Internship Location: Madison WI
Organization Type: Nonprofit
Policy Areas: Childcare Stability
My internship at the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) was an invaluable experience that deepened my understanding of public policy research and analysis. I learned how to conduct detailed background research, code qualitative and quantitative data, and contribute to policy reports, particularly in the context of the Child Care Counts Stabilization program. The skills I’ve been learning at La Follette, such as understanding policy values and the importance of remaining grounded in them while analyzing data, were directly applicable to my work. I was surprised by the complexity of managing large datasets and how detailed communication with my supervisor was essential for ensuring accuracy. The most valuable aspect of the internship was seeing how data and research directly inform policy decisions and witnessing firsthand the issues in Wisconsin’s childcare system. It felt incredibly meaningful to know that our reports were directly informing policies. I would strongly recommend this internship to future students because it provides a hands-on opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world issues and contribute to impactful work. This experience also clarified my career interests, reinforcing my desire to balance analytical work with a broader focus on policy impact.