Internship Opportunity

Description of Organization

The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is the only national organization designed to specifically address the mental health needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI).

Mission/Purpose

The mission of NAAPIMHA is to promote the mental health and well being of the Asian American Pacific Islander communities. It advocates on behalf of AANHPI mental health issues as well as serves as a forum for effective collaboration and networking between stakeholders of community based organizations, consumers, family members, service providers, program developers, researchers, evaluators and policy makers representing the various ethnic and regional differences.

Underlying Principles

NAAPIMHA operates under the following principles:

• Mental health practices should be culturally competent
• Consumer and community-driven
• Community-based

Activities

NAAPIMHA focuses on the following areas, recognizing that cultural competency will be reflected at all levels:

1. Enhance collection of appropriate and accurate data
2. Identify current best practices and service models
3. Increase capacity building which includes providing technical assistance and training of service providers, both professional and paraprofessional
4. Conduct research and evaluation
5. Work to engage consumers and families

Description of Internship

NAAPIMHA provides training opportunities for graduate-level Interns. Interns typically are enrolled in mental health programs (e.g., Social Work, Psychology). This is not a direct service internship, but rather focuses on mental health policy development, advocacy, review of current research, development of best practices and knowledge dissemination, and workforce development.

An intern will typically be involved in:

1. Policy review and recommendations
2. Mental health advocacy for AANHPI consumers and community
3. Literature searches, reviews, and updates
4. Dissemination of mental health information and knowledge
5. Other activities per interest area

Intern will be supervised weekly.

Supervisors:D.J. Ida, Ph.D. Executive Director

Required qualifications include:

1. current status as a graduate student in a mental health or related field
2. excellent verbal and writing skills
3. familiarity with mental health policy development
4. ability to work autonomously

Preferred qualifications include:

1. interest in working with the AANHPI community
2. interest in policy research and development
3. familiarity with culturally congruent mental health approaches/issues.

For more information on NAAPIMHA, internship program, or how to apply, please contact NAAPIMHA at (720)939-6494 or email at djida@naapimha.org