Youth Development

Philosophy of the School of Public Health-Bloomington Youth Development Internship

The primary goal of the internship experience is to provide experiential learning outside of the academic setting, where students gain vital skills, supervision, networks, and professional feedback. Through these experiences students sample potential specialties, explore workplace culture, and gain a better philosophy as a professional within a human service career.

Students will participate in a skilled environment in which the student will build upon previous knowledge that is a culmination of what the student has been studying as well as previous experience from which a personal and professional philosophy of the discipline may evolve and mature.

The goals and objectives of the internship are created by the supervisor/preceptor and reviewed by the Youth Development internship coordinator to be certain they match the student’s professional and academic goals. The internship is an educational experience integrating classroom theories into a professional work setting by providing the opportunity to:

participate in the daily functions of a human service agency that may include administration and non-educational activities.
sharpen aspects of professionalism, including honesty/integrity, reliability/responsibility, respect for others, compassion/empathy, advocacy.
develop new knowledge and skills such as assessment of needs, planning and implementation of programs, and program evaluation by taking an active role within the organization/agency.
understand professional practice and adherence to codes of professional ethics, including ethical decision making.
work independently and with others, both within and outside the agency, applying professional knowledge and skills.
observe the functioning of an agency, including the administration and activities of the agency.
use appropriate written and oral communication.
demonstrate the ability to successfully work independently and with co-workers.
build upon previous knowledge and experiences by working within, and critically appraising a professional setting related to youth.
gain career knowledge, evaluate career options and goals.
apply theories and research from youth development disciplines to the challenges facing individuals and families.
apply concepts and skills gained from academic experience to a professional work setting.
apply technology and analytical skills to the specific work setting.
gain self-awareness and emotional stability, interpersonal and group process skills, communication skills, collaboration and teaching skills, critical thinking skills, knowledge of community support services and professional ethics and behavior.

Meet with your academic advisor to review the prerequisite requirements and discuss course sequencing.
BSPH-F497 is a 6-credit required course for the BSPH Youth Development degree. This indicates that the course costs are in line with the university fees for 6 credits.
Students are responsible for securing an internship site. The student must complete the internship at a site that regularly provides services related to the field of Youth Development. This can take place within a public, private, or community setting and must be under the direct supervision of a professionally trained individual.
1. Please use the Internship Portal to search for internships done in the past by previous majors. Use F497as your search filter to see specific sites and details of the internship site.
2. Visit the SPH Office of Career Services website to search for internships.
3. Please discuss with your internship coordinator if you have any questions.
4. If you are interested in completing your internship overseas, please contact your internship coordinator.
5. Explore internship sites based upon your professional goals. Most commonly, with agencies or organizations that serve youth.
6. Consider location, the type of environment or population you would like to work with, career goals, living expenses, transportation needs, and your hours of availability.
  - Do you prefer to be behind the scenes or face-to-face with individuals?
  - Would you enjoy sitting at a desk or moving around throughout the workday?
  - Do you prefer non-profit work, youth services, a medical setting, family service agencies, programs serving those with disabilities, counseling, etc.
  - Do you like to have a variety of tasks throughout the week or have a consistent work schedule day-to-day?
  - Where can I obtain the needed experience and skills to increase my chances of securing my desired career position?
  - Where can I obtain the needed experience and skills to apply for graduate school?
Students must be a junior or senior and have completed 18 hours of their core/required coursework with appropriate grades.
Have a professional resume and cover letter/email ready to send to potential sites. Cater the cover letter, as necessary. Use SPH Career Services to assist with a resume review and cover letter.
Successful completion of BSPH-F430 (Professional Preparation in Youth Development) is a prerequisite.
It is required that students complete BSPH-F347 (Middle Childhood through Adolescence—Human Development II).
Required internship paperwork is located within the “Before Internship” section of the Internship Portal.
1. Internship Authorization Form—please contact your internship coordinator if you need assistance.
2. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
  - Complete with your internship supervisor/preceptor.
  - Create on agency/organization letterhead.
  - Both parties sign and date.
  - Duration of internship.
  - Identify and list 3-5 learning objectives/goals, specific to the agency, which the student will engage in during the internship. (See Preparing the Memorandum via the Internship Portal, “Before Internship” section).
  - Sample MOUs are obtainable within the Internship Portal.
Midterm and Final Evaluation to be completed by the prospective supervisor/preceptor. Your internship coordinator will submit a detailed letter to the supervisor/preceptor at the beginning of the semester.
When reaching out to your potential site, be certain to tell them about the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the Midterm and Final Evaluation (above). Please let the site know that we want you to be involved with the day-to-day operations as well as meetings, trainings, workshops, conferences, or shadowing experiences, if possible.
Secure an internship site where you will work 270 hours (6 credit course enrolled).
1. Fall/Spring term (9 weeks minimum to 16 weeks maximum).
2. Summer term (9 weeks minimum to 12 weeks maximum).
All Site Supervisors (persons who supervise and mentor interns at the field placement sites) must have at least a bachelor’s degree in an applied health science related field and at least three years of work experience or have worked in the professional field for at least eight years.
When selecting a site supervisor (direct family members cannot serve as site supervisors), ask the following questions:
1. Does this person have a bachelor's degree in an applied health science related field and at least three years of work experience as a professional or have worked as a professional in the field for at least 8 years?
2. Does this person have the desire, time, and skills to adequately supervise and mentor me?
3. In terms of personality, are the supervisor and I compatible?
4. Does this person possess cutting-edge knowledge in areas of major interest to me?
5. Is this person well known and respected in the community?
6. Would this person be a good career sponsor (i.e., one who would be very helpful in assisting me with going to my next career level)?
We love it if the sites are able to pay students for their internship work, but many sites do not have the resources to do so. This is a question you can ask your site supervisor when securing the site. SPH Career Services has resources on how to have this conversation.
Students must have the required internship paperwork submitted and approved by the site supervisor and internship coordinator in order to register for the course so be sure to plan this timeline accordingly. Please note students cannot count any hours toward their internship until they are officially registered for the course.
Some sites require a legal affiliation agreement with Indiana University – this process can take 6-8 weeks or even longer so be sure to get that process started immediately with your site supervisor and internship coordinator if the site requires one - IU does not require this. Normally, a legal affiliation agreement is required for sites that are a medical setting—hospital, clinic, urgent care, surgery centers, etc.

