NCDHHS, in partnership with the Division of Public Health, established an HBCUs/MSIs and Change Champion Internship program to support the goal of building a strong and inclusive workforce. The internship program helps workforce development and creates equitable access for students to learn about public health and human service careers.   

The HBCUs/MSIs and Change Champion Internship program provides an opportunity for undergraduate, graduate, and professional level students to gain experience that enhances skill development including, but not limited to, data collection and analysis, research, program administration, and community engagement. Internship opportunities are offered during the fall, spring and summer school semesters based on available funding. The positions offer flexible employment appointments with on-site, remote or hybrid options.  Five cohorts have been held since the program began in 2022, hosting a total of 161 students.  See a graph of past interns and their HBCU/MSI from the past five cohorts. 

We strive to ensure our interns have skill-based professional experiences that reflect workplace practices to meet the needs of the public sector by offering training sessions for professional development, including resume writing and professional personality assessments that provide an in-depth understanding of their strengths and areas for growth. In addition, each intern is assigned to an NCDHHS employee who serves as a liaison between the student and their supervisor. Liaisons help ensure that interns have a quality internship experience, while also supporting supervisors to ensure interns understand and successfully complete tasks assigned during the internship. Bi-weekly check-ins with interns and supervisors help to gauge concerns and areas for improvement.  

In 2024, we added a new component of the internship program entitled On-Campus Change Champions. On-Campus Change Champions are primarily interns who have completed the DHHS HBCUs/MSIs Internship program. In the event, there is no application from a former intern, we will consider a student who has not participated in the traditional internship program.   

On-Campus Change Champions apply skills and information gained from their intern experience to provide on-campus outreach opportunities that reflect best practices in public health. In doing so, interns collaborate with their school health centers and DHHS staff to plan and implement monthly educational opportunities on their respective campuses that may include topics such as Mpox prevention and vaccination, understanding sexual health, and addressing other health issues that disproportionately affect communities of People of Color. See the Change Champion Focus areas for this year. 

Interns participating in the HBCUs/MSIs Traditional and Change Champions internship program receive a compensation of $20 per hour for undergraduate students and $25 per hour for graduate and professional students. During the spring and fall semesters, traditional interns may work 15-20 hours and up to 40 hours during the summer semester. Unlike interns in the traditional internship, Change Champions are limited to working a maximum of 40 hours per month each semester.        

Funding for the HBCUs/MSIs and Change Champion Internship program is supported by the American Rescue Plan Act until June 30, 2024. Thereafter, the program will then be funded by a CDC Public Health Infrastructure Grant.  

NCDHHS will notify HBCUs/MSIs when a new application period opens.