Strategic Communications Planning for Public Health Nonprofit Organizations

Application Deadline: May 31, 2018

Thematic focus: community health, health and human rights, health management, mobile health, operations and management, strategic planning

Qualifications: Experience with community-based public health in underserved communities is important. Some experience in communications and/or marketing preferred.

Description: The student will apply principles of communications and marketing to increase awareness and support for The Family Van (www.familyvan.org) and Mobile Health Map (www.mobilehealthmap.org). The student will begin their experience (1-2 weeks) on The Family Van, a mobile health clinic that serves low-income neighborhoods in Boston. They will familiarize themselves with the three part mission of the organization, direct service, education, and research, in order to develop a comprehensive communications and marketing plan for the organization. Key stakeholders and audiences include Harvard University and Harvard Medical School students and employees, current and potential donors, and the general public. Clients are also important stakeholders, though the communication plan is not specifically aimed at this audience.

Learning objectives for this practicum might include the following:

• Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels. Communicate how The Family Van and Mobile Health Map address these challenges to key stakeholders.
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content

We will work with the student to define a workplan that meets both the student's learning needs and the organization's needs. Examples of actions include:

• Conduct a communications audit of all Family Van and Mobile Health Map materials.
• Develop and test messages that can be used to communicate consistently and effectively with key audiences.
• Develop an annual plan for communications and marketing that can be implemented by existing staff and volunteers.
• Research best practices for communications and marketing by small public health nonprofit organizations.
• Identify strategies, channels, audiences, partnerships, and measures of success in a comprehensive communications and marketing plan.

Please send CV and cover letter to family_van@hms.harvard.edu RE: summer internship.

For more information, contact: Family Van at family_van@hms.harvard.edu