Intern - Overdose Data to Action (OD2A)

We are seeking a dedicated and motivated undergraduate or graduate student intern to join the Boston Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) team in the BPHC Recovery Services Bureau (RSB). The intern will help the OD2A Program Manager implement Boston OD2A programming by conducting community overdose rescue trainings; tabling at community events; and distributing naloxone through innovative methods and partnerships, including public health vending machines and naloxone boxes and kiosks. They will also support the pilot of OD2A’s door-to-door overdose prevention canvassing pilot, which will recruit and train community volunteers to visit households in neighborhoods with high overdose rates, speak to residents about overdose risk and naloxone, and distribute overdose prevention materials. Furthermore, they will also help plan, recruit clients for, and facilitate the RSB Community Advisory Board (CAB), where staff get client feedback on OD2A activities, RSB services, and drug use and overdose trends to inform RSB programming. Additionally, the intern will help implement the linkage to care component of Boston OD2A by connecting clients of RSB services to substance use navigators placed by Boston OD2A and opioid settlements programming at community health centers across the city.

Key Responsibilities:

• Works to help BPHC advance as an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.
• Provide overdose rescue education and training to treatment providers, community coalitions, law enforcement, business owners, and other groups as needed.
• Update overdose rescue training curriculum and materials in response to emerging trends, needs, and research.
• Coordinate pickups of naloxone and delivery to local organizations.
• Attend community events and meetings such as the Nubian Square Task Force and Mayor’s Coffee Hours to distribute overdose prevention resources like naloxone and connect individuals and community partners to OD2A resources.
• Document information about trainings provided and naloxone distributed to support the OD2A evaluation.
• Support the pilot of OD2A’s door-to-door overdose prevention canvassing program, helping recruit and train volunteers, prepare overdose prevention materials for distribution, and canvassing alongside volunteers as needed.
• Support the braiding of activities between Boston OD2A and BPHC’s opioid settlements-funded projects by supporting naloxone kiosks and public health vending machines at Community Opioid Response (COR) grantee sites.
• Support planning and facilitation of RSB’s Community Advisory Board (CAB), operated by Boston OD2A.
• Support recruitment for RSB CAB by recruiting clients from the Women’s Only Wednesdays (WOW) programming and Safe and Sound Recovery Center (SSRC).
• Register WOW and SSRC clients for the RSB-operated public health vending machine located at SSRC, connect clients with OD2A partner CHC navigators, and provide other support as needed.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn about overdose prevention and response programming
• Gain experience with training and group facilitation and community engagement
• Strengthen ability to work effectively with diverse populations
• Gain exposure to implementing public health programming in a local government setting

Program Description:

The Centers for Disease Control funds an Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) Project at the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), running from 2023 to 2028. Boston OD2A expands BPHC’s overdose prevention work while leveraging surveillance and analytics to make programming responsive and equitable. Boston OD2A’s work includes increasing linkage to care capacity at the community level, distributing naloxone and providing overdose response training, providing clinician training on addiction treatment and pain management, and building local overdose surveillance infrastructure and data sharing capacity. = Engaging our local partners and integrating feedback from people with lived experience is essential to achieving the project objectives. Boston OD2A prioritizes groups disproportionately affected by overdose according to city data, specifically Black and Latinx communities and people recently incarcerated or experiencing homelessness. The project furthers BPHC’s mission of protecting, preserving and promoting the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable. Boston OD2A aligns with BPHC’s strategic plan and commitment to be a model leader in addressing racial justice and health equity. As part of the cooperative agreement, Boston works closely with the CDC and networks with other OD2A jurisdictions across the country, sharing information about emerging practices.