/bhrs/ODE.
About the Internship Program
The ODE Internship Program is designed to provide work opportunities and practical learning experiences for undergraduate and graduate students to enhance their academic learning and expose them to public service at the county level. For the 2022-2023 internship program, we are looking to extend training opportunities to two interns.
All interns will have the opportunity to support the Office of Diversity and Equity (across programs) and participate in a Health Equity Initiative. Each intern will support the Workforce Education and Training program and one of the three areas. For each area, sample tasks are listed below.
- Health Ambassador Program (HAP)
Assist with outreach, planning, and data entry for HAP courses (including evening classes and graduation) Contribute communication content about HAP through blogs, newsletters, social media posts, and website updates. Support with family engagement
- Health Equity Initiatives (HEI)
Assist with supporting and coordinating our Health Equity Initiatives (HEI). Strengthening evaluation, overseeing logistics, and creating support documents. Gaining an understanding of our HEI needs and creatively working to provide guidance and solutions. The role will also include supporting other important programs that promote and collaborate with our HEIs.
Qualifications
Required:
To be eligible for this program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in an accredited college or university. Recent graduates (up to one year after graduation) are also eligible.
- Available to work 20 hours per week at the Office of Diversity and Equity (in Belmont, CA) from the week of September 5, 2022, to the week of June 26, 2023.
- NOT a current employee of San Mateo County.
- Attend mandatory ODE staff meetings on two Friday mornings each month.
- Acceptance to this ODE internship is contingent upon completing a Human Resource application and passing a criminal background check and medical examination.
- Work eight hours on Friday.
Desired:
We would strongly prefer a candidate with the following qualities:
- Passion for advancing equity, wellness, and recovery for culturally diverse and marginalized communities
- Personal experience with or knowledge of inequities related to mental health and/or substance use conditions
- Experience working with culturally diverse and marginalized communities
- Multi-cultural and multilingual skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong organizational and detail-oriented skills
- Ability to prioritize time-sensitive assignments
- Ability to work well in teams and independently
- Ability to offer flexible hours including occasional evenings and weekends.
Term and Stipend
This ODE Internship runs from September to June and is paid through a stipend of $7,000 (before taxes) funded by the Mental Health Services Act. Interns must commit to working 20 hours per week at the Office of Diversity and Equity from the week of September 5, 2022, to the week of June 26, 2023. The stipend distribution ends before the end of the internship. However, interns are required to remain active for the full 20 hours per week in the ODE internship programs and complete the entire term of the agreement. The stipend is considered taxable income.
How to Apply
Complete and submit the following required documents to The Office of Diversity and Equity at ODE@smcgov.org
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume
- Application: https://www.smchealth.org/pod/job-internship-opportunities
- Supplemental questions
Only completed applications will be reviewed. Please contact us if you do not receive a confirmation from us that we received your application.