Ethics & Leadership in Law Politics & Government

Children’s Defense Fund Internships Available

Stipend: $450 summer, $750 fall/spring if funds available

Deadline: Application are accepted and interviews are done on a rolling basis. Deadline for fall applicants is August 1st.

Communications/Policy Intern (20 hrs/week)

Job Description: The internship is based in Austin and provides social media and communications support for the CDF-TX Policy Department. The intern works 20 hours/week, and will contribute to social media campaigns to promote the research, reports, legislative issues and advocacy-related activities of the organization. CDF-TX organizes advocate training/recruitment, story collection, public education, legislator visits, legislative briefings, and public policy events.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Support CDF social media platforms
• Monitor blogs and social media accounts of allied groups to develop basic content knowledge
• about current policy issues related to health care and children’s health
• With supervision, plan, prepare, and execute social media campaigns (Facebook, Twitter,
• Instagram) focused on current public policy issues and other subjects as needed
• Organize weekly and monthly content calendars
• Assist in the development and execution of special projects and events
• Perform other division, department, and organization-wide special projects as needed an assigned

Job Requirements: 

• Experience using social media for advocacy efforts, volunteer or paid
• Visual design skills, video skills a plus
• Ability to work effectively and calmly in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and ability to multi-task
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and execution skills, attention to detail
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact diplomatically and professionally with CDF staff and external partners/contacts
• Strong computer, Internet and research skills

To apply, candidates should email a resume and a one-page cover letter to:

Cheasty Anderson (canderson@childrensdefense.org) and type POLICY INTERN in the subject line.

Youth Civic Education and Engagement Intern

Job Description: The internship provides general support for the CDF-TX Youth Civic Education and Engagement initiative. The intern works 20 hours/week supporting both our policy and organizing work to increase youth civic education and engagement. The youth civic engagement intern provides substantive policy research and reports and monitors legislative committees and the State Board of Education on improving youth civic engagement and education in Texas. Additionally, the intern assists with outreach to partners and school districts on behalf of the Texas Civic Education Roundtable to support the prioritization of culturally sustaining civic education in Texas’ public school classrooms. The intern also supports outreach to young people statewide to support our high school voter registration campaign, as well as provides critical support in developing training curriculums to support young people’s knowledge of and engagement with state legislative and local civic processes.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Plan civic engagement opportunities with and for youth
• Research policy to create briefs and training material
• Conduct research on public policy, media trends and other subjects as needed
• Assist in the development and execution of special projects
• Assist in maintaining CDF’s social media platforms

Job Requirements: 

• Ability to work effectively and calmly in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and ability to multi-task
• Strong organizational and execution skills, attention to detail
• Commitment to social advocacy and CDF mission to be a voice for all children
• Ability to organize facts and present issues in a clear, concise and logical manner, both orally and in writing
• Good interpersonal skills and a high degree of professionalism
• Strong computer, Internet and research skills

To apply, candidates should email a resume and a one-page cover letter to Cheasty Anderson (canderson@childrensdefense.org) and type CIVIC ENGAGEMENT INTERN in the subject line.

Health Care/Immigration Policy Intern

Job Description: The internship provides general support for the CDF-TX Policy Department. The intern works 20 hours/week, and provides substantive research, compiles reports, monitors interim legislative committees and helps with the execution of advocacy-related activities, including story collection, public education, legislator visits, legislative briefings, special event planning, and social media work. Policy areas vary but generally focus on healthcare and immigration.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Research policy to create briefs and training material
• Conduct research on public policy, media trends and other subjects as needed
• Assist in the development and execution of special projects
• Perform other division, department, and organization-wide special projects as needed and assigned
• Assist in maintaining CDF social media platforms

Job Requirements:

• Ability to work effectively and calmly in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and ability to multi-task
• Strong organizational and execution skills, attention to detail
• Commitment to social advocacy and CDF’s mission to be a voice for all children
• Ability to organize facts and present issues in a clear, concise and logical manner, both orally and in writing
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact diplomatically and professionally with CDF staff and external partners/contacts
• Strong computer, Internet and research skills

To apply, candidates should email a resume and a one-page cover letter to Cheasty Anderson (canderson@childrensdefense.org) and type POLICY INTERN in the subject line.