The Center for Population Health at Clackamas County Public Health Division (CCPHD) includes two Community Liaisons in the Health Equity and Partnership Unit. This opportunity will work with the Eastern European Liaison to broaden and deepen Clackamas County Public Health’s reach into the Eastern European community.

Purpose:

The purpose of the engagement with faith leaders is to start forming relationships with key individuals who are seen as trusted community leaders. This is a first critical step to effectively reach community members. Engagement with faith leaders will be done through in-person or virtual interviews, however the faith leader or their delegate prefer to engage.

Intern Learning Objectives:

Through this internship, the intern will gain experience in community engagement, qualitative research, cultural humility, and collaborative public health practices.

Scope of project:

The Liaison and Intern will have a script / guide to help facilitate the conversation and a variety of resources to share with the faith leader. The information collected through conversations (qualitative data) will inform next steps / additional engagement with community members.

Confidentiality and Ethical Considerations:

All interviews and notes must be conducted and stored in accordance with CCPHD’s confidentiality standards. Interns will be expected to adhere to ethical guidelines regarding informed consent and cultural respect.

The project will involve the following activities in collaboration with the Eastern European Liaison:

Activity

• Refine script and questions – Conversation guide to use with every interview

Populate a list of faith leaders and contact information – Spreadsheet of faith leaders, contact information

Schedule conversations with faith leaders or their delegates – Tracking system to document engagement

Assemble a variety of resources to share with faith leaders – A collection of resources (culturally & linguistically specific) when possible from Clackamas County and community partners.

Meet with faith leaders – Typed notes that is saved on the CCPHD network

Analyze qualitative data & recommend next steps – Summary of community priorities, strengths, needs, and next steps

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Eastern European cultures and communities in Oregon
• Knowledge of foundational Public Health concepts, such as social determinants of health, and trauma informed practices
• Fluent in Russian or Ukrainian, and English
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with CCPHD team
• Be a self-starter, motivated and curious

Time commitment: minimum of 10-15 hours per week