NOW HIRING!
HEY! Internship
HEY! Internship Overview
HEY! Internship
What: This is a paid Internship for young people who want to speak up, be heard, lead, and help shape a better future for youth in the Greater Cincinnati area. As an Intern, you will be a HEY! (Hopeful Empowered Youth) Fellow and take on additional responsibilities in your internship role to advance the work of enhancing youth mental health and well-being. You’ll help drive key aspects of HEY!’s 10-year plan forward while also developing your own skills, confidence, and career experience. This Internship requires young people with a deeper level of commitment, who strive for personal and professional growth, and want to work closely with others to achieve a collective impact. To be considered as an Intern, you must have completed a HEY! Fellowship in the past.
Download the Internship Application Overview
HEY! Internship
Numbers: We are seeking 4 Interns for this opportunity
Duration: October 2026 - May 2027
Applicant Demographics: Young people aged 16-24 who are graduates of previous HEY! Fellowship Cohorts in the Greater Cincinnati region are invited to apply. The 10-year strategy is designed to improve supports for all youth in the region with a targeted focus on those who are facing the most significant barriers from the current system: Black and Brown youth, LGBTQ+ youth, and systems-involved youth (involvement with child welfare, foster care, juvenile justice system). We are seeking youth who can share their lived experiences.
Hours per month: Up to 80 hours per month
● This may include in-person meetings, attending working group meetings, and administrative duties.
● Work hours may increase to roughly 80 hours per month, but most months are 40-60 hours per month or about 10-15 hours per week
Rate: $21/hr
Support Team: HEY! Program managers & Youth At The Center
HEY! Internship 2026-2027 Additional Details
Timeline:
August 12: Application Opens
August 18: Virtual Info Session
August 31: Application Deadline
September 7-20: Interviews
September 25: Notification
Oct 1: Orientation (Virtual)
Oct 5: Fellows Launch - In person
Oct 16-18: Fellow Retreat
Meeting Locations/Timing
Fellows will meet on Monday evenings from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM and on Thursdays from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at the Youth At The Center Office (downtown at 500 Reading Rd, 45202). Interns are also expected to attend Working Group Meetings, Steering Committee Meetings, and other HEY! Meetings. These meetings might be held at Interact for Health in Kenwood or at other community locations.
Transportation:
We ask that Fellows reliably attend weekly meetings and other in-person events, such as trainings, community events, or youth summits. We know that transportation can be challenging, so we do offer transportation support when needed. Metro bus passes are available, as well as Uber rides, which can be provided in special circumstances. These resources aren't intended for regular or daily use and should only be utilized when other transportation options are unavailable.
Working Group Interns
Each intern will be assigned to at least one Working Group area:
● Community and Caregivers
● Treatment
● Schools
● Data
What else will Interns be doing?
In concert with the working groups, Interns will:
● Research and Administrative tasks in support of working group strategies and projects
● Provide feedback and perspectives to help advance the broader HEY! initiative, particularly informing the work of the Steering Committee and Working Groups.
● Make recommendations to ensure mental health systems are youth-centered
● Be invited to engage in opportunities for personal and professional development through coaching, training, and hands-on experiences
● Have Public Speaking & Advocacy opportunities to share findings with stakeholders/key players
● Participate in data collection to ensure as many youth voices are included in the process as possible
● Collaborate with youth fellows to co-design initiatives, co-facilitate discussions, and strengthen youth-led decision-making
● Plan fellowship meetings and lead activities
● Act as a representative for their respective working group
Interns will also be asked to attend a Fellowship bonding retreat:
● All Interns will participate in a 24-48 hour overnight retreat focused on team building, bonding, and leadership development.
● This will be an opportunity to connect with your peers, build trust, and have fun, all while learning new skills.
● The retreat will take place, and youth must be comfortable spending a night or two away from their guardians. More details will be shared in advance.
● During the retreat, the goals for youth are to participate in:
○ Team building and trust-building activities
○ Mental health conversations
○ Youth-led goal setting for the upcoming Internship
○ Fun, relaxing, and informal conversations
Key Qualities
While each Intern will bring their own background, beliefs, and experiences to share, Interns should possess these key qualities:
● Interest in creating a healthier community for young people
● Promoting resources and qualities that support youth well-being
● A flexible schedule that allows for regular participation in meetings and events
● Willingness to engage in courageous conversations around mental health, stigma, historical inequities, and more
● Ability to engage with peers and community members
● Being a strong team player and able to offer support, mentorship, and opportunities to younger fellows and a desire to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with fellows and other positions within HEY!
● Interest in taking the lead on tasks or projects and following through independently. being able to lead small tasks or parts of a project,
● Able to clearly communicate with different roles, like working group members, program managers, other fellows, and other interns.
● Able to utilize what they know about mental health and the mission/goals of HEY!
● Leave your title at the door - Interns are Fellows first and are willing to step up in time to make more things happen within HEY!
Opportunities for Training and Skill Development
Interns will engage in coaching and receive training to develop their skills and equip them with the knowledge to aid their efforts in developing the strategy, including.
● Leading parts of projects or tasks
● Assist in facilitating meetings
● Community Building
● Understanding Leadership Styles
● Project Planning/Event Planning
● Conflict Management/Giving & Receiving Feedback
○ Working with peers and being able to hold each other accountable in a positive manner
● Effective Communication/Public Speaking
○ Communicating effectively across different roles within HEY!
● Asset-Based Community Engagement/Asset Mapping
● Grounding in Community Research Practices: Youth-Led Programs and Youth Participatory Action Research
● Help prepare youth to attend working group meetings
● Learning how to connect people and share information
