Internship Opportunities

The Extension Service Family and Community Health program has a number of Internship and special project opportunities available throughout the year.  Please check below for an updated list of internships listed by county.  Some internships will require criminal background checks.

2011 - 2012 Extension Service Internships & Special Projects
The primary responsibilities for the interns will relate to the assignments listed below, but all interns will assist with other relevant projects and programs as needed.

Deschutes / Jefferson / Crook Counties
Internship:  Students will be involved with nutrition education at summer programming sites (see flyer).  They will learn youth curriculum and deliver simple nutrition lessons to groups of 10-30 kids at Boys and Girls Clubs, Kids Clubs, and/or summer lunch sites.  Interns will work alongside OFNP staff to make lessons fun, interactive and learner centered.  Lessons are taught at each site once a week for 6-8 weeks starting the end of June and ending mid August.  The youth ages at most of our sites range from 6 years to 12 years.  Interns can also attend OFNP staff meetings and trainings held during the summer to learn more about the curriculum we teach and the big picture of our program.  Students may also be involved with preparation for lessons being taught throughout the school year.  They may also attend public events with food pantries or WIC at a farmers markets, where simple nutrition education and recipes are distributed.

Anyone who will be interacting with minors will require a background check. If interns want to work with youth they will need to apply with us by March 1, 2012 in order for us to put the necessary steps in process and to get a background check cleared in time to start delivery in June.  Also, we’d like to request a resume and 3 references to be emailed to us.

Program Relevance:  Nutrition Education, Nutrition/Physical Activity Program Delivery.
Date:  Summer (late June-mid August) 2012   Location: Central Oregon.  We only have office space for interns in Redmond, Bend, and Madras, but the program delivery could reach as far as LaPine, Prineville or Terrebonne.
Contact Person:  Glenda Hyde

Special Project: Students will create a tri-fold display board about nutrition for Elementary, Middle, or High School.  They create a display from the idea all the way to producing multiple versions of the display to be used in schools around Central Oregon.

Time Frame:  on-going
Program Relevance:  Nutrition Education
Contact Person: Glenda Hyde

Klamath County
Internship:  Assist Nutrition Instructors in delivering nutrition education classes to youth and adults in a variety of settings throughout Klamath Falls. Based on the interest, activities may include teaching, developing learning tools, garden enhanced nutrition projects, giving food demonstrations and other projects as desired by intern. Intern will learn about community nutrition and working with limited resource families in a rural setting. Criminal background check required.

The Nutrition Education Program (NEP): NEP consists of two federally funded Extension programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed, funded by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP, funded by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture). Both programs focus on the promotion of health through the delivery of community-based programs to limited-resource audiences.

Time Frame:  4-8 weeks
Program Relevance:  Nutrition Education
Contact Person:  Patty Case

Special Project:  Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education: Develop activities and/or learning games that support concepts in Growing Healthy Kids curriculum emphasizing the link between plants/gardening and nutrition for youth 2-5th grades. Games to be used in afterschool or summer camp settings. See website for details: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/nep/garden_nutrition/

Special Project:  Recipe Analysis and Testing: Organize, test and complete nutritional analysis on 5-10 recipes. Determine adaptations to recipes that enhance flavor and/or nutritional quality.

Special Project:  Graphic Design: Use graphic design software (not provided) to create visual of a healthy meal representing all food groups with appropriate proportions.

Special Project:  Literature Review: Review literature and provide summary of research on affects of sweetened beverages on health.

Special Project:  Dance Video: Create dance steps for youth in grades 2-5th grades using songs that feature nutrition. Make video of dance steps. Songs provided.

Special Project:  Website Revisions: Update and reformat county nutrition/health website for readability and useable links.

Special Project:  MyPlate Felt Board: Create felt board of MyPlate that can be easily transported and hung in classroom. Supplies provided but need to allow time for shipping.

Special Project:  MyPlate Felt Board: Create felt board of MyPlate that can be easily transported and hung in classroom. Supplies provided but need to allow time for shipping

Time Frame:  on-going
Program Relevance:  Nutrition Education
Contact Person:  Patty Case

Marion County

Internship:  Assist in planning, coordinating, and facilitating a 4 to 6 session nutrition education series for parents/caregivers and their 7-10 year old children.   Duties to include program planning, logistics (e.g., identifying place, scheduling dates, gathering materials), recruitment, co-facilitation, and evaluation (disseminating and collecting pre/post-tests).  
Assist in planning and facilitating additional educational series if time allows.   
Qualifications:   Strong oral and written communication skills, computer skills, interest/passion for community health education.  Anyone who will be interacting with minors will require a background check.

Program Relevance:  Nutrition education, Program planning and delivery, Health communication 

Timeframe:  February-April or April-June; approximately 8 hours per week
Location: Salem, OR (Extension Office)
Contact Person:  Tonya Johnson

Morrow County
Special Project:  Develop and Produce a “Think Your Drink” video presentation (with input from County program faculty).  Video will be designed to encourage folks to select healthy beverage options.  
Program Relevance:  Nutrition Education, Youth Education, Health Communication
Contact Person:  Jenny Chavez

Special Project:  Develop large group nutrition games to use in elementary classrooms that focus on the MyPyramid concepts. 
Program Relevance:  Nutrition Education, Youth Education, Health Communication
Contact Person:  Jenny Chavez

Please Note:  the two listed opportunities in Morrow County can be combined to form the basis of a single internship experience.

Multnomah County
Internship:  Interns will assist OFNP nutrition educators in delivering nutrition education classes to youth (ages 6 – 14) in Multnomah County.  Based on intern interest and availability, activities may include lesson planning, teaching, developing learning tools, garden enhanced nutrition projects, or other projects to be determined in partnership with site faculty.  Intern will learn about community nutrition and working with limited resource families in an urban setting.  Criminal Background Check is required.

The Nutrition Education Program (NEP): NEP consists of two federally funded Extension programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed, funded by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP, funded by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture). Both programs focus on the promotion of health through the delivery of community-based programs to limited-resource audiences.

Program Relevance: Nutrition Education, Health Communication, Nutrition/Physical Activity Program Delivery.
Time Frame:  On-going
Contact Person:  Renee Carr
Location of Internship:  Multnomah County - SE, NE, North Portland, Gresham, Fairview

Washington County 
Special Research project:  Gather research information and articles related to reaching and teaching older adults in community settings.  Final goal is to create a fact sheet and/or presentation for use by Extension field faculty so improve their ability to serve aging population.
Program Relevance:  Health Communication
Contact Person:  Jeanne Brandt

Internship:  Interns will  work side by side with Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistants to deliver nutrition education and physical activity classes to youth at USDA summer sites.  Interns will be required to pass a criminal history background check.

Program Relevance:  Nutrition Education, Youth Education,  Health Communication
Contact Person: Janice Smiley

Internship:  Interns will provide nutrition demonstrations at farmers’ markets.   This would involve weekend work.
Program Relevance:  Nutrition Education, Health Communication
Contact Person: Janice Smiley
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