Internship Requirements

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in Washington, DC, offers a graduate student internship in public policy and a communication and public policy internship. The Consumer Voice was founded by Elma L. Holder in 1975 to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of America’s long-term care residents. For more than 40 years, the organization has worked with its members to carry out its mission to inform, educate, and empower consumers; equip citizen groups and ombudsman programs to be effective advocates for residents; and promote best practices in care delivery and the enforcement of quality standards. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about long-term care and advocacy while building your portfolio.    

Interns at the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Consumer Voice) receive a thorough education in public policy, health policy, long-term care, and various topics related to advocating for quality long-term care. They have a variety of responsibilities including: research, health policy analysis, event planning and execution, web page updates, and some administrative duties. Students work closely with experienced policy professionals, congressional staffers, administrators, and other members of the policy community. Interns attend events and forums on Capitol Hill and in the D.C. area.

The hands-on experience interns receive is often that sought by legislative staffs, government affairs offices, and other advocacy and policy groups. Many of our interns have gone to work on Capitol Hill, consulting firms, and government agencies. Some pursue advanced degrees in health policy, law, medicine, or other related fields.

This is a dynamic and exciting internship opportunity where students will get hands on policy and advocacy experience with a well-established nonprofit in the heart of Washington DC. Interns will advocate at the federal level on behalf of nursing home residents - a population made more vulnerable by COVID-19. 

The position requires a time commitment of 20 hours per week in the Fall/Spring and 35 hours in the Summer. Interns are required to attend 1 - 2 virtual staff-wide meetings per week. While this is an unpaid internship, there is a small stipend offered and we are happy to assist students with receiving academic credit for their internship.

Interns are responsible for their own housing, travel, and other associated expenses. Interns must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program and have exceptional writing and computer skills, research knowledge, and willingness to work on a wide range of projects. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the inner workings of a nonprofit organization, engage in grassroots advocacy and gain valuable member development and fundraising skills. Fall interns will be invited to participate in the Consumer Voice Annual Conference.

This internship is a remote position.

Applicant Pool

The selection process is highly competitive. Our applicant pool typically includes candidates from a wide range of academic backgrounds, experiences, and regions from across the country.

The typical intern has a 3.0 or above GPA, has worked in an office setting, has experience in secondary research, has demonstrated analytical skills, and has some public policy and communication exposure.

Eligibility Requirements

• Strong writing, research, and communication skills and a strong interest in health policy.
• Solid academic record
• Must be pursuing a degree or a recent graduate.
• Must be available to intern for the whole semester. (Example: late August/early September through mid-December; early January through mid-May; end of May through mid/late August)
• Prefer candidates who can intern 20-35 hours per week, but we welcome all applicants.

The Process

The Consumer Voice offers internships in the fall, summer, and spring each year. Each internship class begins and ends around the same time as the students’ academic semester, giving them time to make the necessary preparations to transition into and out of the internship program. Below is a chart that outlines the application deadlines and timelines for each term. Dates listed below are subject to change.

Deadlines/Timelines

To Apply
Interested candidates should send a cover letter indicating dates of availability, resume, two references, and a current writing sample (no longer than three pages) to Katie O'Hearn at kohearn@theconsumervoice.org. The subject line should read (Internship Term - Internship Position) (i.e. Summer 2024 - Graduate/Law Student Public Policy Internship). Please address your email to Katie O'Hearn. Applications that do not have all the required documents will not be considered.

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