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Environmental Health Student Intern Presentation
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Traci Colley, Human Services Agency, Public Health Department, Public Health Director, 704-296-4801
ACTION REQUESTED:
Receive as information a presentation by Katrina Cruz, Western Carolina University student, on her recent internship experience with the Environmental Health Division of the Union County Public Health Department.
BACKGROUND:
In March 2025, the Union County Public Health Department was selected as a host site for the Summer 2025 National Environmental Public Health Internship Program (NEPHIP), administered by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).
The National Environmental Public Health Internship Program (NEPHIP) is a 400-hour internship opportunity that links environmental health undergraduate and graduate students with funded internship placements at qualified state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) environmental public health agencies.
This workforce initiative supports the establishment of qualified applicant pipelines to help meet current and future environmental health professional workforce needs across the nation and encourages environmental health students to consider careers in governmental environmental public health following graduation.
Potential applicants were pre-screened by the NEPHIP and referred to Union County Public Health for further interviews and selection. We were excited to offer Katrina Cruz this opportunity as she is a local student and is passionate about the work of public health.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
A support package of up to $1,500 per student intern was provided by NEPHIP to compensate Union County for intern-related costs.