Public Health Internship Jobs in Rochester, MN (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are

COPAL, Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action, is a member-based organization established in 2018 to improve the quality of life of Latine families. Grounded in the Principles of Jemez, COPAL is committed to continue building meaningful relationships that transcend both identity and geographical boundaries. COPAL envisions a Minnesota where everyone lives with dignity and respect.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Our greatest asset is the dedication and commitment of our board, staff, members, and interns, as well as our valued volunteers, partners, coalition members, and leaders of the Latine community. With a clear mission and vision of a better future for all, we can mobilize people to bring about transformation and lead social, political, and economic change.

Wages

$23.00 - $24.00 per hour depending on qualifications and level of experience

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 9 paid holidays per year, plus 2 floating holidays
• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and options for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Long-term disability insurance – the employer pays the premiums
• Employer-paid basic life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employee
• Voluntary benefits: Accident, hospital indemnity, critical illness, short-term disability insurance
• COPAL sponsors a retirement plan with 6% employer contribution after 90 days of service and immediate vesting

Because COPAL is a member with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) who partners with St. Mary’s University, COPAL employees and their spouses are also eligible for the following benefits at St. Mary’s University:

• Discounted tuition for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Access to advancement (internships, job placement, field practice)

Schedule

This is a regular, full-time position that will be fully in-person. This position works during normal business hours and may include evening and/or weekend hours. This position also requires travel to and from community settings, as well as shelters and the homes of program participants and their families.

Job Summary

COPAL is hiring a Health Promoter to provide education, support, and resources to individuals and communities to promote healthy lifestyles and improve health outcomes in the community. They will work collaboratively with health professionals, community organizations, and local leaders to identify population health needs and participate in the development of effective health promotion programs.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate workshops about health preventative topics, nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and other health related topics to promote healthy habits and provide opportunities for disease prevention.
• Build relationships with communities through door knocking/home visiting at least once per month to share information and resources, promote relevant health topics, and invite community members to participate in educational activities and other community events.
• Maintain accurate records of interactions with community members, program progress, and any other indicator measured, and use this information to inform future planning and decision making.
• Support community members with accessing health care services, health insurance, and community resources.
• Conduct intake conversations with individuals seeking services in person, by phone, or virtually, prioritizing accessibility and choice.
• Connect individuals with community partners, agencies, and programs, including housing, healthcare, food access, legal support, and education.
• Provide internal referrals to navigators.
• Coordinate and facilitate at least one community health-related event per month, including health fairs, vaccination events, workshops and educational activities, community conversations, and other events.
• Build relationships with organizations, public agencies, and local businesses to partner at community health events or to refer clients for services.
• Identify and recruit community leaders to serve as local allies in promoting community health and to participate in the Health Committee.
• Collaborate with the Promotoras de Salud teams from Mankato and Minneapolis to facilitate training sessions that strengthen the knowledge, skills, and capacity of community leaders.
• Support community members in developing leadership skills and becoming agents of system change within their communities.
• Provide administrative and clerical support for the Southeast Initiative Office as needed.
• Support various main office functions, including preparing correspondence, monitoring office inventory and ordering supplies, maintaining calendars, and completing various other assignments as needed.
• Participate in fundraising as appropriate to the role, including site visits with funders and phone banking to increase membership and donor support.

What You Bring

• Previous experience in community work or health promotion.
• Previous experience in group facilitation.
• The ability to establish collaborative working relationships and assist in individual and group conflict resolution.
• The ability to plan and organize community events and activities.
• A demonstrated commitment to health equity and cultural humility.
• An understanding of the social determinants of health and health disparities.
• A willingness to learn a variety of tasks and a thorough understanding of nonprofit practices.
• The ability to work independently, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of and experience working with diverse groups of people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Access, Publisher, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• The ability to travel to sites within a 15-mile radius of the office.
• A valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet COPAL’s driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit.

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of COPAL. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements. Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

COPAL participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See E-Verify’s official poster at https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf. See E-Verify’s Right to Work poster at https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf.