Public Health Graduate Internship - Framingham Callahan Center/Senior Services

Position: AgeWell Framingham Graduate Internship

Department: Elder Services/Callahan Center

Salary Range: $20.13 per hour

Schedule: Hours per week: 10 - 15, Some evening meetings required

Length: Position is Expected to run though Fall 2024

Special Requirements: Must be a Graduate Student studying Public Health

The Callahan Senior Center in Framingham, MA is looking for a Public Health graduate student to coordinate its AgeWell Coalition. The nationally accredited Callahan Senior Center is a multi-purpose center for people 55 and older. This 25,000-square-foot, fully accessible facility offers a wide range of exercise and recreational programs for little or no cost to participants. The Council on Aging strives to improve the healthy aging of a broader segment of the 55 and older population of Framingham. 

Social Services staff are available to provide a broad range of support services, assistance with applying for benefits, and referrals for services that other organizations can provide. Bilingual staff is available to assist people who speak Spanish and Portuguese. The Callahan Center is supportive of LGBTQ+ older adults and their allies, and is one of 120+ centers across the country that have been accredited by the National Councils on Aging/National Institutes of Senior Centers. 

For more information, please see the Callahan Center/Senior Services website and the Callahan Courier Newsletter.

Position Purpose: 

The City of Framingham is seeking a graduate-level intern studying Public Health to coordinate the work of its AgeWell Coalition, funded by a Healthy Brain Initiative Grant from the Alzheimer’s Association of America. Subcommittees of the AgeWell Coalition focus on four distinct areas: Health & Wellness, Housing, Transportation, and Dementia Education & Prevention. The AgeWell intern will also collaborate with a wide range of community partners. Excellent opportunity for anyone looking for professional experience in the field of Public Health, especially for a graduate student interested in aging and/or brain health. 

This graduate-level intern will work 10-15 hours per week beginning immediately and running through October, 2024. The City is seeking a mix of availability during the workday, as well as some weekday evenings for semi-regular meetings with volunteer citizen coalition members. AgeWell Steering Committee meetings are currently held monthly on Wednesday evenings. 

City of Framingham employees currently work 100% on-site.

Essential Functions: 
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. 

1. Coordinates day-to-day activities of the Age Well Framingham's initiatives, including:

• Framingham Age Friendly program.
• Framingham Dementia Friendly program

2. Works closely with various stakeholders to accomplish program objectives.

3. Prepares and files all grant related reports. 

4. Maintains sound financial records in accordance with city procedures and grantor requirements. 

5. Works closely with various stakeholders to accomplish program objectives. 

6. Shares and disseminates existing and collected data to internal and external audiences.

7. Monitors program progress, goals, and objectives. 

8. Maintains regular contact with Director of Elder Services 

9. Maintains knowledge and expertise in relevant areas of older adult services. 

10. Assists and participates in the organization and development of the Callahan Center’s strategic planning process, accreditation and organizational improvement strategies.
 

Qualifications:

• Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited graduate program studying Public Health .
• Prior experience serving diverse populations is desired.
• Possession of a valid MA class D motor vehicle driver’s license .
• Positive results of MA CORI/SORI background check .
• Ability to:
  • Work a minimum of 300 hours total during the internship
  • Travel to and from worksite (Framingham Memorial Building and Callahan Center)
  • Be highly self-motivated o Motivate others
  • Speak Spanish and/or Portuguese a plus
  • Use or learn Microsoft Office Suite
• Skills:
  • Organization
  • Flexibility to manage and oversee various work-related tasks
  • Group facilitation
  • Written and oral communication

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions. 

• Physical Skills: Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. There may be some occasional lifting of objects such as department equipment, photocopy and computer paper.
• Motor Skills: Duties may involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples may include operating a personal computer, or operating a motor vehicle.
• Visual Skills: Position requires routine reading of documents and reports for understanding

Supervision Required:

 This position reports to the Director of Elder Services

Supervisory Responsibility:

None
 

Work Environment: 

Most work is performed in typical office settings, with regular attendance at off-site meetings, including occasional ones beyond normal business hours. The employee operates standard office equipment. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.

Occupational Risk:

Duties generally do not present occupational risk to the employee. Personal injury could occur, however, through employee failure to properly follow safety precautions or procedures. 

Accountability: 
Consequences of errors, missed deadlines, or poor judgment may include delay of program progress, loss of grant fund, loss of the position, and legal repercussions.

Nature and Purpose of Relationships:

Employee is in communication constantly with co-workers, supervisors, other city employees, the public, and external groups and/or individuals such as civic leaders, peers from other organizations, representatives of professional organizations, and the news media. The employee may serve as a spokesperson or recognized authority of the department in program-related subjects, including controversial matters where tact is required to avoid friction and obtain cooperation.

The Callahan Senior Center is located at 535 Union Avenue, Framingham and accessible by the MWRTA. 

The City of Framingham is committed to the ongoing pursuit of strategic diversity initiatives that help to position diversity, equity, and inclusion as central to municipality and community-wide excellence in the City of Framingham. In doing so, Framingham strives for a city culture and environment that fosters a true sense of belonging for all, provides opportunity for everyone to participate equally and fully in the city, their communities and neighborhoods in ways that helps to develop each individual's capacity to confidently and competently engage within and across difference. Given an evolving national context and the richness in the demographic and linguistic profile of our city, the City of Framingham has made a significant commitment to addressing and enhancing its community climate, culture and multiplicity of service capabilities as a city.