DHHS wins eight of 75 summer intern slots

The J.Iverson Riddle Developmental Center in Morganton and John Umstead Hospital in Butner are beneficiaries of six state government intern positions that will employ college students for 10 weeks this summer to help both facilities with research. The divisions of Public Health and Child Development will also receive one intern each.

DHHS submitted 11 intern projects for the summer 2005 program and received approval for eight to work under the State Government Internship Program, administered by the N.C. Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office of the Department of Administration.

Each year the department’s coordinator in Central Human Resources solicits involvement for the program from division and institution management who share information with programmatic staff.

“The Internship Program is truly a wonderful program,” said John Grimes, department coordinator. “It provides DHHS an opportunity to attract students, before they graduate, who may be interested in working in some of our hard-to-fill positions, especially in allied health. Central HR consults with field recruitment coordinators regularly about job/career fairs. This is just another avenue we are taking for a mutual goal–finding the most qualified applicants!”

Project proposals are submitted to Grimes and prioritized. These are then submitted to the Internship Program and examined by the N.C. Internship Council. There are a limited number of slots available, and other state departments/agencies are submitting competing proposals as well.

Applicants must be North Carolina residents attending a university, college, law school, community college, or technical institute in or out of North Carolina. They must be enrolled for the semester after the internship, have completed their first year of college, and have a cumulative GPA (grade point average) of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants who have previously served a paid internship with the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office or with the Legislative Program are not eligible.

The interns work for 10 weeks at 40 hours per week and are paid $8.25 per hour, up from $6.75 in 2004. The work cycle starts May 31 and runs through Aug. 5. An annual internship reception at the Governor's Mansion offers interns the opportunity to network with intern supervisors, department coordinators and other key players in state government, while receiving recognition and commendations for their contribution to state government agencies.

For more information, contact Grimes at John.Grimes@ncmail.net, or at 919-733-2940.

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