Introduction:

This information has been compiled to help Tufts students who are interested in public policy and/or children's issues to find internships which will help them gain experience in these fields as potential careers, as well as to make a difference in the direction of child policy in the United States. There are many public policy organizations, as well as branches of the government, which have implications for children, and this listing is only a small sampling of what is out there if you take the time to look. However, the information provided is most often more in-depth than what can be found on an internet internship database or, in some cases, on the organizations' web pages. Each entry gives a brief statement of the purpose of each organization and then gives details about interns' duties, the qualities organizations are looking for in interns, and what interested students need to do to apply. Virtually all of the contact persons spoken with for each entry on this list emphasized the importance of knowing what the organizations did and what, specifically, interested applicants about the organization, which would convey that a student truly desired and had some experience in the particular area in question (be it child welfare, the managed care system, early childhood education, etc).

This list is, again, only a small sample of what's out there, and in the future it will be added to and updated. Meanwhile, there are of course many other resources to consult when looking for internships in the public policy arena, and particularly in children's issues. A few ideas for those who want more:

A Note About Funding: Unfortunately, it often seems as if the most difficult part of being an intern in a public policy organization is the lack of funding. Most of the organizations listed here do not have funding available to pay interns, although the ones that do are noted. Many interns juggle a part-time job with a part-time internship to pay for necessary living costs if located far from home. Some schools offer grants to students who plan to intern in non-paying organizations, although as of yet, Tufts has no such program. Some organizations might be willing to offer a stipend to a student who is a great match for their program and who can demonstrate financial need, although this is not certain. Interns can expect to need approximately $3,000 to spend a summer interning in another city, and sharing a room or an apartment with another student can cut down on costs. Some cities also have resources for interns looking for housing, especially those cities with a large number interns (such as Washington, D.C.). Programs such as the Everett Internship Program, noted at the end of this listing, are also excellent opportunities to intern and receive a stipend.

Purpose: Works to Leave No Child Behind, giving all children a start in life that will ensure a successful passage to adulthood.

Internships: ~Offers internships in a variety of areas; the child advocacy internship will be most relevant for specific child policy issues. Internships are unpaid, although some financial assistance is available and CDF will compensate for transportation costs. Rolling admissions Interns will give administrative and program support to CDF staff as well as be involved in an advocacy education program to help students learn about child advocacy and CDF's role in the child advocacy movement. The Children's Defense Fund's headquarters is located in Washington, D.C., but it also has regional offices in CA, OH, MN, SC, MS, NY, and TN, which would be good resources for someone looking for more local opportunities.

Purpose: Is a network of child advocacy organizations and works to build the capacity of state and local child advocacy groups.

Internships: *~ Offers paid internships through the Everett Internship Program. NACA offers internships in three categories: policy and advocacy, fund development, and organizational development. Detailed explanations of interns' duties are posted on the website. Internships can be part-time or full-time and could possibly be funded, depending on NACA's funding availability. Ability to use the Internet as a research tool and proficiency with MSWord is preferred. Interested students should send a resume, cover letter, and 3-5 page writing sample to:
Internship Coordinator
NACA
1522 K Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005

Their web page is also a good resource for finding child advocacy organizations in your state. State and local policy groups are often less funded than national organizations located in Washington, D.C. and are often quite happy to have a student intern to help with projects, although these are less likely to offer stipends. Go to Links page and click on "Links to NACA member organizations by State."

Purpose: Develops and promotes policies and programs to promote well-being and safety for children.

Internships: *~ CWLA accepts five interns per semester through the Everett Internship Program, one in each of the following areas: child policy, foster care and adoption, child care, juvenile justice, and housing and homelessness. Undergraduate and graduate interns are accepted during the school year and the summer, and summer internships are especially competitive. Program is 10 weeks and summer interns receive a stipend of $210 per week, although there are no funds for interns during the year. Interested students should go to the CWLA's website and be knowledgeable about what CWLA does and which area the student is particularly interested in. Send a resume with a cover letter and a 3-5 page writing sample; the deadline for summer applicants is March 1st.

Purpose: Promotes the healthy development of infants and toddlers by promoting policy, providing technical assistance, and disseminating information.

Internships: Zero to Three welcomes interns in several areas, depending on the needs of staff. Seniors and graduate students are preferred for some of the internships, although undergraduates can also apply for others. Internships are comprised of 60% content and 40% administrative duties (answering phones, office support, etc). Internships needed will vary and interested students should contact Ann Marie Stockmeyer at Zero to Three to request an application packet. A resume, unofficial transcript, letter of recommendation from a professor, and the application itself will be required

Purpose: Advocates for the rights and well-being of the world's youth, especially vulnerable youth.

Internships: YAPI accepts college seniors and graduate students as interns for every semester and during the summer. Areas in which interns can work include: child labor, the use of child soldiers, sexual exploitation of children, and juvenile offenders. Interns will be involved in one or more of the previous areas, conduct research, attend meetings, write issue papers, prepare briefings, and attend congressional hearings on the corresponding issues. YAPI is looking for interns who can work 15-20 hours a week, and internships are unpaid. Applicants should have strong writing skills and desire to work in an international organization; language skills are a plus. Applications should be submitted by the end of December for Spring semester internships, and by April for summer internships. Interested students should send a resume and writing sample to:
Laura Barnitz
4545 42nd Street NW
Suite 209
Washington, D.C. 20016

Purpose: Seeks to strengthen and empower families and communities for optimal development of children, youth and adult family members.

