Public Health
Riverkeeper
Organization website: https://www.riverkeeper.org/
Non-profit, 30+ team members
Address: 20 Secor Road Ossining, New York 10562 (remote work is possible)
Issue Areas: Environmental Justice and Food Security, Public Health, Environmental science and advocacy
About: Riverkeeper protects and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies, through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science and law.
Position description: Our organization has availability to accept students to work either on our Science Team or our Advocacy, Policy and Planning Team.
- On the Science Team, you may be: conducting water quality field work, analyzing water quality data, designing science communications, or developing your own research project.
- On the Advocacy, Policy and Planning Team, you may be: developing policy solutions, engaging communities, or evaluating legislation.
Skills: Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Copywriting, Fact-checking, GIS/Mapping, Research skills, Writing, Data collection/analysis
Hours: 4hrs/week
Are you interested in getting involved with Riverkeeper? Visit here for your next steps.
Dutchess County Department of Mental Health Services
https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/Mental-Health-Services.htm
Government department
Address: 230 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Action Areas: Mental Health Access and Support, Public Health
About: Mental health services include services and programs for individuals living with mental health and/or substance use issues. Some services are offered directly by the County, and others are offered by our contract agencies.
Position description: Student CEL Projects could include
1) Supporting Meloxicam Programs – calling and connecting with organizations to distribute Meloxicam, resources, and trainings
2) Resources Support with the Leave Behind Project. Creating care packages and resources for first responders share
3) Street Team Street Outreach
4) Student Identified Projects – the Department is open to projects that are within the areas of the student(s) interest
Desired Skills: Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Research
Hours: 4hrs/week
Positions Available: 1-4
Are you interested in getting involved? Visit here for your next steps.
Dutchess Outreach, Inc.
https://dutchessoutreach.org/who-we-are/about-dutchess-outreach/
Address: 29 N. Hamilton Street (multiple areas in the building)
Action Areas: Environmental Justice and Food Security, Food Security Advocacy
About: Dutchess Outreach acts as a catalyst for community revitalization and exists in Dutchess County as an advocate and provider of hunger and relief programs in order to ensure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to fresh, healthy food, and the support they need.
Position Description:
Students can self select to be involved in one or a combination of the following projects:
- Project #1: Students will assist in the creation of a dynamic web interface map connected to an existing database created by Dutchess Outreach of socially disadvantaged farms in New York State. The database currently exists as an AirTable. The goal of this project is to ensure that the database of socially disadvantaged farmers is publicly accessible and can be easily updated and maintained.
- Project #2: Students will conduct research to gather and map data on the locations of farms, aggregation and processing centers, and distribution centers throughout New York State.
- Project #3: Students will help conduct and map results from community food assessments in Dutchess County in order to identify where the greatest need is.
Desired Skills: GIS mapping, research, data collection/analysis, data visualization, Bilingual Spanish-English, Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach. Students should be comfortable with community engagement, empathetic, compassionate and self motivated
Additional Requirements: Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (Free)
Hours: 4hrs/week
Are you interested in getting involved with Dutchess Outreach? Visit here for your next steps.
The American Lung Association
Non-profit, 30+, Nationwide over 300 team members
Poughkeepsie Public Schools
Action Areas: Education Policy and Equity, Public Health, Research
About: The American Lung Association’s mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. We do this through education, advocacy, and research.
Position Description: We are seeking a student volunteer to assist the Health Promotions staff of the American Lung Association in executing various activities for our New York State Asthma Management in Schools (AMS) grant. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in the field of public health. As student volunteers, they will be responsible for implementing asthma self-management education programs for children and families in the Poughkeepsie Community. Their role will involve strengthening the partnership between the school district and the American Lung Association and improving health outcomes for the students who participate in this program.
Additionally, they will gain valuable community and population health skills, allowing them to understand the larger framework of guideline-based asthma management that can improve health outcomes in the community we serve.
Skills: Bilingual Spanish-English, Bilingual with another language, Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Previous experience working with young people, Previous experience in this field
Additional Requirements: Background check, Fingerprinting,
Are you interested in getting involved with the American Lung Association? Visit here for your next steps.
Vassar Brothers Medical Center
https://www.nuvancehealth.org/locations/vassar-brothers-medical-center
Non-profit, 30+ team members
Address: 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Issue Areas: Public Health
About: We are a 350-bed hospital and provide services and care to the Mid-Hudson Valley community in New York. Our volunteers play a vital role in enriching the services and care we provide to our patients. They are able to sit with patients and offer them a warm and comforting presence and friendly conversation, or do activities like coloring, playing cards and reading to them. This quality time helps to reduce anxiety in patients who are fearful and nervous. It also helps to reduce patient falls.
