Student Intern/VolunteerAt — Los Angeles County Department Of Public Health

The Communications Student Volunteer will support the Strategic and Network Development (SND) Division in advancing public awareness, patient access, stakeholder communication, and community engagement efforts related to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services. The student will gain hands-on experience in public sector communications, health equity messaging, outreach coordination, and strategic communications within a healthcare and behavioral health environment.

The position is designed to provide practical experience aligned with undergraduate communications coursework while contributing to initiatives that support equitable healthcare access and integrated behavioral health systems.

Tasks:

Assist in drafting and editing informational materials, newsletters, presentations, flyers, and outreach content related to SUD services and community resources.
Support public awareness and health promotion campaigns designed to improve understanding of SUD treatment services and access pathways.
Help review communication materials to ensure clarity, accessibility, and culturally responsive language.
Assist with compiling community resource information and maintaining outreach contact lists.
Support stakeholder engagement activities, meetings, or collaborative events with community partners and managed care organizations.
Assist with organizing communication files, meeting notes, and project tracking documents.
Support preparation of reports, summaries, and presentation materials for internal planning meetings or community discussions.
Observe and learn about strategic planning processes, policy initiatives, and integrated care development efforts within the Division.
Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and educational discussions relevant to communications, behavioral health systems, and public service operations.
Receive mentorship and feedback from supervisors regarding professional communication practices and workplace expectations.

Training:

Student will participate in:
DPH New Employee Orientation (Optional)
SAPC New Employee Orientation (Mandatory)
SND New Employee Orientation (Mandatory)
Weekly one-on-one meetings with Supervisor/Mentor
Shadowing other division staff on projects

Learning Outcome:

1) Apply communication theories and strategies in a public health and behavioral health setting.
2) Develop professional written communication materials tailored to diverse audiences, including community members, providers, and stakeholders.
3) Gain experience in strategic communications planning, including messaging, campaign support, and stakeholder engagement.
4) Strengthen organizational, research, and administrative communication skills in a professional workplace setting.
5) Demonstrate professionalism, confidentiality awareness, and ethical communication practices when working within public health systems.
6) Build practical career readiness skills including meeting participation, project coordination, documentation, and professional correspondence.