Program Description

A New Internship Program for Graduate Students

SAMHSA is Accepting Applications for CSAP’s Prevention Fellowship Program Graduate Student Internship

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is now accepting applications for the Prevention Fellowship Program’s Graduate Student Internship. The Graduate Student Internship, one component of CSAP’s Prevention Fellowship Program, invites 30 highly qualified graduate students from schools of public/behavioral health to apply for a 48-week paid internship program in participating State agencies throughout the United States.

The purpose of the CSAP Prevention Fellowship Program Graduate Student Internship is to offer participants front-line experience in the field of substance abuse prevention. Interns will learn new techniques, master best practices in the field, and apply knowledge gained from their graduate school experience. During the internship, which will combine Web‐based training and hands-on experience, students will be assigned to State agency mentors for on-site training and workforce development within the State’s substance abuse prevention system.

Please note that graduate interns are accepted on a State-by-State basis, as all States are not eligible participants in the Prevention Fellowship Program’s Graduate Student Internship. Interns will receive a stipend of $15 per hour and will be required to work 40 hours per week. They will not be provided with insurance, travel, lodging, per diem allowances, or conference registration reimbursement. To accommodate the full-time graduate student’s schedule, interns will have the option to develop a flexible work schedule and possibly telecommute to their State agencies. The flexible hours and telecommuting will be determined on a State-by-State basis, and will be left to the discretion of the State mentors.

WHO CAN APPLY: Graduate students from any State seeking selection into the internship program must meet the following criteria and provide associated documentation: (1) U.S. citizenship or U.S. Territories and Pacific Jurisdictions residency; (2) enrollment in a graduate school for public/behavioral health; (3) two letters of recommendation; (4) a detailed essay or paper of not more than two pages on why the candidate should be selected for the internship and how selection would support his or her career goals; and (5) a strong interest in the substance abuse prevention field. (Please note that an applicant residing in a non-participating State may submit an application to an agency internship site outside of their State.)

HOW TO APPLY: Applications will be accepted from eligible candidates beginning on November 2, 2009. To apply, complete and submit the online application.

APPLICATION DUE DATE IS EXTENDED: Friday, February 5, 2010. Applications must be received by the due date to be considered. Selected candidates are expected to begin their internships on February 22, 2010. Applicants will be notified of selection status on or before February 16, 2010. Start dates may be altered slightly, in some instances, to accommodate unforeseen circumstances.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Prevention Fellowship Program Graduate Student Internship at (240) 485-1700, ext. 122 or e-mail at preventionfellowship@seiservices.com.