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Mental Health and HIV Integration Intern

SUSTAINING TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC RESOURCES
 
INTERN TITLE: Mental Health and HIV Integration Intern
HOST ORGANIZATION: Behavioral and Structural Interventions Branch, Prevention Care and Treatment Division, Office of HIV/AIDS, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
LOCATION: Washington, DC
POSITION LEVEL: Masters level
INT-P2-065
                                                                                                     
SALARY: $1,832 biweekly (exempt, salaried position)
ANTICIPATED TIMEFRAME: 6 Months (full-time)
 
STAR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Sustaining Technical and Analytic Resources (STAR) is a project of the Public Health Institute (PHI) supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health (GH) Bureau. Its purpose is twofold: (1) Through individual fellowships, STAR will help strengthen the capacity of diverse American and low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) health professionals at all levels to make innovative contributions to global health (GH); and (2) STAR will create ground-breaking opportunities for both US and LMIC GH academic institutions and other groups, including professional associations, to create systems for open-access knowledge sharing, resulting in effective partnerships. STAR’s individual and institutional participants are contributing to the development of self-sustaining systems and tools that will produce global citizens with the full spectrum of relevant health competencies. STAR is managed by the Public Health Institute and implemented in partnership with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH).
 
INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION
Background:
USAID remains at the forefront of the US Government response in providing health assistance to over 100 countries worldwide. The Agency is a key partner in the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease. The Prevention, Care and Treatment Division (GH/OHA/PCT) provides medical, technical and programmatic expertise to support PEPFAR priorities and improve health outcomes. The Division delivers clinical and program expertise for quality HIV programming, designs and manages HIV service delivery activities, analyzes key programmatic data for effective service implementation, advances the medical and scientific knowledge base, and creates and sustains strategic partnerships.
 
Introduction:
Currently, there is growing evidence of the link between mental health disorders and HIV; it is a risk factor for HIV infection, a factor affecting the likelihood and timing of testing, and a common comorbidity impacting treatment initiation and retention. Recent PEPFAR guidance has drawn attention to the need for addressing mental health disorders for sustained epidemic control. USAID is eager to advance high-quality approaches for integrating psychosocial interventions into existing HIV service packages at the community and facility level. The Mental Health and HIV Integration Intern (Intern) will be placed in the Behavioral and Structural Interventions Branch, Prevention, Care, and Treatment Division, Office of HIV/AIDS within the Bureau for Global Health. The branch applies technical expertise and social science research findings to support the design and implementation of strategies to reduce risk and vulnerability and to maximize uptake of, retention in and adherence to key HIV interventions. The Intern will support USAID’s further development and implementation of mental health approaches and HIV services, primarily in providing research assistance. The Intern may also carry out other Global Health Bureau-wide duties and collaborative research with other analysts in the Bureau.
 
Reporting structure:
The Intern will work closely with the Behavioral and Structural Interventions Branch and receive technical guidance from the Prevention Care and Treatment Division Chief, who will serve as his/her onsite manager.
 
OUTCOMES
 By the end of the internship, the Intern will have gained experience and exposure to:
  • PEPFAR-supported interagency projects and processes focused on mental health & HIV services and critical support issues along the cascade of HIV prevention, testing, treatment initiation and retention/adherence.
  • Understanding USAID programming and planning, including the relationship between USAID/Washington, Missions, implementing partners and other multilateral partners
 
Essential Duties:
  • Analyze and present mental health and HIV related data for USAID and PEPFAR programming to inform technical decision-making and planning.
  • Perform and prepare literature reviews to compile and communicate best practices and fill key knowledge gaps for USAID and PEPFAR programming and policy.
  • Compile and adapt tools (for instance related to mentoring for risk reduction and prevention, HTS, treatment and adherence support in the context of COVID, etc.) for use in the field.
  • Support program planning and translate knowledge for programs to implement mental health and HIV best practices.
  • Participate in dialogues with multilateral partners involved in mental health/psychosocial support and counseling work.
  • Support team to provide technical support to Missions, virtually or in-person, with countries to be assigned based on experience and interest.
  • Support USAID Office of HIV/AIDS priority activities as requested including assisting in convening implementing partner meetings, engagement in interagency technical work, support of online platform development and technical assistance as needed.
  • Attend program-related events within and outside USAID as requested.
 
Anticipated learning outcomes:
All STAR Interns will participate in learning activities (*required 10% time) during their internship. By the end of the internship, the Intern will be able to:
  • Identify and describe the core attributes of the STAR global health competencies; defined as development practice, cross cultural awareness, communication, capacity strengthening, ethics of public health, health equity, gender equality and global burden of disease.
  • Gain exposure to HIV prevention care and treatment and mental health through global health programming.
  • Apply effective communication skills across a broad network of peers and advisors within global health to support learning and professional development.
  • Develop a global health focused career plan with a mentor.
 
INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Required:
  • Currently enrolled masters or other post-bachelor’s degree candidates or completion of such within the past 12 months.
  • Academic or professional experience with HIV and mental health or global health programs.
  • Ability to analyze data from different sources/databases using multiple data analytic platforms (such as Excel, SPSS, SQL, etc.).
  • Experience with data visualization and an ability to present data visuals (knowledge of Tableau preferred).
  • Strong interpersonal, facilitation and team-building skills and ability to work cross-culturally with diverse teams.
  • Demonstrated innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Excellent analytical, written, and oral communication skills.
  • This position may require travel. Ability to participate in a field experience, which may involve domestic and/or international travel and overnight stays for up to 2 weeks.
  • US citizenship or US permanent residency required.
 
 
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including learning programs.
 
TO APPLY
All applicants are required to apply for this position through STAR’s online recruitment system at recruitment.ghstar.org, which allows you to create a profile and upload a CV/resume and cover letter. All online applications must be submitted by August 24, 2020 by 5:00 PM (EST).
 
 
Public Health Institute is proud to be an EEO/AA employer.