Position Description:
Rounding on patients, facilitating communication between patients and care team.
- Be proactive and round on patients and check in with them to see if they have any immediate needs that you can assist with. If they need something beyond your responsibilities, inform the unit secretary or Patient Care Technician (PCT) or nurse.
- Ensure each patient has their call bell within reach and that they understand how to use it. The call bell also has the TV remote built into it.
- Respond to call bell lights and if you are the first person in the room, promptly inform PCT of patient need.
- Visit with patients and offer friendly conversation. This helps to calm patients who struggle with being isolated. Remember to avoid topics like politics and religion.
- Offer extra pillows and blankets to patients.
- Offer to assist patients with ordering their meal from their menu.
- Offer to refill their water pitcher.
- Relocate meal trays from the tray table to the side desk.
- Offer to tidy up the patient’s room for them.
- Play a game of cards with the patient.
Desired Skills: Bilingual Spanish-English, Bilingual with another language, Previous experience in this field
Hours: 4hrs/week
Are you interested in getting involved with Vassar Brothers Medical Center? Visit here for your next steps.
Dutchess County Department of Health
https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/Public-Health-Innovation-Lab.htm
Non-profit, government agency, 30+ Team Members
Address: 85 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 106, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
About: The mission of the Health Department is to employ and deploy a diverse group of capable, experienced, and motivated professionals to educate and engage the public, with an aim to protect and promote the health of all Dutchess County residents, families, and communities.
Our Public Health Innovation Lab (PHIL) is an intern program available to local graduate and undergraduate students looking for work related experience in their chosen field of study. This interactive program enables students to explore the various aspects of public health while developing innovative programming and services to help the community. We offer two intern program opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Our PHIL program is for undergraduate students, of any major, who are interested in exploring public health. Our PHIL+ program is for graduate and select undergraduate students pursuing clinical/public health degrees and need work experience opportunities with one-on-one clinical contact for their clinical health degree program.
Position description:The PHIL & PHIL+ training programs provide students with opportunities to learn about public health, grow personally and professionally, and give back to their current community needs. Each student selected for this program will be placed into a given track within a division of the Dutchess County Department of Health and assigned a staff on-site supervisor/mentor for the course of their program participation. The PHIL program aims to foster innovative programming and service delivery for health related issues within the community. As part of the PHIL training, students will develop and implement individual projects that align with its mission. When considering potential project ideas, students should think about current community health challenges and how to address them in a novel way. Projects should not only aim to solve a specific problem, but also introduce new methodologies or approaches.
Desired Skills:Bilingual Spanish-English, Bilingual with another language, Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Graphic design, Previous experience working with young people, Previous experience in this field, Public speaking/presenting, Research skills, Social media management, Web design, Writing, Video editing/production, Data collection/analysis
Hours:4hrs/week, 8hrs/week
Positions Available:3
Are you interested in getting involved with The Health Department? Visit here for your next steps.
Lutheran Care Center
https://www.lutherancarecenter.org/
965 Dutchess Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Issue Area: Public Health, Senior Citizen support
About: The Lutheran Care Network is a ministry of healing, hospitality, and community. Lutheran Care Center (LCC) at Concord Village is a licensed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center in the heart of the Hudson Valley. Since 1998, LCC has been a Life Enhancing Community, providing residents with the medical, social, and spiritual care they need to live well and maintain their personal dignity through purposeful living. Although grounded in Lutheran tradition, we serve adults of all ages and faiths, offering highly skilled and compassionate care for both short-term and extended stays.
Position Description: Assist with recreational activities, utilize VR, provide assistance to residents. Students are invited to share a hobby or a skill with residents. Create artwork, play card games, read together, write poetry, play music!
Desired Skills: Bilingual Spanish-English
Hours: 4hrs/week
Are you interested in getting involved with Lutheran Care Center? Visit here for your next steps.
Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital
Address: 241 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Issue Areas: Public Health
About: We are a hospital in the Mid-Hudson Region. We have volunteers volunteering throughout the hospital.
Position Description: Volunteers assist where ever they are needed.
Additional Requirements: students will have a physical (with our employee nurse) they will need 2 references and on line orientation
Hours: 4hrs/week, if they can do more that is great. They are also able to volunteer over weekends if they wanted too
Are you interested in getting involved with Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital? Visit here for your next steps.
