• Public Policy and Advocacy Intern

    Starfish Family Services, Inc. (Inkster, MI)


    Position Type Internship

    Description

    Overview:

    The Public Policy and Advocacy Internship is designed to support students in learning and navigating local, state, and federal public policy and advocacy issues and systems issues that may impact local non-profit funding, programming, staff, and the lives of families who receive state and federally funded social services. The student will participate through experiential learning to build skills and relationships that may have a collective or organizational impact locally, state-wide, and nationally. Areas of focus will be the education system, behavioral health system, and healthcare systems, as well as other policy issues that may impact those systems or families within them.

    Education and Experience:

    • At least 1 year of employment experience.

    • Must be enrolled in a college or university and working towards an associates or higher degree in public policy, law, political science, social work, human services, or related field.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Develop an understanding of the two major public funding systems that make up Starfish Family Services programs: Federal Head Start and State Community Mental Health.

    • Monitor and summarize state movement on the Michigan Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan (PIHP) RFP and its potential impact on Starfish.

    • Develop recommendations for navigating the health care environment in Michigan, Wayne County, and Detroit post new PIHP awards/grants.

    • Monitor and summarize state movement on Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC), specifically any changes to language about certification and/or expansion of new clinics

    • Support development of talking points for legislative packet, hearings, advocacy, and potential testimony in support of Starfish advocacy

    • Support development of advocacy learning sessions for Starfish employees and board members

    • Assist with research on legislation, policy analysis, drafting reports, and preparing briefing materials.

    • Attend meetings, summarize key points, and help track current political events or policy developments that may impact children and families served by SFS.

    • Collaborate with other team members, supporting advocacy efforts and participating in outreach initiatives

    • Draft memos, reports, briefing materials; communicating with constituents or stakeholders.

    • Handle general office tasks

    • Monitor, participate, and report on webinars and communications with major children’s state advocacy and policy groups: Michigan League for Public Policy, Michigan’s Children, Early Childhood Investment Corporation.

    • Monitor State and Federal budgets and develop an understanding of the budgeting process.

    Licensing and other requirements:

    • Valid driver’s license and/or reliable transportation

     

    Starfish Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer

    EOE/M/F/D/V