Intern - Overdose Data to Action (OD2A)

Boston Public Health Commission•Boston, MA

12d

About The Position

We are seeking a dedicated and motivated graduate student intern to join the Boston Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) team in the BPHC Recovery Services Bureau (RSB). The intern will help the OD2A Program Manager implement Boston OD2A programming by conducting community overdose rescue trainings; tabling at community events; and distributing naloxone through innovative methods and partnerships, including public health vending machines and naloxone boxes and kiosks. They will also support the pilot of OD2A’s door-to-door overdose prevention canvassing pilot, which will recruit and train community volunteers to visit households in neighborhoods with high overdose rates, speak to residents about overdose risk and naloxone, and distribute overdose prevention materials. Furthermore, they will also help plan, recruit clients for, and facilitate the RSB Community Advisory Board (CAB), where staff get client feedback on OD2A activities, RSB services, and drug use and overdose trends to inform RSB programming. Additionally, the intern will help implement the linkage to care component of Boston OD2A by connecting clients of RSB services to substance use navigators placed by Boston OD2A and opioid settlements programming at community health centers across the city.

Requirements

Current bachelors or Masters degree candidate in public health, health sciences, psychology, or a related field
Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and health equity.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
Strong interest in behavioral health, substance use disorder services, and working directly with community members
Competency and sensitivity in working with racially and culturally diverse populations.
This position requires direct client/patient contact and as a result of such direct contact, certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position.
However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
The Boston Public Health Commission is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are eligible to apply.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge and understanding of overdose prevention, harm reduction, and the substance use continuum of care preferred.
Public speaking and group facilitation skills preferred.

Responsibilities

Works to help BPHC advance as an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.
Provide overdose rescue education and training to treatment providers, community coalitions, law enforcement, business owners, and other groups as needed.
Update overdose rescue training curriculum and materials in response to emerging trends, needs, and research.
Coordinate pickups of naloxone and delivery to local organizations.
Attend community events and meetings such as the Nubian Square Task Force and Mayor’s Coffee Hours to distribute overdose prevention resources like naloxone and connect individuals and community partners to OD2A resources.
Document information about trainings provided and naloxone distributed to support the OD2A evaluation.
Support the pilot of OD2A’s door-to-door overdose prevention canvassing program, helping recruit and train volunteers, prepare overdose prevention materials for distribution, and canvassing alongside volunteers as needed.
Support the braiding of activities between Boston OD2A and BPHC’s opioid settlements-funded projects by supporting naloxone kiosks and public health vending machines at Community Opioid Response (COR) grantee sites.
Support planning and facilitation of RSB’s Community Advisory Board (CAB), operated by Boston OD2A.
Support recruitment for RSB CAB by recruiting clients from the Women’s Only Wednesdays (WOW) programming and Safe and Sound Recovery Center (SSRC).
Register WOW and SSRC clients for the RSB-operated public health vending machine located at SSRC, connect clients with OD2A partner CHC navigators, and provide other support as needed.