Family Services
https://familyservicesny.org/
Volunteer-run, 30+ team members
Address: 29 North Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Action Areas: Mental Health Access and Support, gun violence prevention, crime and violence victim services and support, family supports
About: Founded in 1879, Family Services brings people together to find the support they need, improving their lives and communities, and building a stronger, safer Hudson Valley. Our program areas include Behavioral Health, Victim Services, Family Programs, Youth Services, Community Safety, and Prevention. Last year, nearly 17,000 children, adults, and families benefited from Family Services programs in Dutchess, Ulster, and Orange counties.
Family Services also manages the Family Partnership Center as a location where the community can come together for conversation and the exchange of ideas, participate in athletics and arts programming, and where a variety of nonprofits and related organizations can co-locate and collaborate to offer enhanced services that create real access. Last year over 70,000 people took advantage of services or activities on this 100,000+ square foot campus.
Position description: Family Partnership Center (FPC) Ambassadors are unpaid volunteers who create a welcoming environment for FPC visitors and assist with connecting people to services. The FPC is available to the community as a place to come together for conversation and the exchange of ideas, to participate in athletics and arts programming, and where a variety of nonprofits co-locate and collaborate to offer enhanced services that create real access. It is estimated that the Center serves between 45,000 and 70,000 individuals a year with more than 110,000 service interactions.
We also have an opportunity to assist with our Communications and Marketing department.
Desired Skills:Bilingual Spanish-English, Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Previous experience working with young people, Social media management, Writing
Hours: 4hrs/week
Are you interested in getting involved with Family Services? Visit here for your next steps.
Vassar Haiti Project
https://www.thehaitiproject.org/
About: Founded in 2001, the Haiti Project (THP) is a nonprofit organization with a three-fold purpose:
1. To foster sustainable development in Haiti;
2. To promote Haitian art, and to raise the nation’s narrative through art;
3. To engage and educate students in the theory and practice of global citizenship.
Our work is guided by our partners in Haiti and together we collaborate on initiatives in the mountain village of Chermaitre: Education, Women’s Co-operative, Environment, Art, and Health.
Action Areas: Public Health; Expression, Arts, and Culture
Description:. Our clinic serves 3000 patients from over 45 communities for free-or-reduced cost annually by Dr. Norvilus, a local Haitian physician, and his team. We are in the final phase of a solar diagnostic lab to further improve Dr. Norvilus’s ability to care for patients. Art & Soul Pis an annual fundraiser held by The Haiti Project (THP) to fully fund the operations of a community-based clinic serving rural villages in Northwestern HaitiStudents will have the opportunity to engage with all pieces of the nonprofit’s health-focused mission in helping to prepare for this event, including engagement with our Medical Advisory Board of local Hudson Valley physicians! Previous honorees at our event include: Dr. Paul Farmer, author Edwidge Danticat, Dr Carole Berotte Joseph, and Grammy Award Winner Jerry Wonda.
Responsibilities:
- Support an annual fundraiser for the clinic by partnering with local doctors in Poughkeepsie and health partners in Haiti by engaging in activities that may include the following:
- Edit and draft publicity materials to advertise the event in collaboration with THP directors
- Design and update THP website in regards to the event
- Assist Medical Advisory Board members, THP directors, and honorees to develop the event program
- Attend meetings with local Hudson Valley physicians to coordinate logistics and network
- Attend the set-up and event at the Alumnae House
View all Vassar Haiti Project CEL Opportunities here
Desired Skills: Interest in learning about non-profit operations, particularly in regards to advocating for global health
Hours: 4 hrs/wk, 8 hrs/wk
Are you interested in getting involved with the VHP? Visit here for your next steps.
Poughkeepsie Farm Project
50 Vassar Farm Lane, Poughkeepsie, NY
Non profit, 15-20 team members
Issue Areas: Environmental Justice and Food Security
About: Our mission is to cultivate local leadership in sustainable farming, food access and education, and foster an inclusive, welcoming community for everyone.Our vision is a community that works collaboratively to provide equitable access to nutritious food via a just and resilient food system.
Position Description: Farm interns support our farm crew in producing over 100,000lbs of fresh, organically grown vegetables to over 400 CSA shareholders, Poughkeepsie residents, and Hudson Valley restaurants and food retailers year-round. Interns lend a valuable hand towards daily harvests, washing, packing, and tending to all the land, facilities, and relationships that collectively shape our organization’s contribution to our local food system.
Skills: Bilingual Spanish-English, Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Gardening/farming experience
Hours: 4hrs/week, 8hrs/week
Are you interested in getting involved with the PFP? Visit here for your next steps.