I study Honours Political Science, and I have a particular interest in human rights and public policy. I was looking for an internship that would allow me to learn about the intersection of those two topics in a very practical way. I also wanted to learn more about direct versus indirect service in the nonprofit sector. I found an internship this Summer with the New Hampshire Coalition against Domestic Violence. The Coalition is the umbrella organization for New Hampshire’s 12 crisis centers which serve victims of domestic and sexual violence throughout the state. They seek to create safe and just communities through advocacy, prevention and empowerment of anyone affected by sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking. The staff works in collaboration with member programs to influence public policy on the local, state and national levels, ensure quality services are provided to victims and survivors, and engage in efforts to prevent violence and abuse before they occur. The 12 crisis centers provide direct the direct services to victims.
When I learned about the Coalition, I was fascinated by their work and wanted to get involved. New Hampshire receives among the lowest state appropriations in the US for domestic violence services, despite it being a widespread and serious problem, so the Coalition has to be creative and collaborative in its approach. I especially like the nonpartisan nature of the Coalition as well as the wide range of their advocacy. My learning objectives mainly related to gaining experience in the nonprofit world. First, I wanted to gain experience working with the public affairs team of a nonpartisan organization. I wanted to learn about the services provided to victims in the state of New Hampshire, and the different roles within organizations that provide those services. In relation to legislation, I wanted to become familiar with the process of analyzing and evaluating legislation in order to determine what policies will most benefit survivors and their families. I also wanted to develop research skills, especially for issues relating to survivors where information may be sensitive or private, and to develop written communication skills specifically related to outreach and fundraising.
My role as a legislative intern placed me with the Coalition’s Public Affairs Team, responsible for outreach, media, and public policy. They review every piece of legislation introduced in the New Hampshire legislature every year and tracks hundreds of bills. They also determine the Coalition’s position on the legislation, depending on the impact of the legislation on survivors. The Public Affairs Team works with legislators, community partners, and stakeholders to support and secure passage of bills every year and works to defeat legislation that would adversely affect victims.
As an intern with the Public Affairs team, most of my responsibilities related to legislation. My main project was the creation of a legislative analysis of the last session of the New Hampshire legislature. Throughout the year, the public affairs team monitored all bills in the House and Senate that could affect victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. I compiled a report on how many bills were monitored, what their outcome was, what party wrote them, and so on. As part of that analysis, I wrote reports on all bills that were retained and will return in the next legislative session. The analysis included information around committee action on key bills, data related to the outcome of votes, overall trends, and a comparison to policy occurring on the national level. I also attended and took notes at meetings ranging from harm prevention to mental health education in schools. This was the highlight of my internship because I learned about the nuances of issues in my state from experts in the field. I also researched new countrywide developments such as mental health courts and court watching programs. This also presented a challenge, as I had to learn quickly about issues I had not previously been very familiar with. However I was comfortable asking questions whenever I did not understand something, and my research skills improved.
Although I am not receiving academic credit for my internship, my time with the Coalition has certainly impacted my academic career. My biggest takeaway is that no policy issue is without nuance. Bills that appear helpful might have negative impacts on the people they are meant to serve, and vice versa. Now that I have experience with both indirect and direct service, I can appreciate the importance of both in the human rights field. I am very grateful for the Chris Tyler Marckmann International Social Work award, and I would like to thank the McGill International Experience Award founders, Mr. Bill Mooney and Ms. Brandee Marckmann who made this excellent opportunity possible.
