Community-Based Internships to Address Environmental Issues: A Model for Effective Partnerships

• Published in: Progress in community health partnerships 2011, Vol.5 (1), p.77-87
• Main Authors: Close, Fran T, Zokovitch Paben, Jeanne Marie, Foster, Anika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution; Capacity development; College students; Colleges & universities; Community involvement; Community Networks - organization & administration; Community-Based Participatory Research; Community-Institutional Relations; Education; Education, Graduate - methods; Environmental Exposure; Environmental health; Environmental Health - education; Environmental Health - standards; Environmental law; Federal funding; Florida; Health risks; Health services; Humans; Infant mortality; Internship, Nonmedical - organization & administration; Internships; Law firms; Lawyers; Local communities; Low income groups; Nonprofit organizations; Outdoor air quality; Partnerships; Power plants; Public health; Socioeconomic Factors; Sociology, Medical; State elections; Toxicology; Training; Universities
• ISSN: 1557-0541; 1557-055X; 1557-055X
• DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2011.0000

Previous studies have shown that environmental burdens tend to be inequitably borne by poor and minority populations. Statistics indicate that these populations suffer disproportionately from adverse health effects associated with polluting facilities in their community. To address these problems, public health officials and researchers should pay close attention to the experiences of individuals in local communities. The aims of the Community-Based Internship Program were to (1) provide a graduate internship that gives students the opportunity to utilize their didactic skills in a community-based setting on important environmental issues and (2) educate and empower the community with the tools needed to address their environmental concerns and protect their health. Graduate students from various disciplines participated in a 12-week internship program that involved community-based organizations (CBOs) working on environmental health and justice issues. A total of 22 graduate interns were given projects that assisted the CBOs in creating environmental health awareness and educating communities about environmental issues. Each internship represented a unique partnership between a university, an environmental law firm, and CBOs. This equitable partnership fostered co-learning and capacity building among all partners. The opportunity to collaborate as partners on a community-based initiative resulted in benefits for all partners. The graduate internship program was implemented effectively because of each partner's contribution and dedication to the success of the program. It is hoped that the lessons learned from this program can assist others with the development of similar partnerships that benefit underserved communities.