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We are Seeking a Policy Fellow for Mental Health
Posted December 5, 2024
The Policy Fellow for Mental Health at Texans Care for Children is responsible for advancing policies that improve access to quality mental health services for children and families. To meet this responsibility, the Fellow, in partnership with the Director of Health Policy and members of the health policy team, will undertake policy analysis, draft policy briefs and outreach materials, participate in coalition meetings, and advocate during the 89th Texas legislative session.
Position Type: Full-time, Temporary. This is a 20-month fellowship from January 2025 to August 2026.
Responsibilities:
- Provide key policy support to the Health Policy Team by helping raise policymakers’ awareness of the importance of health coverage and access to mental health services to Texas children and families.
- Contribute to team efforts on legislation to improve kids’ health insurance coverage, enhance postpartum depression screening in pediatric settings, and other issues focused on family well-being.
- Participate in coalitions and forums related to mental health and health coverage;
- Write policy analysis, testimony, and other materials to build policymaker awareness and support.
- Provide support for team efforts to protect investments and access to health and mental health programs through the development of sign-on letters, data collection, and coalition outreach.
- Track and analyze state legislation on access to effective mental health and health care.
- Attend informational meetings in person and online (hearings, webinars, conferences, summits, etc.) to understand national, state, and local promising practices.
- Advocate for effective policy improvements in the 2025 legislative session.
- Participate in interim research and help to develop recommendations to improve access to mental health services for Texas children and families.
- Work with agency leaders and staff to address key issues through administrative efforts, as relevant.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in the previous 18 months in public policy, social work, or other relevant field.
- Knowledge of policies and programs for families and children related to health coverage and mental health systems.
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage multiple tasks with initiative.
- Strong writing, research, and data analysis skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a diverse group of stakeholders.
- Experience participating in coalitions and developing and executing strategies for moving a policy agenda forward.
- Experience communicating and understanding diverse concerns of people of varied economic, geographic, racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds.
- Lived experience with the public mental health system.
- Commitment to the mission of Texans Care for Children and passion for improving the well-being of Texas children.
Salary and Benefits:
Salary is $55,000. Texans Care for Children offers excellent benefits to full-time employees, including:
- Employer-paid health, dental, vision and life insurance,
- Employer retirement matching contributions, and
- Paid holidays, vacation, sick, and personal time leave.
Application Process:
Intern and Fellowship Program
Texans Care for Children created its Intern and Fellowship Program to provide valuable policy experience to applicants of all educational, cultural and systems involvement backgrounds. Our organization believes exposure to advocacy work prepares the individual for any future career path they choose to pursue and helps create a better Texas for all children and families to call home.
Goals of Intern and Fellowship Programs:
- Provide interns and fellows with appropriate, meaningful work that enriches our mission to drive policy change to improve the lives of Texas children;
- Improve the pipeline of underrepresented Texans in professional policy positions; and
- Provide underrepresented Texans with policy experiences and skills that will strengthen their ability to support their respective communities while improving our state for all Texas children.
Current Opportunities:
We do not have Internship or Fellowship opportunities available at this time.
Schools and other entities that work to place students and individuals in internships and fellowships can contact hiring@txchildren.org to discuss opportunities.
