Public Health Student Intern Functional Template

Project Name: Development of a Public Health Strategic Plan in a Rural County

Basic Skills Needed for Student Intern to Complete This Project

To complete this project, the student intern must possess the following skill set:

  • Ability to facilitate a planning process with public health professionals
  • Ability to facilitate an analysis of a public health organization’s internal strengths and weaknesses and external trends and factors that are influencing the organization
  • Ability to design a group process that leads to the development of a strategic plan that includes objectives and key tasks
  • Ability to develop a final written Strategic Plan summarizing the findings from the strategic planning process and the group’s conclusions

Basic Description of the Project

The (Organization) (Address)(Website) seeks a UM MPH Student to develop a strategic plan for our health department in collaboration with the public health staff. The Strategic Plan is a requirement of the Public Health Accreditation Board standards and will help the Organizationidentify our mission, vision and guiding principles and the measureable goals and objectives needed to improve our operations. The health department may have some pieces of the plan developed before the beginning of the project and will work with the student to understand what parts of the plan are already developed and which will be developed with the help of the student. The major tasks involved in the practicum include 1) designing a strategic plan process through which the (Organization) staff will generate the required elements of a strategic plan 2) facilitating three strategic planning meetings with(Organization) staff3) writing a Strategic Plan for (Organization)including results of the organizational analysis and the key ideas generated as a result of the meetings. The site mentor and student will review the above scope and ascertain whether the activities should be more limited based on the student’s skill set and comfort level. The length of time for the practicum and amount of on-site hours in (Organization) are negotiable.

The University of Montana MPH Practicum Proposal Form

Student Name and UM ID / Address / E-mail, Phone, and Fax
Practicum Site Organization / Address / Email, Phone, Fax
Organization Mission
Site Mentor Name and Title / Address / Email, Phone, Fax
Phone
Fax
Site Mentor Public Health Qualifications / May substitute resume or CV
Institution(s), Major(s), Degree(s), Year(s), Academic background
Areas of public health expertise, Current job duties
SPCHS Committee Members / Name, Department, Title / Email, Phone, Fax
Practicum Academic Mentor
Core or affiliate faculty
3rd Committee Member
Document their consent to serve on the committee via e-mail
Semester & year practicum is proposed Register for PUBH 591 (override required prior to registration)

Proposed Title of the Practicum

Development of a Public Health Strategic Plan in a Rural County

Describe the purpose or goal(s) of the practicum

The purpose of this project is to assist the Organization in developing a strategic plan, a core requirement of the Public Health Accreditation (PHAB) Standards (Standard 5.3). Completing the Strategic Plan will allow Teton County Public Health to improve their operations and make a great impact on improving the health of their community.
Completing theStrategic Plan will allow the student to receive hands on learning experience in:
1)Facilitating groups and strategic thinking
2)Organizational assessment and planning
3)Developing plans to improve public health performance
This project will give the student intern the ability to apply, first hand, the fifth of the Ten Essential Public Health Services, “Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts.”

Practicum Learning Objectives

While each practicum will be topic‐driven and hence different, the objectives and format will generally be the same. The learning objectives of the Public Health practicum are aimed at providing students the following opportunities:
• Apply and test public health concepts and theories in practice settings;
• Implement one or more of the ten essential services of public health;
• Utilize problem‐solving skills to assess and analyze public health issues;
• Propose and, to the extent possible, implement effective intervention strategies;
• Justify the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork to address public health problems; and
• Learn to function successfully as a public health professional in a work setting.
Learning Objectives Specific to the Practicum Project / Competencies Addressed
List 3-5 measureable learning objectives specific to your practicum.
By the end of the 160 hour practicum, the student will have achieved the following objectives:
  • Design a strategic planning process for Teton County Public Health staff in accordance with PHAB Standard 5.3.2.1
  • Facilitate a strategic planning process for Teton County Public Health staff in accordance with PHAB Standard 5.3.2.1
  • Develop and finalize a Strategic Plan for Teton County including all of the elements required by PHAB Standard 5.3.2.1.
/ List SPCHS competencies that will be address by accomplishing the learning objectives (see the UM SPCHS website for a listing).
  • 2A4. Gathers information that will inform policy decisions.
  • 2A7. Incorporates policies and procedures into program plans and structures.
  • 5A1. Recognize community linkages and relationships among multiple factors (or determinants) affecting health
  • 5A5. Maintain partnerships with key stakeholders.
  • 5A6. Use group processes to advance community involvement.
  • 5A8. Identify community assets and resources.

List the tasks and deliverables to be completed / Timeline for completion
  • Work with the Teton County Public Health leadership to design a strategic planning process for their staff (some elements of the strategic plan may already be developed)
  • Facilitate three strategic planning meetings, maintaining records of the ideas generated by staff at each meeting
  • In collaboration with Teton County leadership, write a Strategic Plan for the County Health Department in accordance with PHAB Standard 5.3.2.1.

Human Subjects Protection

Is UM or other Institutional Review Board approval needed? Discuss why or why not. For more information consult
Not applicable. Data collected will be for assessment not research and will be de-identified.

On-site Resources

List any arrangements for student workspace, access to information, and other materials necessary for completion of the project. If permission is required for access, discuss how such permission will be arranged.
Student Responsibilities
Maintain work schedule as agreed with the site mentor
Complete the specified tasks of the project
Interact with site personal as professionals
Meet with Site Mentor as agreed
Maintain contact with Practicum Academic Mentor / Site Mentor Responsibilities
Serve as practice liaison with the student
Orient student to practice site
Provide student with guidance, supervision, and feedback
Review final products and attend Student’s Practicum Defense

Signatures of Agreement I have participated in the development of this proposal and agree to the plan.

Practicum Academic Mentor / Date
Site Mentor / Date
3rd Member / Date
Student / Date