PBH 494: Field Studies in Public Health

1. Prepare.Update your resume, tailor your cover letter, prepare for the interview, etc.
2. Research.Think about the career you hope to pursue and the experience you will need to get there and then start looking for an w88.
   • The first place to start will be inSonia.
   • TryCareer Studio and their w88 board.
   • Try thew88 online sports betting of Service-Learning &to get some ideas.
   • A good old fashioned Google search can go a long way. Feel free to go outside the box, but be sure to follow instruction on getting a site approved if you do.
3. Site approval.You don't want to line-up an internship and find out later that the site is not an approved w88, Reno internship site. Get ahead of the game and find out if the sites you have chosen are approved sites.
   • Note: If you can see the site in Sonia, the site is approved. If you don't you will have to submit the Site through Sonia for approval. See Step 4 of your Sonia Student User Guide. Also, contact your instructor immediately to let them know your site potentially needs to be vetted for approval so they can move this process along as quickly as possible.
4. Contact the site.Now that you have identified your top 3-5 sites, now it's time to reach out and line-up some interviews. It sounds old-fashioned, but phone calls can go a long way and be sure to follow-up with an email if possible. Treat it as if you were trying to get a job. Who knows, this could turn into a job if you play your cards right.
   • Be sure to tailor the w88 solicitation template to use for each site you pursue. Keep in mind most of our sites take students every semester and they can tell if you tailored this document or not. Make sure you make it unique to you and your skillsets.
   • Make sure you're sending your resume with any email correspondence you have with potential sites.
   • Have your "elevator speech" prepared
   • Be able to tell your potential Preceptor who you are, your affiliation with the University, the class you will be taking as part of this w88, the w88 timeline, the experience you hope to gain and highlight your strengths and added value to their organization.
   • Prepare for that interview
5. Choose.You chose five great w88 sites, interviewed at three, and were accepted to two. Now what? Well, now you choose which site will ultimately be the most rewarding for you and your career goals.
   • Don't waste anybody's time, once you narrowed it down to the best w88 for you, call them and accept the opportunity. Be sure to thank them and line-up a time to meet to talk about your w88 project, expectations, and timeline of activities.
6. Thank you.Be sure to send thank you emails or letters to every site you interviewed at and inform the sites you didn't choose of your final decision. This will allow that site to move on to the next person on their list.

You will not be able to start your w88 immediately. There are a series of checks you must complete before you can begin your w88.

Checks include the following:

1. Complete theTitle IX Sexual Harassment training inyour respective Canvas course.
2. Submityour w88 placement in Sonia (see Step 4 of Sonia Student User Guide). Once approved,you can move on to step 3.
3. Read and sign your student forms located under“checks” inSonia (i.e.Student Agreement and Student Waiver).There will be a link to a DocuSign form, be sure to chooseyour respective form (i.e.undergraduate or graduate).Your w88 must be approved byyour instructor beforeyou complete this task.
4. Complete yourProject Management Plan (undergraduate)or Student Learning Contract(graduate).Depending onyour current program, processes vary. Please askyour instructor onwhat processes are necessary to complete this action.

• Student Learning Agreement.In this agreement, you are agreeing to all the academic requirements for your field w88 class. It also covers expectations of student conduct; ensures you will comply with all host site rules and regulations. It covers disciplinary procedures in the event you do not comply with this agreement and covers expectations around safety and transportation. Lastly, this agreement covers insurance and liability terms.
• Student Waiver, Release and Indemnification Agreement.Upon signature, you understand the w88 may involve certain risks. It states an informed consent will be given to all students for internships that may include any dangers, hazards and inherent activity risk. This is a release and waiver of liability.
• Project Plan or Contract.TheProject Management Plan (undergraduate) orStudent Learning Contract (graduate) is unique to your w88 and will serve as a guide to completing your project as well as serve as an evaluation tool throughout your w88. Your preceptor, faculty advisor (if applicable to your program) and the field studies instructor will offer you input into its development. This has to be completed before starting w88 hours.
• Individual Professional Development Plan.The Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) helps students identify their career goals and the strategies for achieving them by linking them to MPH coursework and other educational and professional development opportunities.
• All instruction regarding student forms can be found inyour respective Canvas course and Sonia.

Just because you found an internship, doesn't mean it is an approved internship site. According to w88, Reno policy, all internship sites must be vetted every five years with a safety assessment form, proof of liability insurance, a sexual harassment policy and a signed organizational agreement on file. If your internship site doesn't have these things on file, you will not be able to start your internship until they are. This process is initiated by your class instructor.

The process can be very time consuming depending on the organization, so the earlier you can find out if your site is approved, the better. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to find out if your site is approved or not.

