• Rape Prevention and Education Summer 2026 Internship – REMOTE

    Location: Remote

    The Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Intern will join the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Violence and Injury Prevention Section (VIPS) to support statewide rape prevention and education initiatives. This internship focuses on strengthening public awareness, enhancing prevention resources, and supporting the development of training and communication tools used by preventionists and organizations working to end sexual violence across Illinois.

    IDPH, in collaboration with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) and the Illinois Sexual Violence Task Force, is developing a centralized platform that houses rape prevention and education resources and training materials. This platform aims to streamline training, support workforce transitions, promote consistent practices statewide, and increase the longevity and sustainability of professionals engaged in sexual violence prevention efforts.

    In addition, VIPS leads public awareness initiatives and oversees grant programs that fund rape prevention and education strategies statewide. The intern will contribute to these efforts through content development, research, and collaboration with internal and external partners.

    This opportunity is ideal for a graduate-level student interested in public health communication, violence prevention, and digital content development, who is comfortable working independently while collaborating with diverse stakeholders in a remote environment.

    Responsibilities:

    • Research, compile, and organize content to support the development of rape prevention and education resources, training materials, and informational tools for diverse audiences.
    • Assist with adding and organizing content on the RPE platform being jointly developed by IDPH, ICASA, and the Illinois Sexual Violence Task Force.
    • Review materials developed by RPE grantees and subgrantees to identify content suitable for inclusion on the platform, webpages, or publications.
    • Participate in internal and external meetings to stay informed on statewide RPE efforts and identify opportunities for public awareness initiatives.
    • Develop and support public awareness materials, which may include fact sheets, infographics, social media content, website content, and other shareable tools.
    • Share project updates during meetings, including Illinois Sexual Violence Task Force (ISVTF) meetings.
    • Assist with building and strengthening partnerships and collaborations across organizations and agencies.
    • Support additional projects as assigned, including potential assistance with Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) activities related to alcohol and sexual violence prevention.

    Qualifications:

    • Currently pursuing a graduate degree in Communications, Digital Marketing, Health Communication, Public Health, or a related field.
    • Experience or coursework related to publication development, digital communication, social media, or website content development is preferred.
    • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
    • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
    • Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects while collaborating effectively within a team.
    • Interest in sexual violence prevention, public health, and health equity.

    Duration and Compensation:

    This is an unpaid, remote internship with flexible scheduling to accommodate academic commitments. The internship is expected to be approximately 20 hours per week, though hours may be adjusted to meet academic or program requirements. Academic credit may be available depending on institutional guidelines.

    All applications must be submitted by Friday, January 30th, 2026 to be considered for this internship.