• Rape Prevention and Education Intern – Spring 2027 – Remote

    Candidates must have secure home internet access, a hotspot, or VPN and the ability to work remotely while collaborating with program staff at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). 

    The Rape Prevention and Education Intern will join the IDPH Violence and Injury Prevention Section (VIPS) in the Office of Health Improvement, Division of Emerging Health Issues to support rape prevention and education (RPE) efforts. IDPH in conjunction with ICASA and the sexual violence task force has taken on the task of creating and developing a platform that includes resources and training materials that are easily accessible for preventionists, and others involved in RPE efforts throughout the state. Utilization of this platform will streamline training, ensure smooth transitions between staff, and establish consistent practices across care providers in Illinois. The goal of this project is to increase longevity of people in Illinois working to end sexual violence. 

    In addition, VIPS goal is to enhance and expand prevention efforts statewide including to assist in these efforts through public awareness and programming. Specifically, VIPS staff assist IDPH Communication Office with development of public awareness campaigns by providing subject matter content and development of other shareable materials. VIPS also oversees a grant program to fund organizations to implement rape prevention and education strategies/efforts statewide. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain hands-on experience in communications and digital creation. 

    Responsibilities:

    • Update the existing IPV toolkit, which was previously housed in Box, by converting it into accessible, user-friendly digital materials focused primarily on domestic violence, with relevant information and resources related to sexual violence.
    • Assist in researching content and compiling information to create additional resources, information, and training materials on rape prevention and education to address various topics and audiences. Content would be added to the platform that is jointly being developed by IDPH, ICASA (Illinois Coalitions Against Sexual Assault), and the Illinois Sexual Violence Task Force for preventionists and others to utilize to enhance statewide efforts.
    • Conduct comprehensive literature reviews and research on relevant public health and prevention topics to identify key findings, trends, and evidence-based information. 
    • Review materials developed by Rape Prevention and Education grantees and subgrantees to identify content suitable for inclusion on the platform, as well as opportunities for webpage updates and the development of additional publications and resources.
    • Attend internal and external meetings to stay informed on key topics and identify opportunities to develop public awareness materials that address gaps in audience knowledge and engagement.
    • Develop publications and other tools to increase awareness of the sexual violence and rape prevention education efforts. Publications may include, but are not limited to fact sheets, infographics, social media, and website content, etc. 
    • Share updates on status of projects during meetings, such as ISVTF meetings. 
    • Assist in building partnerships and collaborations. 
    • Perform additional duties as assigned within the scope of the project.

    Requirements:

    • Currently pursuing a graduate degree (and in good academic standing) in Communications, Digital Marketing, Health Communications, Public Health, or a related field.
    • Experience or coursework related to publication development, digital communication, social media, or website content development.
    • Interest in sexual violence prevention, public health, and health equity.
    • Ability to work remotely and maintain regular communication with the supervising team.
    • Secure home internet access, a hotspot, or VPN. 

    Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

    • Ability to conduct comprehensive literature reviews with an understanding of research, methods, data analytics, visualizations, and study limitations. 
    • Ability to interpret and clearly summarize public health data and research and translate it into clear, accessible language. 
    • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint), and familiarity with data and graphic design tools (e.g., Canva).
    • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to produce clear, structured reports, web publications, and other professional written materials. 
    • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
    • Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
    • Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners, including gathering input and incorporating stakeholder feedback into documents and materials.

     Duration and Compensation:

    This remote internship is for the Spring 2027 semester (with flexible start and end dates depending on your academic schedule) and will require approximately 20 hours per week (though hours may be adjusted to meet academic or program requirements). 

    This is an unpaid internship, but academic credit may be available depending on your institution’s policies and guidelines – please check with your academic advisor. 

    All applications must be submitted by 9 a.m., Monday, October 5, 2026 to be considered for this internship.

    Apply Here