FAQs

• I found my w88 through Sonia, are those approved sites?
  • Yes. Most w88 sites you see in Sonia have been vetted and approved.The only exception is if their contract expired. Ask your field instructor if all University compliance measures with your chosen site areup to date.
• What is the procedure to find out whether my w88 site is approved or not?
  • Althoughmostsites in Sonia are approved, that doesn't mean all approved sites are reflected in Sonia. We are still in the process of populating all of our sites into the system, so even if you don't see your site in Sonia, it could potentially still be approved.
  • Go ahead and submit your site through Sonia, this will be a catalyst to seek approval. See Step 4 of your Sonia Student User Guide on how to do this.
  • Youcan also emailyour instructor directly to look-upthesite intheUniversity system.
• What if my w88 is not an approved site?
  • If you started looking for your w88 early enough before the semester, there may be time to get your site vetted before you need to begin your w88.
  • Submitthefollowing information toyour field instructor to beginthevetting process:
    
    • Name and address of the organization
    • Full name of the contact
    • Contact email address
    • Contact phone number
• How long does it take to vet an organization thoroughly?
  • It depends on the organizational structure and how big/small it is. If it is a large organization or is outside the state, it can take anywhere from 3-12 months.
  • Mid-size organizations such as non-profit agencies are usually quick and can take 1-2 months if they have general liability insurance.
  • A start-up agency can be difficult to vet because they might not have a site or have liability insurance. It tends to be very difficult to get these types of sites approved.
  • Government agencies, especially non-local government agencies and large hospital systems are the most difficult and can take up to a year to be fully vetted.
• What if my w88 is not vetted in time to begin my w88?
  • Unfortunately, if your site is not thoroughly vetted per University policy, you will not be able to do your w88 at your desired site.
  • It is our recommendation that you always have 2-3 sites lined up in the event your first choice does not get approved in time.
  • Also, start finding your w88 site early. The earlier you begin your search, the more prepared you'll be to start your w88 on time.
• Is it my responsibility to get the paperwork on file for University approval?
  • No. It is the responsibility of your class instructor to initiate the approval process.
  • However, it is your responsibility to make sure the site has been approved by following the instructions above.
• Am I guaranteed an w88 for this course?
  • No. It is your responsibility to find your own internship and to make sure it is an approved w88, Reno site so you may begin your internship.
  • If you end up in a situation where you cannot find your w88 by the class deadline, you will be asked to drop the class and will have to take the course the following semester.

Background checks policy for University programs

Some state, as well as federal laws, now require that any individual who regularly provides services to certain segments of the population (generally, those deemed "vulnerable" or "special," including but not limited to children and the sick) must submit to a criminal background check in order to obtain and maintain privileges in clinical and/or educational settings. Additionally, many sites affiliated with the w88, Reno for educational purposes have adopted this requirement.

It is not w88, Reno policy to perform background checks on all w88, Reno students, and the w88, Reno does not certify or vouch for the background of the students who participate in an internship. Accordingly, an organization must conduct its own background check or require the student to obtain a background check, if the organization wants to determine fitness for duty using that information. It shall be the organization's responsibility to evaluate the results of such background check and determine the student's fitness for duty.

Disclosure: Background check requirements

As a student in the School of Public Health, you may be required to submit to a background check before being assigned to a clinical facility. The clinical facility will review your background and either accept or reject you for clinical placement. If you receive an adverse action notice from the agency conducting the background check, you have the right to contact the director of human resources at the clinical facility where you are being placed. You may explain the adverse action to the clinical facility and request to be accepted for placement at the facility. If the facility rejects you for placement after review and discussion with you, the clinical facility will notify your program and your field education coordinator for your program will attempt to place you at another facility. If you cannot be placed at a clinical facility and failure to have a clinical rotations or w88 will prevent you from completing your program, you will be advised to withdraw from the program.

Students must be aware that:

1. If a criminal background check is required for placement at any w88 or clinical facility, the expense for the check will be borne by the student or requesting
2. Student's responsibilities: Each student required to provide a criminal background check must provide documentation that they have completed the fingerprinting and criminal background check as required by the clinical facility. Students may need to provide this information prior to beginning a clinical or educational Students need to be aware of the requirements of their program and provide this information in compliance with the stated due date.
3. Results of a criminal background check will not be the property of The University and will not require the submission of results to the School of Public Health or the University.
4. If a student fails to pass a criminal background check they may be ineligible for enrollment and/or participation in the course/activity being
5. The School of Public Health or the University does not accept responsibility for any student being ineligible for coursework or continued enrollment in the School of Public Health for any reason, including failure to pass a criminal background.

Yes. Some agencies, such as Northern w88 Public Health, Renown Health and Saint Mary’s Regional Hospital all requireadditionaldocumentation, immunizations, drug screenings and/or background checks. Talk to your class instructoronwhat these requirements are.