The internship paperwork must be approved by the site supervisor and internship coordinator in order to register for the internship course. Students cannot start counting any hours toward their internship until they are officially registered for the internship course.

Required internship paperwork is located within the “Before Internship” section of the Internship Portal.
1. Internship Authorization Form—please contact your internship coordinator if you need assistance.
2. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
  - Complete with your internship supervisor/preceptor.
  - Create on agency/organization letterhead.
  - Both parties sign and date.
  - Duration of internship.
  - Identify 3-5 learning objectives/goals, specific to the agency, which the student will engage in during the internship. (See Preparing the Memorandum via the Internship Portal, “Before Internship” section).
  - Sample MOUs are obtainable within the Internship Portal.
Inform your site supervisor/preceptor that you must collaborate to create the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Be sure to discuss the importance of a specific timeline to complete the MOU so that you may register for the course at IU in a timely manner.
After the Authorization Form and the MOU are complete, please submit to your internship faculty coordinator for approval. The SPH Records Office will put in authorization for you to register for the course.
Once authorization is in, students must register for the course, section, and correct credits of the respective internship course/practicum.
Attend required zoom meeting for all enrolled students prior to internship start date where internship assignments and other important internship information is discussed.

Student Responsibilities and the Role with the Agency

The student will assume the responsibilities and tasks which have been defined within the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and submitted to the internship faculty coordinator.
The student will always dress professionally and appropriately, observe agency rules and regulations, and display professional conduct.
The student will notify the site supervisor and faculty coordinator of any illnesses and emergencies immediately. Extended illnesses or special requests regarding absence from the internship must be approved by the site supervisor and faculty coordinator in a timely manner.
The student will be responsible for all travel expenses related to the internship (i.e., commuting to and from the agency, travel to other agency sites). Reimbursement of any expenses by the agency for the travel required of the student as part of the internship will be determined by the site supervisor and the agency. Neither Indiana University nor the Department of Applied Health Science/School of Public Health will reimburse students for any travel expenses during the internship.
The student will not be responsible for the transportation of agency patients, participants, or clients in the student's personal vehicle.
The student will complete the evaluation of the site supervisor and agency site and the faculty coordinator at the end of the internship.
Student understands that the internship site can dismiss interns for lack of following agency policies.

Student Responsibilities to IU During the Internship

Communicate with the faculty internship coordinator before, during and after the internship as needed.
Complete and submit weekly journals on time. It is recommended that you create daily notes to compile at the end of each week. The journal entry should have two parts:
1. Internship Description: the activities in which you are engaging and how they meet your goals and objectives. Examples to include may be specific experiences, activities, meetings, programs attended, program development, observations, etc.
2. Reactions: In the context of self-exploration and self-discovery, complete a description of your feelings, observations, personal values, and attitudes. You may consider your reactions to being at the site that are diverse from your normal experiences, any shifts in your attitude.
Discuss any reasons for missing internship work or being late with supervisor and internship coordinator.
Explain and set up midterm and final evaluation meetings with site supervisor for mid-point in hours and end of internship.
Complete all remaining assignments via Canvas by due date.
Complete the internship coordinator evaluation and the site/site supervisor evaluation.

Youth Development

Philosophy of the School of Public Health-Bloomington Youth Development Internship

Preparing for the internship

Registering for the internship

During the internship

Student Responsibilities and the Role with the Agency

Student Responsibilities to IU During the Internship