The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey proudly welcomes interns from a wide array of disciplines each year. We are honored to learn from their fresh perspectives and thrilled to support these passionate, talented students in building professional skills. This National Intern Day, we are shining the spotlight on the wonderful interns making a real impact at the Partnership. Their contributions support our work in delivering vital services, resources, and programs to ensure safe, respectful births and to empower families to thrive.
The Partnership Intern Experience
“I would like people to know that this internship has strengthened my passion for community health and shown me the importance of meeting families where they are,” said Fatou, a nursing student intern with our Family Connects New Jersey (FCNJ) team through New Jersey’s Career Accelerator Program.
Maria, another FCNJ nursing student intern, explained that she was drawn to the program for its hands-on community nursing experience. During her internship, Maria has had the opportunity to connect with diverse populations and see what healthcare looks like beyond the traditional hospital setting.
“I am excited to develop my skills, better understand the role of community nurses, and contribute to improving health outcomes within the community,” Maria said.
Yessenia Mercedes, Clinical Education Coordinator overseeing internships for our New Jersey Postpartum Resource Support Network team, said that their program focuses on macro-level social work. Interns attend stakeholder meetings, co-facilitate support groups, engage in community events, and create or update psychoeducational materials and resources.
“We also provide regular supervision to help interns connect what they are learning in the classroom with their field experience and professional development,” Mercedes said. “Over the years, we’ve worked with both bachelor’s- and master’s-level social work interns and have enjoyed helping them build practical skills while gaining a broader understanding of perinatal mental health systems and community engagement.”
Making an Impact: Supporting Maternal-Child Health, Families, and the Community
Internship opportunities span our three office locations, including the Family Success Centers in Dover and Irvington. At the Unity Family Success Center (UFSC), Brandi recently wrapped up her 120-hour Capstone internship, where she supported intake activities, led a data analysis project, and designed community workshops.
“She was a valuable support to our team and gained hands-on experience in community programming, outreach, data analysis, and event coordination,” said Marie Alexandre, UFSC Program Manager.
This summer, we welcomed three interns through the Rutgers University Equity in Action Summer Internship (EASI) program, which allows Rutgers Health students to understand how community-based programs support families and improve health outcomes beyond the hospital. The cohort included a public health major, a nursing major, and a medical student. They created and delivered comprehensive presentations, accompanied by educational materials for the UFSC team and Partnership colleagues to use for community education. Their topics focused on diabetes awareness and prevention, preeclampsia, and child development.
Meaningful Community Health Experiences
The EASI intern cohort joined Doula Dialogues: A Community Doula Event, hosted by the Partnership’s Center for Clinical Impact, that brought together doulas and community-based organizations to learn, network, and share resources. The day featured engaging presentations led by healthcare workers, including physicians and doulas. The EASI interns found this an impactful experience that broadened their knowledge of perinatal and community health.
FCNJ intern Fatou described a meaningful experience during a maternal home visitation that taught her the importance of building trust with patients. The mother, who was struggling emotionally, was made to feel safe and supported by the visiting nurse who created a nonjudgmental environment.
“Throughout the visit, she was able to express emotions and challenges that had been weighing on her. By the end of the visit, she appeared more at peace and relieved, knowing that she had been heard and supported,” Fatou said. “This experience showed me the importance of building trust and providing emotional support.”
Christine, a public health graduate student intern with the Center for Clinical Impact, described how her role supports our professional education team. She noted that working with the bereavement program showed her what a profound impact compassionate, evidence-based education can make for families coping with loss.
“During my internship with the Center for Clinical Impact, I have seen firsthand the importance of developing educational programs that support healthcare professionals and improve patient and family care,” said Christine. “This experience has strengthened my communication skills and reinforced the impact that education can have on improving healthcare.”
Thank You, Partnership Interns
We are grateful to every intern at the Partnership. Thank you for your work, your enthusiasm, and your dedication to advancing maternal health outcomes. We are excited about what your future holds and privileged to be a part of your professional journey.