Internships: Family Support America offers internships, generally in the summer, for undergraduate interns. Interns are involved in data collection, research and writing, and should have an interest in children and families. Deadlines are rolling and interested students should send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Shamala Riley at Family Support America.

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
www.uusc.org
Cambridge, MA - 617.868.660

Purpose: Sponsors programs that promote human rights and social justice worldwide.

Internships: The UUSC welcomes interns interested in children's issues. The four issue areas that the Cambridge office is currently working on and which all have implications for children include: Cuba, TANF funds, sex trafficking in Southeast Asia, and welfare policy. Anyone interested in an internship should contact the office directly.

Amnesty International
Adotei Akwei, Africa Advocacy Director
www.aiusa.org
Washington, D.C. - 202.544.0200

Purpose: Amnesty International seeks to create justice and respect for human rights in the world. Adotei Akwei's Africa Advocacy program within Amnesty International seeks to stop the use of child soldiers in Africa. Child soldiers is only one issue within Amnesty International that deals with children; there are however many others which can be found through the website.

Internships: Several interns may be selected to work on the child soldiers issue. Interns would draft issues briefs, lobby on Capitol Hill, distribute information to groups, and keep up-to-date on current events. Interested individuals should send resumes to Adotei Akwei (by April for summer internships) at:
Amnesty International USA
Suite 500
600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Washington, D.C. 2003

Purpose: An alliance of organizations working to promote public policies that address the needs of vulnerable populations. Particularly works to help people in poverty, so there is an overlap here with children's issues.

Internships: CHN welcomes interested students to send resumes. They do not always need interns, but keep resumes on file and contact students when there is a need.

American Public Human Services Association
www.aphsa.org
Washington, D.C. - 202.682.0100
Betsey Rosenbaum, Director of Children and Family Services

Purpose: Develops, promotes and implements public policies to improve the health and well-being of families, children and adults.

Internships: The web page also has a link that will let you find your state's human services agency, a good resource for finding internships close to home.

Purpose: Researches and analyzes government policy, especially that which affects low-income people.

Internships: * Has internships available in many different policy areas. Those applicable to children include Health Policy, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, and the State Low-Income Initiatives Project.

National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids
www.tobaccofreekids.org
Washington, D.C. - 202.296.5469

Purpose: Fights to stop smoking by American children and prevent children's exposure to secondhand smoke.

Internships: The organization currently has two interns who attend local universities, but would be open to having students from other universities or summer interns. Students can send resumes along with a writing sample to Jennifer Deets at:

National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids
1707 L Street NW
Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20036

Purpose: Works to achieve high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

Internships: Families USA offers paid internships ($6.15 per hour), and will accept at least one intern in the area of children's health. Other areas also have implications for children's health and well-being. Interns would work on issues such as CHIP enrollment and retention and would work on concerns at the federal, state, and community levels. Press conferences and brown bag lunches in which speakers are brought in to discuss various issues in health policy are also part of an intern's experience. By the end of the internship, interns will have a finished, written project. Graduate students are preferred, although particularly qualified and enthusiastic undergraduates will be considered for internships during the school year and in the summer (summer internships would last from June through August, preferably 10 weeks or more). Interns work 40 hours a week and, while housing is not provided, Families USA can assist in finding housing. Students wishing to apply should be knowledgeable about the organization and outline their specific interests and qualifications in a cover letter, as well as sending a resume, three references, and a 3-5 page writing sample showing analytical thought to the Internship Coordinator.

Purpose: Works on behalf of children with special needs and their parents.

Internships: Undergraduates and graduates can apply for internships. Interns at FCSN are responsible for helping with projects, doing general office support work, and assisting in direct service (FCSN is not involved in lobbying). Early intervention and health care are specific issues of concern. FCSN does not typically provide funding, however it is a possibility if particular need can be demonstrated. Applicants need to have computer skills and should send a resume and cover letter to:
Brooke Heraty
1135 Tremont Street
Suite 420
Boston, MA 02120

American Bar Association - Center on Children and the Law
www.abanet.org/child/home.html
Washington, D.C. - 202.662.1720

Purpose: Advances laws and public policies to improve the lives of children.

Internships: Internships with this organization are quite popular. Send a resume and writing sample to Howard Davidson, Director at:
American Bar Association - Center on Children and the Law
740 15th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20005

Purpose: Monitors changes in the juvenile justice system.

Internships: The ABA Juvenile Justice Center accepts interns, and internships are usually unpaid. Interns' duties will include general research and writing, and good writing skills are required. Interns are admitted on a rolling basis and interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter.

Purpose: Improves the economic security of low-income families with children and improve their access to the civil justice system.

Internships: Offers internships only for law students and graduate students in public policy. Contact CLASP directly.

* Denotes an organization which offers internships through the Everett Public Service Internship Program. This program funds internships for several public policy organizations in Washington, D.C. so that students can feasibly sustain living costs while interning. Additionally, the Everett Program organizes educational and social opportunities for all interns in its programs. More information on this program can be found at www.everettinternships.org.

~ Denotes an organization which has internship information on its website. It's always good to look at these before applying!