Overview:
Fahrenheit Creative Group, LLC (FCG) is working with the Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Tobacco Control (MSDH-OTC) to develop and implement a two-month pilot project focused on educating high school-aged youth in George County, Miss. about the dangers of smokeless tobacco.
To accomplish this, FCG is seeking college-aged individuals to participate in an eight-week paid externship to help inform, design, and execute a youth smokeless tobacco prevention campaign. Over the eight-week period starting January 28, 2019, FCG, MSDH OTC, and other tobacco control partners will engage up to three (3) public health externs in interactive, skill-building activities focusing on three areas: tobacco control, public health, and youth engagement.
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
- Be a white male 18–22 years of age on or before February 1, 2019 not currently enrolled in high school
- Be a resident of George County, Miss. OR neighboring rural Mississippi community
- Have a household income of less than $38,000 per year
- Be willing to travel to Jackson, Miss. for training (all travel-related costs will be covered by FCG)
Participate in all program activities for the duration of the externship, including mandatory trainings, webinars, and conference calls.
Externs are not permitted to:
- Use tobacco products or any other illicit substance during the program.
- Work for a tobacco company or participate in the sale or distribution of tobacco products while participating in the program.
- Represent themselves as an employee of FCG or MSDH OTC.
- Use profane, provocative, inflammatory, derogatory or hateful language on social media platforms or speech, including in language directed to tobacco companies, retailers, or distributors.
We strongly encourage all eligible candidates to apply for the externship. Successful externs will exhibit the following qualities:
- Traditional and/or nontraditional leadership experience or potential
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Interest in gaining experience using advocacy and youth prevention to improve health outcomes
- Commitment to enhancing quality of life and improving health outcomes in rural communities
- Empathetic and compassionate toward others
- Interest in developing projects and activities that engage and empower youth ages 13-19
- Solid time management, organization and collaboration skills
- Motivated self-starter
Prior experience or knowledge in the field tobacco control is not required.
Externship Goals and Components
Externship program goals are to:
- Increase externs’ knowledge on the public health and social impact of smokeless tobacco products.
- Enhance externs’ professional and advocacy skills, including teambuilding, problem-solving, project planning, and communication skills
- Support externs in their efforts to mobilize and activate youth around issues related to reducing smokeless tobacco use in rural communities
By the completion of the externship program, selected externs will:
- Design and implement two (2) smokeless tobacco prevention activities that target rural youth in grades 9-12.
- Engage at least 50 rural youth in grades 9-12 in at least one (1) smokeless tobacco prevention activity.
Externship Components
Throughout the program, externs will:
- Learn from professionals in public health and communications
- Work in a team to develop and implement smokeless tobacco prevention activities
- Build critical teambuilding, communication, organizing, and advocacy skills
- Develop new tools and resources to advance tobacco education and prevention efforts among 13-19 year-old rural youth
Externship program components include:
- One three-day training in Jackson, Miss.
- Topical webinars on tobacco control and health advocacy
- Weekly check-in meetings with local FCG staff
- Biweekly check-in meetings with full team
- Development and implementation of a youth smokeless tobacco prevention activity
- Evaluation of program, performance, and impact
Externs must attend the three-day training. Specific locations and dates for training will be available in January 2019. Travel, lodging, and meals will be provided by FCG. Externs will also be provided laptops, mobile hotspots, tablets, and other equipment needed to ensure they are able to full participate in program webinars, conduct research, and report on program activities.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you encounter any technical difficulties or have questions regarding the application, please contact Christine Hunt at sltprev@fcgworks.com.