Graduate Student Internship Program

This internship has been filled.

New Mexico

Needs Assessment Survey Coordinator
New Mexico Department of Health
Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program, Santa Fe, NM
Skill Area: Needs Assessment

Agency Information

The State of New Mexico Department of Health houses several divisions and bureaus. The Public Health Division houses the Family Health Bureau (FHB). There are several programs that operate within FHB: Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (MCH Epi), Children’s Medical Services, Maternal Health Program, Child Health Program, Family Food and Nutrition Program, and several others. The internship will be with the MCH Epi Program.

MCH Epi coordinates the annual Title V MCH Block Grant and the five-year Needs Assessment. The MCH Epi Program also works to create data linkages between state wide data sets, operates the PRAMS survey, analyzes newborn hearing screening data, and responds to requests for maternal and child health data from other programs and organizations.

Purpose, goals, and objectives of internship

Purpose: to assist in the coordination of a statewide quantitative survey for the 2010 Needs Assessment. The student intern will conduct a variety of tasks which may include any of the following objectives: 1) assist in writing a quantitative survey to identify MCH health needs and capacity in New Mexico, 2) coordinate the dissemination of the survey to New Mexico health staff and stakeholders, 3) collect and organize survey responses 4) conduct a preliminary analysis of results 5) complete a preliminary report of results that will be included in the 2010 Needs Assessment and used to inform policy.

Goals: The work done during the internship will help fulfill the following goals: 1) to contribute to the 2010 MCH Block Grant Needs Assessment, 2) to serve as a source of information for DOH leadership, staff, and state legislators.

Data or analytic tasks and activities

The intern will work with MCH Epi staff to create a survey of health capacity and needs in New Mexico, and to enter, sort, and analyze data as it is returned. MCH Epi staff will assist the intern in identifying stakeholders and community partners in New Mexico to whom the survey should be administered.

Data or analytic skills required

The intern will need basic data analysis skills, and basic skills in program evaluation, both of which will be expanded through the internship experience.
Data skills: 1) Intermediate Knowledge of Microsoft EXCEL, 2) The ability to generate and interpret descriptive statistics.

Analytic skills, the ability to: 1) create a work plan/timeline for completion of duties; 2) contribute to the creation and/or dissemination of a comprehensive needs assessment survey; 3) conduct a preliminary analysis of completed surveys; 4) Identify and communicate with potential stakeholders/community partners that should be included among the survey respondents; 5) Create a well organized report of survey process and/or preliminary results.

Supervisors

Alexis Avery, MPH, PhD is the MCH Epi program manager. Dr. Avery, her staff, and staff from other DOH programs will guide the student in creating and disseminating the survey, in identifying potential respondents, and in conducting a preliminary analysis of the data.

Internship begins

May or June 2009

Housing

Recommendations where appropriate housing is advertised and information about closeness of student’s selected options to the worksite, area attractions and public transportation will be provided.

Transportation

The work site is available via public transportation.

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