Internships

General Info

HIPS accepts interns throughout the year in to work in various capacities supporting a wide range of projects and services. We have opportunities for college and graduate-level interns whose studies are focusing on fundraising and development, public administration or non-profit management, as well as social media, public relations, social justice, public health, gender and women studies, marketing and communications. Each position has unique requirements, and is also tailored to fit the skills, interests, and qualifications of the individual.

What is an internship? Who interns at HIPS?

Internships are structured, educational  volunteer positions that have the following component:
  • A set start and end date: most internships last between 2-6 months
  • An agreed-upon regular schedule: interns create a schedule with their supervisor and are expected to work on specific days and times each week (at least 16 hours of work per week). Occasional evening work may be required for some positions.
  • Regular supervision by a HIPS staff member
  • Internships can be for credit or non-credit as determined by you and your school. HIPS will gladly cooperate with you and your school to sign any necessary forms so that you will receive credit for your work.
  • Internships are unpaid.

How to apply:

Direct Service, Hotline, Community Engagement, and Advocacy Internship submissions for the Fall 2021 semester are now open. Please submit your application via this link.

Please save the date for the (virtual) HIPS Fall 2021 Orientation on Saturday, September 11th.

Internship Positions:

 The internship descriptions are based on successful past internship positions as well as current needs at HIPS. They can be used as a guide for folks who are interested in an internship at HIPS, but are flexible, and certainly not exhaustive. Do you have specific skills that might be utilized, or an idea for a project that is not represented in the descriptions? Let us know! We’re happy to speak to you about creating a new internship outline. 
Hotline Intern
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Hotline Interns are a critical member of our Outreach Department. By supporting our 24-hour crisis hotline, interns will gain valuable counseling and harm reduction skills.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Interns will be asked to staff shifts on our 24-hour hotline, which provides micro-counseling, crisis support, information on safer sex and safer substance use practices, information on HIV/HCV/STI prevention and management, and non-judgmental, trauma informed support for all callers.
  • Interns will be trained to provide harm reduction counseling, schedule deliveries of supplies, make referrals, and offer holistic support to our diverse client population.  
  • May also assist in community education events around sex work, safer sex education, HIV/HCV prevention, substance use, and overdose reversal.
Skills & experience:
  • Applicants with direct service experience are greatly preferred, although we do consider folks who are new to this work. Oral communication skills, the ability to connect to people from lots of different backgrounds, and a positive, compassionate outlook are helpful. Organizational skills and emotional maturity are a must!
  • Must be willing and able to attend all training sessions (dates and times TBD based on the availability of all participants).

Supervisor: Alexander/a Bradley, Outreach and Community Engagement Manager
Direct Service Intern- TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19
The Direct Service Intern is a critical member of our Health and Supportive Services Department.  By supporting our mobile outreach programs and  our supportive services in our Drop-in Center, the intern will gain valuable counseling and harm reduction skills.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Most interns will work on our mobile outreach van, doing street-based outreach, needle exchange, and harm reduction counseling around D.C. The day time van operates Monday-Thursday from 10am-5pm and does a combination of deliveries and rolling outreach at drug use hot spots around the city.
  • Direct Service Interns often assist on-site staff during walk-in hours in the office from 10:00am-4pm Monday – Thursday and 1pm-4:00pm on Fridays each week. Tasks include data entry, supply packing, scheduling shifts and deliveries, researching & creating health literature, inventory, outreach preparation, and assisting clients in the drop-in center (e.g., building resumes, searching for housing, etc.). 
  • Interns are trained to provide harm reduction counseling, distribute prevention supplies, make referrals, and offer holistic support to our diverse client population.  
  • Assist in community education around HIV/HCV prevention and overdose reversal.
Skills & experience:
  • Applicants with direct service experience are greatly preferred, although we do consider folks who are new to this work. Oral communication skills, the ability to connect to people from lots of different backgrounds, and a positive, compassionate outlook are helpful. Organizational skills and emotional maturity are a must! Thursday night availability is a bonus.

Supervisor: Alexander/a Bradley, Outreach and Community Engagement Manager
Community Engagement Intern
The Community Engagement Intern will work to enhance external messaging and communications for HIPS. They will work on building communications documents, social media campaigns, and improving relations with community partners.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Develop social media posts
  • Research, curate, and schedule social media posts on Facebook and Twitter
  • Write and develop communications materials for HIPS stakeholders including clients, donors, and volunteers
  • Create internal and external messaging protocols in conjunction with the advocacy department
  • Work with Direct Service Interns on other capacity building tasks
  • Assist with event planning, including coordinating with our Volunteer Fundraising Board
Required Qualifications
  • Outstanding administrative and support skills, with exceptional phone etiquette, empathy, and listening skills
  • Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills; strong time management skills; ability to multi-task under a deadline, and manage tasks proactively, with great productivity and attention to detail
  • Strong operational orientation, project management skills, and a focus on high quality customer service
  • Solid organizational skills, creativity, and flexibility; comfortable building and maintaining systems
  • Advanced Microsoft office experience preferred:  Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
  • Experience using Google Apps strongly preferred: Gmail, Sheets, Forms, Sites, and Drive
  • Sense of humor, creativity, and commitment to the HIPS mission!

Supervisor: Alexander/a Bradley, Outreach and Community Engagement Manager
Advocacy Intern
The Advocacy Interns work with our Policy and Advocacy team to advocate for a safer, healthier, and more dignified DC for sex workers and drug users.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Track and synthesize current legislation related to sex work and drug use in DC
  • Coordinate remote and on site meetings with community stake holders about issues related to drug use and sex work
  • Collaborate with clients on integrating client stories and experiences into DC policies
  • Create communciations materials to share HIPS advocacy work with donors and community partners
  • Work with the Outreach and Community Engagement team on other capacity building tasks
Required Qualifications
  • Outstanding administrative and support skills, with exceptional phone etiquette, empathy, and listening skills
  • Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills; strong time management skills; ability to multi-task under a deadline, and manage tasks proactively, with great productivity and attention to detail
  • Strong operational orientation, project management skills, and a focus on high quality customer service
  • Solid organizational skills, creativity, and flexibility; comfortable building and maintaining systems
  • Advanced Microsoft office experience preferred:  Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
  • Experience using Google Apps strongly preferred: Gmail, Sheets, Forms, Sites, and Drive
  • Sense of humor and commitment to the HIPS mission!

Supervisor: Tamika Spellman, Policy and Advocacy Associate