Graduate Internship - Start Early (Illinois)

Who: Start Early (Illinois Policy Team)

What: Start Early (formerly the Ounce of Prevention Fund) offers the opportunity to work in an innovative, fast-paced, and challenging environment as a paid graduate intern. Interns at Start Early are considered to be valued members of our team, and are provided with support, training, and a unique opportunity to contribute substantially to our work.

The internship requires two components: both a paid full-time experience for 8-10 weeks during the summer prior to the academic year being applied for and two full days per week during the academic year. Other internship schedules will be considered if a different structure is required by an academic institution (e.g. block placement, three days per week, etc.). Two positions are available for 2021-2022.

Responsibilities: 

• Analyze federal, state, and local policies that impact young children and their families

• Assist in developing fact sheets and policy briefs

• Attend internal and external meetings with governmental and community partners

• Perform background research and data analyses

• Support planning for and participate in annual Early Childhood Advocacy Day

• Serve in a primary support role to staff in their assigned work areas, including providing staffing support for various committees and developing strategies to advance Start Early’s policy agenda in key content areas

• Develop an independent project by selecting an issue, conducting research, making a presentation and/or writing a paper, and developing policy recommendations in an area of interest or related to graduate work

• Participate in cross-departmental meetings and initiatives

• Support for identifying and preparing for career opportunities after the internship 

Qualifications:

• Incoming second year graduate student in a relevant field (Social Work, Public Policy, Public Health, Early Childhood Education, Law - Child and Family/Education, etc.)

• Ability to work independently and take initiative

• Strong critical thinking and writing skills

• Capacity to participate in reflective supervision

• Resourcefulness and confidence to ask clarifying questions as needed

• Interest in early childhood system building, administrative policy,

  legislative policy, or outreach and engagement

• Interest in and appreciation for the relationship between

  research, practice, and policy 

Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter detailing their interest in the internship, and brief writing sample (approximately 2-5 pages) to Carie Bires at cbires@startearly.org. The deadline to apply is March 12, 2021. Feel free to direct any questions about the internship to Carie Bires at the above email address.