Harm Reduction InternAt — Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (LACADA)

Overview:

The Harm Reduction Program Intern will support the department’s mission to provide equitable, evidence-based harm reduction services through trauma-informed and nonjudgemental support. The internship will be a multidisciplinary practicum highlighting focuses on program design & implementation, monitoring & evaluation, and quality assurance & quality improvement. This position provides a hands-on learning opportunity in public health, social services, and community-centered support systems, while working towards ultimate goals of better health outcomes for the community.

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Qualifications:

· Enrolled in or recently graduated from a program in Public Health, Social Work, or a related field.

· Strong interest in harm reduction, public health, or social services.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with data analysis tools is a plus.

· Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Tasks:

General Responsibilities:

· Collaborate with department staff to identify and address key challenges in harm reduction service delivery.

· Participate in staff meetings, training sessions, and stakeholder discussions.

· Conduct literature reviews and research to inform decision-making as it relates to the intern’s chosen track.

· Maintain a commitment to client-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approaches.

· Any other duties as necessary and/or as needed including direct service work.

Program Design and Implementation:

· Assist in drafting program proposals, plans, and timelines. The intern will utilize public health tools and knowledge to maintain program organization and ensure fidelity to proposals and compliance.

· Support stakeholder engagement efforts, including coordinating focus groups, needs assessments, surveys, and community advisory boards.

· Contribute to the creation of training materials and coordinate any trainings, both internal and external.

· Pilot, refine, and support program tools, interventions, and implemented services under supervision of the Harm Reduction Program Manager.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

· Design or refine data collection tools (e.g., surveys, interviews, or observation checklists).

· Analyze data to identify trends, gaps, and successes. Ensure data collection procedures are capturing appropriate metrics for reporting purposes.

· Prepare visualizations, dashboards, or reports to communicate findings. Support department efforts to disseminate information to appropriate stakeholders and community members.

· Research and recommend evidence-based metrics for harm reduction services. Identify areas in current data collection for improvement and implementation of evidence-based metrics in current procedures.

Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement:

· Conduct regular audits of program processes and outcomes. Ensure data collection and entry is correct and make revisions as needed.

· Develop and refine checklists, protocols, and standard operating procedures for data collection and review.

· Collaborate on identifying and addressing areas for improvement in service delivery. Prepare proposals as needed to outline gaps in service delivery and solutions to meet those needs.

· Support the creation and implementation of feedback mechanisms such as point in time surveys and focus groups.

Training:

General employer orientation, harm reduction overview, trauma-informed care, job shadowing of program implementation, job shadowing of outreach and engagement, support in policy and procedure creation, one-on-one mentor meetings scheduled weekly.

Learning Outcome:

· Gain in-depth knowledge of harm reduction principles and practices.

· Develop specialized skills in program design, evaluation, and quality improvement.

· Strengthen ability to translate research into actionable insights.

· Build a portfolio of tangible deliverables to showcase professional competencies.

Note:

The building is located on the border of Little Tokyo and Skid Row in downtown LA. Interns will never be working after hours. Parking is in a gated lot in Skid Row. Workers/interns are never allowed to walk in the area alone and are always in groups of at least 2, if not 3 or more. Interns will never be working unsupervised and any direct services provided will occur under the supervision of trained workers who are knowledgeable about de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and security protocols.

L.A. CADA is a substance use treatment organization. As the harm reduction department is a part of the full continuum of care, some individuals we work with are under the influence. While there has yet to be any incident onsite, we understand the territory in which we work does come with some potential hazard.

Staff are trained in de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and security protocols. Interns will receive the same training, but they will also never be left unsupervised and under no circumstances will provide direct services alone. Safety drills are routinely run to maintain staff knowledge and ensure compliance with safety policy and procedure.