The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to improve access to and quality of health care services for underserved and vulnerable individuals and families.

Since 1983, The Health Federation has served as a network of the community health centers in Southeastern Pennsylvania, providing a forum for the region’s federally qualified health centers and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to collaborate and mobilize resources for their shared goals of improving the health of the population by expanding access to high quality care.

The FIMR/HIV Prevention Methodology (www.fimrhiv.org) was created collaboratively by CityMatCH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (the College), and the National Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program (NFIMR). The FIMR/HIV Prevention Methodology is based upon the Fetal & Infant Mortality Review (FIMR). FIMR is an action-oriented community process that continually assesses, monitors, and works to improve service systems and community resources for women, infants, and families. 

The goal of the FIMR/HIV Prevention Methodology is to improve perinatal HIV prevention systems by using the FIMR case review and community action process.

The FIMR/HIV Prevention Methodology is based on the premise that all cases of perinatal HIV infection in the United States are sentinel events that warrant full review. By collecting comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data about the pregnancy experiences of women with HIV infection, the methodology provides an in-depth look at the systems that result in a perinatal HIV exposure or transmission. This examination allows communities to identify system strengths, missed opportunities for prevention and, more rarely, failures of interventions to prevent perinatal transmission. Communities can then develop and implement improvements to systems of care for women with HIV infection and their infants.

Responsibilities of Intern:

- Assist with Philadelphia’s Fetal Infant Mortality Review-HIV project, co-facilitated by the Health Federation of Philadelphia and the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. 

- Tasks include staffing multi-disciplinary case review team (Mondays, 2-4pm once a month) and community action team meetings (twice annually, variable schedule), summarizing recommendations from both groups, and participating in development of policy statements related to reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Philadelphia. 

- This has been rich project for past students, with many ongoing research opportunities based on both quantitative and qualitative data collected via blinded chart abstractions and maternal interviews, as well as policy recommendations implemented since fall 2010.

Learning Opportunities:

This intern will benefit by gaining experience in public health, health policy analysis and development and non­profit project management. The intern will learn about: current state of mother-to-child HIV transmission in the United States, and in Philadelphia; organizational and policy challenges to improving HIV prevention services, and how to overcome those barriers. The intern will also learn a great deal about how to work in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, and the skills necessary to advance community-based projects and programs.

The intern will be encouraged to network with other HFP staff (including social workers, public health professionals, trainers, policy advocates and direct service staff), attend trainings hosted by HFP, and learn about the different departments and programs within the organization(s).

Minimum qualifications:

• Upper-class undergraduate or graduate student in public health, preferably health policy/management, or other related field;

• Strong analytical, research and writing skills;

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally

• Ability to work independently

• Highly-adaptable, detail-oriented, and organized

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with analyzing quantitative and qualitative data

• Experience conducting literature reviews

• Experience with developing policy briefs;

• Knowledge of reproductive/maternal health and/or HIV issues

• Major or Degree Program: Graduate program in public health or other relevant discipline

Duration of Internship: Several options, starting date negotiable:

1) Summer internship: 3 or 4 months, May/June through August

2) Academic Year: 9 months, negotiable start times, generally September through May

3) Fall or Spring one-semester internships will be considered, but full year is preferred.

Hours per week: 15-20 hours per week.  Hours are flexible.

Deadline to Apply: Summer Internship: June 1, 2018; Fall Internship: August 3, 2018

Please send in a cover letter with your resume.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.