UniverCity Alliance and Dane County Board of Supervisors

Internship Location: Madison, WI

Organization Type: Local Government

Policy Areas: Education and Health

During the 2023 spring semester, I interned with the Dane County Board of Supervisors through the UniverCity Alliance. The objective of my internship was to create a report to present important research and data regarding teen mental health in Dane County and propose policy recommendations to address and support teen mental health in Dane County. This internship required me to conduct a comprehensive data review for the county, conduct a literature review on evidence-based strategies, meet with community members and staff, and finally present to the Dane County Board of Supervisors Executive Committee. My internship involved a lot of collaboration with Dane County Board of Supervisors staff, Dane County Department of Human Services staff, community organizations, and community members. This internship provided a positive environment for me to put my policy development skills to the test while developing my skills at the same time. I valued having a great supervisor who pushed my critical thinking, data analysis, research, presentation, and problem-solving skills. Also, I was able to work on a project I was passionate about which added value to my experience. This internship challenged me to combine my knowledge of public health and public policy and challenged me to use skills from my dual degree coursework. Overall, this project gave me the opportunity to create a policy document from start to finish which enhanced my policy development and presentation skills.