DHS Internship Opportunities
With a budget of over $900 million, DHS is a broad umbrella organization responsible for publicly funded human services in Allegheny County, including mental health services, at-risk child development and education, services for older adults, and much more. Formed in 1997, the department is recognized as a national model in the provision of human services.
Internship positions are often available in the four DHS support offices:
Internships may also be available in the five DHS program offices:
Interns will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of projects depending on their skill sets, area of study, and the department’s needs.
In the past, interns have worked on program evaluation and legislative affairs, assisted senior staff in policy research, and met with community leaders to seek input on the department’s performance. Additionally, there have been opportunities for interns to take part in historic events, such as preparing for G-20, the evacuation of Haiti refugees to Pittsburgh, and the possible consolidation of City-County government. Previously, interns have also played an active role in tracking the progress of grants and legislation, giving them the chance to see the direct correlation between local, state, and national public and private entities.
Qualifications
- Excellent writing, editing, research, communication and organizational skills
- Students must be currently enrolled in higher education
- Ideal candidates are detail-oriented, creative, enthusiastic, able to balance multiple priorities simultaneously and often work individually and unsupervised.
- Students seeking paid internships must reside in Allegheny County during their time of employment at DHS
- Experience with writing and analysis a plus
Learn more about the Department of Human Services.
Résumés are collected on a rolling basis. If your skills and interests match the current DHS projects, we will call you for a follow-up interview. For more information, please contact Shannon Fairchild at Shannon.Fairchild@AlleghenyCounty.us.