Graduate Student Internship Program

2009 Catalog of Internship Opportunities

Needs Assessment GSIP

Mississippi State Department of Health
Office of Health Data and Research, Jackson, MS
Skill Area: Needs Assessment

Agency Information

The program housing the GSIP position will be the Office of Health Data and Research (OHDR).The OHDR provides data, analysis, research, surveillance, and support and management of assessment-related activities within Health Services with emphasis on Maternal and Child Health (MCH). The OHDR is staffed by research biostatisticians, epidemiologists, program specialists, and other support staff who conduct and analyze the surveillance programs listed below. It also develops chronic disease reports and coordinates the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant and the Title V Maternal Child Health Block Grant.

Purpose, goals, and objectives of internship

Purpose: The purpose of the Needs Assessment GSIP (NA-GSIP) internship will be to provide experiential learning in the planning, development, implementation, and analysis of the 5-year Title V Maternal Child Health Block Grant Needs Assessment.

Goal: The goal of the NA-GSIP internship will be to play an integral role in conducting a comprehensive T-V MCH Needs Assessment for the state of Mississippi.

A primary component of the internship will be completion of a consumer satisfaction survey project relevant to the Needs Assessment. The project entails conducting a survey among a sample of consumers utilizing the maternal child health services offered through the local health clinics operated by the Mississippi State Department of Health. The surveys should be completed over a 30-day period or less with additional time being required for data management and analysis. The entire project could easily be completed within 90 days or less. The activity will include:

• Updating the survey tool utilized during the previous 5-year assessment
• Establishing inclusion/exclusion criteria for sampling
• Traveling to the local clinics chosen for the sample
• Data Collection / Interviewing consumers visiting the clinics
• Compiling data in a workable data base format
• Analyzing data
• Producing a report of results of the surveys.

In addition, the intern will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of data collection and analysis efforts related to the needs assessment.

Objectives for the internship include:

• Demonstrate effective data collection/management/analysis skills in the execution of a comprehensive statewide needs assessment
  • Sampling methodology
  • Data entry and data base development
  • Software selection
• Utilize critical thinking skills in the application of epidemiological principles in diverse settings
  • Selection of appropriate tables, graphs, or charts for illustrating finding
• Employ multiple data collection strategies to complete a comprehensive assessment
  • Oral or written surveys
  • Data base sources – local and national
  • Vital statistics data
• Compare impact of diverse members of the Needs Assessment team on setting state health priorities for next MCH Block Grant cycle

• Consider population-based perspective of team development
• Consider need for representation of major cultural/ethnic identities within state
• Consider need for interdisciplinary perspectives when establishing health priorities
• Consider diversity of stakeholders requiring representation on the team i.e. private providers, consumers, public health officials, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, etc.

Data or analytic tasks and activities

Quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection will be required to complete a comprehensive assessment of MCH needs across Mississippi. Analytical tasks may include quantitative data management and analysis

Data or analytic skills required

The OHDR has a variety of biostatisticians and epidemiologists utilizing a variety of software applications include SAS, SPSS, SUDAAN. Support for student utilization of these software programs will be readily available.

Supervisors

The primary supervisor will be the Needs Assessment Coordinator. The Needs Assessment Coordinator role will be filled by the Health Services Chief Nurse, Juanita Graham MSN RN. The secondary supervisor will be biostatistician Larry Smith PhD.

Internship begins

The timing of the internship is negotiable to the convenience of the student as long as the program requirements of beginning in May, June, or July 2009 are met.

Housing

Assistance in locating housing nearby is available. There are some apartment buildings in the area. Although there will be no access to campus dorms, there are several colleges and universities in the very near vicinity of the office which offer a number of rental housing options.

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