Public Health
Riverkeeper
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 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:
Position Description:
Students can self select to be involved in one or a combination of the following projects:
- Lunch Box – The Lunch Box, our community meal program, provides a hot lunch and dinner for anyone within Dutchess County who needs a delicious chef-prepared meal. The Lunch Box is open for in-person dining and to-go options are still available. LUNCH: 11:15 am- 1:00 pm, Monday-Friday, 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm, Sunday; DINNER: 5:00 pm-6:00 pm, Monday-Friday
- Food As Medicine – Dutchess Outreach partnered with Nuvance/Northwell Health to provide our Food As Medicine program. Approximately fifty (50) patients, with a chronic illness such as hypertension, were identified by Nuvance. The patients were also identified as food insecure. Every Wednesday, patients travel to Dutchess Outreach, where they meet with a Nuvance/Northwell Nutritionist and Dietician. Patients are screened and interviewed to track their weekly progress. Food is provided with recipes to assist them with controlling their illness. Student responsibilities: Including, but not limited to assisting the Nuvance/Northwell Nutritionist and Dietician with screening and/or interviewing patients; assisting patients with shopping and selecting their food; stocking the Food As Medicine shelves with food, organizing, creating and/or providing recipe cards to each patient.
- Food Pantry – Our Food Pantry provides FREE groceries for the entire household. Last year alone over 134,000 pounds of food were provided, and we saw over 12,000 household visits. We also provide personal hygiene items; toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, shavers, and other necessities. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm. The Pantry is closed on Wednesdays!
Desired Skills: 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 School District and Astor Head Start
Action Areas: Education Policy and Equity, Public Health
About:The mission of the ALA is accomplished by investing in research, providing tools and resources to educate the public about lung disease, and advocating to protect lung health by fighting for healthy lungs and healthy air. The Asthma Management in School Program is a comprehensive framework to provide educational resources and technical assistance to schools outside of NYC and School-Based Health Centers state-wide. This is a joint initiative of the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) Asthma Control Program and the American Lung Association.
Position description: Student volunteers will work alongside the American Lung Association’s Health Promotions Team members to implement various New York State Children’s Asthma Initiative activities, explicitly focusing on the Asthma Management in Schools (AMS) program. This role will provide the student volunteers with valuable experience in public health.
The student volunteer will assist in delivering asthma self-management education programs for children and families in the Poughkeepsie community. Their responsibilities will include strengthening partnerships between schools, early childhood programs, and the community, ultimately aiming to improve health outcomes for students with asthma and their caregivers participating in our programs.
Additionally, the student volunteer will acquire essential community and population health skills. This experience will deepen their understanding of guideline-based asthma management and its impact on improving health outcomes within our community.
Desired Skills: Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Previous experience working with young people, Public speaking/presenting, Research skills
Hours: 4hrs/week
Positions Available: 2
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
Action Areas: Public Health
About: Our medical staff has expertise in cardiac services, cancer care, and women and children’s health services. As a renowned regional medical center, we house the area’s first cardiothoracic surgery program between Westchester and Albany and the only Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the region for premature and critically ill infants. Additionally, we are certified as a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center from the Joint Commission, providing quality stroke care.
Position description: Rounding on patients, facilitating communication between patients and care team.
Desired Skills: Bilingual Spanish-English, Bilingual with another language, The ability to listen to our patients and meet them where they are.
Additional Requirements: Background check, Drug test
Hours:4hrs/week
Positions Available: As many as are interested
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. We welcome students who are interested in non-governmental and nonprofit organizations, Haitian history, art and culture, environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment, or students who simply want to make a change in the world.
THP encourages interns to take initiative in their work and are welcome to propose other projects or ways to engage with the organization and its partners. All interns will be supervised and will work closely with directors of the Haiti Project. Overall, ideal candidates should be organized, motivated, curious, and unafraid to step up, step in, engage with others, ask questions and remain patient/flexible.
Action Areas: Public Health; Expression, Arts, and Culture
CEL Positions:
1. Fundraising And Programmatic Support For Healthcare Initiative – Art & Soul
2. Environmental Sustainability
3. Community Outreach – Focus on Art and Culture
4. Website Development and Social Media
5. Idea that you may want to pursue
View Haiti Project CEL Position descriptions here
Hours: 4 hrs/wk, 8 hrs/wk
Are you interested in getting involved with the VHP? Visit here for your next steps.