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DPH Paid Internship Program, Fall 2026-Spring 2027

Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) 
Project Name: Advancing the Public Health Prevention Workforce: Creating a Clear Pathway into Substance Use Prevention 

Intern Title: Special Projects Intern 

Eligible Academic Level: Associate’s, Bachelor’s 

Preferred Field(s) of Study: Public health, health sciences, social work, psychology, education, communications, public policy, or a related field. Coursework or experience related to prevention, behavioral health, health equity, or community systems is a plus. 
Note: This internship is especially well-suited for candidates interested in: Public health workforce development; Prevention systems and well-being approaches; Digital health communication and career pathway design; Translating public health knowledge into accessible tools for students and early-career professionals 

  • Semester: Fall & Spring 
  • Total Hours: 288 
  • Hours Per Week: Part Time (approx. 12 hours)  
  • Work Arrangement: Hybrid  
  • On Site Location: 250 Washington Street, Boston MA     

 
Position Overview:  

This internship offers applicants the opportunity to develop an online/digital career pathway platform to strengthen the substance use prevention workforce. 
 
The Prevention Unit of the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services envisions a Commonwealth in which all communities foster and promote every person’s full potential for health and well-being. Our mission is to provide leadership and build broad partnerships to promote well-being and prevent substance use. Central to this work is a commitment to primary prevention—acting early to address the conditions and risk factors that contribute to poor health outcomes later in life. We advance this goal by promoting health and well-being, strengthening protective factors, and creating the conditions in which young people and their families and caregivers can thrive. Our work is grounded in a public health approach that addresses the root causes of substance use, with particular attention to youth and community-level drivers of health. 
 
Our project, Advancing the Public Health Prevention Workforce: Creating a Clear Pathway into Substance Use Prevention, is part of a broader, intentional effort to build and strengthen the prevention workforce by attracting the next generation of substance use prevention professionals and supporting the career development of the current workforce. As this initiative is in its early stages, the internship will focus on strengthening our web and digital presence on the Commonwealth’s "Careers of Substance" website. This site is designed as a central resource for individuals providing substance use and addiction-related services in Massachusetts and our presence on it will serve as a foundation for clearly mapping career pathways for both aspiring and current prevention professionals. The intern will support the development of key content areas, specifically as it relates to laying out a clear career path in the field of public health and prevention. The intern will help manage all aspects of this work, with guidance and support from their supervisor and the BSAS Prevention Unit. Additional opportunities may include aligning this work with other state web/digital resources, such as the BSAS landing page and TRAIN Massachusetts, the statewide catalog of public health training opportunities within the TRAIN Learning Network. 

 

Responsibilities: 

Through this project, the intern will gain meaningful, real-world exposure to the field of public health with a specific focus on substance use prevention and workforce development. The intern will work within the Prevention Unit of the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), gaining firsthand insight into how public health agencies operate within state government to advance prevention, well-being, and health equity goals. By helping to design and build a web-based career pathway resource, the intern will develop a systems-level understanding of how prevention fits across the broader public health and behavioral health continuum, including the roles of education, training, certification, well-being/holistic support, and career advancement in building a strong workforce. 
 
The intern will engage with prevention professionals, state partners, and cross-sector stakeholders, offering exposure to how public health priorities are translated into practice, policy, and accessible public resources. Through participation in meetings, project planning, content development, and coordination with communications, workforce development, and training partners, the intern will experience how public health initiatives move from vision to implementation within complex systems. This experience will also provide insight into public health workforce development strategies, digital/web-based communication, and how state agencies design tools to support career navigation and professional development for the next generation of prevention leaders. 

 

Skills & Qualifications: 

  • A strong interest in public health, substance use prevention, health promotion, workforce development, or health equity; motivation to support primary prevention and community well-being; and interest in helping others navigate career pathways in public service or health fields. 
  • Ability to gather, synthesize, and organize information from multiple sources; Strong writing skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, accessible content for public audiences; and Attention to detail and comfort with editing and refining web content. 
  • Comfort navigating websites and online platforms; and ability to think from a user-centered perspective when organizing information for a website or online tool 
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks or content areas; Ability to work independently while staying aligned with supervisor guidance and feedback; and Reliability, follow-through, and comfort working on longer-term projects. 
  • Clear, professional communication skills (written and verbal); Comfort collaborating with supervisors and team members; and Willingness to ask questions, seek feedback, and incorporate revisions. 
  • Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and community-centered approaches; and Lived experience, community ties, or personal motivation related to prevention or public health pathways is valued (but not required)