About Children’s Defense Fund
To succeed, children need stable homes, quality health care, ample nutritious food, good schools, safe neighborhoods, and access to resources and opportunities that enable them to reach their potential. But the fact is that for too many of our children, these basic building blocks for success are out of reach.
That’s why we’re fighting on all these fronts to make sure every child in America has what they need to thrive. And because we know fixing America’s systemic inequities begins with our children, we focus especially on poor children, children of color and those with disabilities.
We work with Congress and the federal government to advocate for federal policies that improve children’s lives. We also advocate at the state level, pushing for policy reforms through our six state offices that collectively represent nearly 40 percent of all children living in poverty in America. And we train and equip young people, faith communities, decision makers and community organizations to become local advocates for children across the country.
Internship Opportunities
Immigration Policy Intern
Job Title: Immigration Policy Intern (20 hrs/wk)
Job Location: Austin, Texas, United States
Internship Dates: Spring, summer and fall internships available
Stipend: $450 summer, $750 fall/spring if funds available
Deadline: Applications are accepted and interviews are done on a rolling basis, but the deadline for:
Fall applicants is Aug 1.
Spring applicants is Dec 1.
Summer applicants is Apr 15.
Job Description: The internship is based in Austin [remote during pandemic] and provides general support for the CDF-TX Immigration Department. The intern works 20 hours/week, and provides substantive research, compiles reports, monitors immigration news and helps with the execution of advocacy-related activities, including story collection, public education, special event planning, newsletters, and social media work.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Policy research, briefs and training material
- Compiles bi-monthly immigration newsletters
- Conducts research on immigration policy, media trends, and other subjects as needed
- Assists in the development and execution of special projects
- Perform other division, department, and organization-wide special projects as needed
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
Application Instructions: To apply, candidates should email a resume and a one-page cover letter to: Cheasty Anderson (canderson@childrensdefense.org) and type IMMIGRATION POLICY INTERN in the subject line.
Contact: Dr. Cheasty Anderson, Director of Immigration Policy and Advocacy
Email: canderson@childrensdefense.org
Health Care Policy Intern
Job Location: Austin, Texas, United States
Internship Dates: Spring, summer and fall internships available
Stipend: $450 summer, $750 fall/spring if funds available.
Deadline: Applications are accepted and interviews are done on a rolling basis, but the deadline for:
Fall applicants is Aug 1.
Spring applicants is Dec 1.
Summer applicants is Apr 15.
Job Description: The internship is based in Austin (remote during the COVID-19 pandemic) and 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.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Produce policy research, memos, and training material
- Conduct research on state and federal healthcare policy, state lawmakers, media trends, and other subjects as needed
- Coordinate meetings with state lawmakers and their staff
- Collaborate with partners on coalition-wide activities
- Assist in the development and execution of special projects, such as the #SickofitTX Campaign
- Perform other division, department, and organization-wide projects as needed
- Assist in maintaining CDF’s social media platforms
Job Requirements:
- Ability to work effectively and calmly in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
- 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
Application Instructions: To apply, candidates should send a resume and a one-page cover letter to: Cindy Ji (cji@childrensdefense.org) and type POLICY INTERN in the subject line.
Contact: Cindy Ji, Health Policy Associate
Email: cji@childrensdefense.org
Youth Civic Education and Engagement Intern
Job Location: Austin, Texas, United States
Internship Dates: Spring, summer and fall internships available
Stipend: $450 summer, $750 fall/spring if funds available.
Deadline: Applications are accepted and interviews are done on a rolling basis, but the deadline for:
Fall applicants is Aug 1.
Spring applicants is Dec 1.
Summer applicants is Apr 15.
Job Description: The internship is based in Austin (remote during the COVID-19 pandemic) and 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 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:
- Plans civic engagement opportunities with and for youth.
- Conducts research on public policy, media trends and other subjects as needed.
- Writes policy briefs and training material.
- Assists 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’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 high degree of professionalism.
- Strong computer, Internet and research skills.
Application Instructions: To apply, candidates should email a resume and a one-page cover letter to: Maggie Stern (mstern@childrensdefense.org) and type CIVIC ENGAGEMENT INTERN in the subject line.
Contact: Maggie Stern, Youth Civic Education and Engagement Coordinator Email: mstern@childrensdefense.org
Communications & Policy Intern
Job Location: Austin, Texas, United States
Internship Dates: Spring, summer and fall internships available
Stipend: $450 summer, $750 fall/spring if funds available.
Deadline: Applications are accepted and interviews are done on a rolling basis, but the deadline for:
- Fall applicants is Aug 1.
- Spring applicants is Dec 10.
- Summer applicants is Apr 15.
Job Description: The internship is based in Austin (remote during the COVID-19 pandemic) 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:
- Supports CDF’s social media platforms
- Monitors 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, plans, prepares, and executes social media campaigns (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) focused on current public policy issues and other subjects as needed
- Organizes weekly and monthly content calendars
- Assists in the development and execution of special projects and events
- Performs other division, department, and organization-wide special projects as needed and 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
- Commitment to social advocacy and CDF’s mission to be a voice for all children
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact diplomatically and professionally with CDF staff and external partners/contacts
- Strong computer, Internet and research skills
Application Instructions: To apply, candidates should email a resume and a one-page cover letter to: Ana Ruiz (aruiz@childrensdefense.org) and type COMMUNICATIONS INTERN in the subject line.
Contact: Ana Ruiz, Communications Associate
Email: aruiz@childrensdefense.org
