Community Advocacy & Resources Intern

People's Community Clinic • Austin, TX

1d

About The Position

The Community Advocacy and Resources Intern will support the Community Advocacy and Resources Team by assisting with patient outreach, identifying social needs, and connecting individuals to community-based resources. The intern will help reduce barriers to care and promote positive health outcomes through compassionate, patient-centered engagement. The Community Advocacy and Resources Intern will gain hands-on experience in patient advocacy, resource navigation, and care coordination while supporting Community Health Workers in improving patient access to essential social and community services. The core objective of the Community Advocacy and Resources Intern is to build trust and foster supportive relationships with patients, families, and the broader community to address non-medical drivers of health (NMDOH), including housing, food insecurity, transportation, and employment. The intern will support patients by identifying social needs, assisting with resource navigation, and promoting equitable access to services. They will collaborate closely with the Community Health Worker team, clinical staff, and local community organizations to ensure patients receive coordinated, culturally responsive, and patient-centered care.

Requirements

• Education: Pursuing degrees in social work, sociology, or public health from an accredited university affiliated with People’s Community Clinic.
• Experience: No previous work experience required, but a demonstrated passion for community advocacy and engagement is desirable.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in using social media platforms for marketing purposes.
• Basic understanding of community engagement and awareness strategies.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage tasks efficiently.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and independently when needed.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in event planning or community outreach.
• Multilingual abilities to better serve diverse patient populations.

Responsibilities

• Screening and Support: Identify and assess non-medical barriers to health, providing tailored support to help patients overcome these challenges. Maintain detailed records in the electronic health record (EHR).
• Resource Education and Assistance: Educate patients on available community services and assist them with the application processes for programs related to food, housing, transportation, and other essential needs. Compile essential community resources, including voting information and social needs resources.
• Referral Coordination: Utilize the FindHelp platform to refer patients and community members to appropriate resources, track referral outcomes, and follow up to ensure successful connection.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work alongside medical, behavioral health, and other care team members to develop comprehensive, patient-centered care plans based on insights into patients' daily challenges.
• Program Support: Assist with PCC’s in-clinic resource programs, including the food pantry, by supporting set-up, clean-up, food distribution, and logistics to ensure smooth access to resources. Contribute to additional related initiatives as needed.
• Community Engagement: Participate in outreach events and health fairs to build trust within the community, promote PCC services, learn about available resources, and share relevant information with the team.
• Data Collection and Program Improvement: Collect and review data to identify emerging community health trends and contribute to program improvement efforts.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees