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International Medical Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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17-186: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Intern
Country:Los Angeles, CA or Washington, DC
Department:Technical Unit
  
Essential Job Duties/Scope of Work:
International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Intern will have the opportunity to support International Medical Corps Headquarters and country offices in keeping up to date with the most relevant information, helping develop guidelines, resources and materials as well as assist in proposal development, design and reporting. The volunteer will benefit from being mentored by International Medical Corps’ Senior Global Mental Health Officer.

SUMMARY
  • Learn how to conduct literature reviews on specific mental health and psychosocial topics (e.g. best practices, evidence base on different interventions/approaches, M&E, methods, psychometric properties of measures, child development, integration of mental health into general healthcare, community based rehabilitation etc.)
  • Support projects which could include:
    • Assist MHPSS staff and technical advisors with developing guidance notes that could include: Early Childhood Development and Nutrition integration, Leading Peer Groups, Including MHPSS service users in Programing and Advocacy
    • Support MHPSS team in working on MHPSS Advocacy by coordinating with LA & UK Communications team in design of reports and advocacy through social media and website updates (e.g. 2017 World Mental Health Day Preparations with field teams)
    • Support data analysis (qualitative and quantitative) and write-up of IMC program evaluations and research. Including, developing a mapping of M&E tools for MHPSS programs.
  • Learn how to assist with the preparation of proposals, technical reports, advocacy materials, peer-reviewed publications, and policy briefs
  • Assist in updating and organizing knowledge management systems including OneCorps, MHPSS monthly mailout, IMC website, MHPSS Community of Practice and other knowledge sharing mechanisms
  • Attend MHPSS team weekly meetings and Headquarters meetings. Opportunity to attend professional conferences, webinars and other MHPSS events

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Specific learning objectives will be agreed upon and documented at the beginning of the internship and may include:

  • Gaining an understanding of IMCs approach of MHPSS in diverse humanitarian relief and development contexts.
  • Expanding understanding of MHPSS background literature in relation to specific topics as assigned and agreed upon (e.g. MHPSS measures, background, program approaches).
  • Gaining an in-depth understanding of select IMC MHPSS country programs and approaches
  • Learning about IMC MHPSS quality standards and application to different contexts
  • Additionally, we can support coordinating with course work requirements or universities on practicum and/or internship credits

Compliance & Ethics:  Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout International Medical Corps. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards.  Conducts work with the highest level of integrity. 
Qualifications:

Education: Masters or doctoral degree (completed or ongoing) in Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Public Health or related field.

 Other Skills and Abilities:

  • Interest in emergency & development programs
  • Interest or experience in working on global mental health and psychosocial projects
  • Desire to pursue a career in the field of global MHPSS
  • Very good knowledge of mental health and psychosocial subject areas and best practices in humanitarian and development settings (e.g. IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings)
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Very good analytical and conceptual skills