Child draws on a blackboard

Contribute to policies impacting children and their families through a Mann Child Policy Externship

Portrait by Zoe Nguyen

As part of the Schubert Center for Child Studies’ Mann Child Policy Externship, junior Zoe Nguyen is completing a placement at the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights. Nguyen created powerful portraits and written profiles of families impacted by the juvenile justice system, with the pieces featured on the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights website.

Students interested in a fall 2021 Mann Child Policy externship are invited to submit their applications by Friday, May 14. The externships are an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience working directly with professionals who design and implement policies that impact the lives of children and families. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the externships are likely to include at least some remote work.

Students will see how research and policy converge during their placements with local policy, service providers and organizations working in areas of child health, education, law, juvenile justice, mental health and child welfare. Recent placements were at the Ohio Public Defender’s Office, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Center for Community Solutions, Birthing Beautiful Communities, the Cleveland Food Bank, First Year Cleveland and the Mental Health and Addiction Advocacy Coalition.

Students gain first-hand perspectives on the policy process by engaging in planning, research, analysis and/or advocacy activities emphasizing policy related to children and childhood. Academic credit is available; the Mann Child Policy Externship also is available as an undergraduate capstone experience in anthropology, childhood studies and psychology.

For more information and to apply, visit the Schubert Center website or email schubertcenter@case.edu.