Public Health Quick Response Team Intern

Project Title: Quick Response Team Initiative  

LMPHW Division:  Behavioral Health  

Concentration area(s):  Behavioral Health 

LMPHW Advisor:  Cillian Browne 

Project Supervisor: Lizeth Dominguez 

Project Description:   

The Quick Response Team follows-up within 72 hours to community members who may have experienced an opioid overdose. Follow-up can happen in community homes, community organizations, and/or businesses. The team provide compassionate conversations and connection to services to QRT participants and their loved ones including substance use treatment referral, mental health referrals, any SDoH referral and more. The team operates a heavy harm reduction approach, distributing naloxone, fentanyl test strips and safer using supplies when needed. When not in the field, the Quick Response Team carry out a number of projects including naloxone trainings, harm reduction education sessions, social determinants of health research projects and anything else their passion brings them to within the health equity scope.  

Duties for this internship include: 

Shadowing the team on their daily QRT duties, completing home and community visits. (mandatory) 

Accompany the team to Narcan trainings in the community. 

Trained to facilitate Narcan trainings  

Assist with educational sessions in schools, community centers, local organizations, and other places throughout Metro Louisville. 

Attend committee & coalition meetings such as our QRT steering committee or the Treatment Advisory Group  

Creating or assisting in research projects of interest  

Visiting harm reduction community partners in the community  

Note: Not all of these duties are mandatory, but intern will be required to do some of them 

Goals/Objectives of Project:   

Interns will get firsthand experience of the impact substance use and substance use disorders have on our communities. Being a part of our team, the intern’s involvement will help to develop and strengthen community relationships through compassionate engagement. Interns have the option to develop public speaking skills through naloxone administration trainings and attending other public presentations, carry out any research project that might be of interest to them within this field, cultivate numerous community connections and partnerships through networking. 

Required Skills:  

It is important to be able to engage with community members using confidentiality & discretion.  

Situational awareness. Being able to read the room when speaking with community members 

The team are sometimes invited into community member’s home. This is done at the team’s comfortability. 

Interest in Substance Use Disorder & Harm Reduction 

Interact and engage with a diverse group of people with compassion. 

Ability to work well in team environment 

Required to be in a vehicle (not driving) for up to 4 hours at a time during all weather conditions with routine stops to community members’ homes. 

Preferred Skills:   

Strong verbal and written communication skills. 

Compassionate, friendly, engaging personality 

Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner. 

Number of students (min/max):   

Estimated hours/week: 10-15 hours/wk. 

Estimated project duration:  1 semester minimum (with the option to renew depending on availability of work) 

Working On-Site or Remotely: Onsite