Policy Intern (Graduate Student) - Hybrid: Remote in Boston area with 2 days in office

Organizational Summary

Contraceptive care is basic health care. Yet too many patients in the U.S. struggle to access the care they want, when they want it. 

A national nonprofit founded in 2014, Upstream USA partners with healthcare organizations to provide free training, education, and technical assistance to improve their contraceptive services and meet their patients’ needs – at no cost to them. Over ten years, we’ve supported 200+ healthcare partners (including primary care practices, federally qualified health centers, health systems, and more) with a transformative approach that empowers patients to access the contraceptive care where they already receive most of their healthcare. We’re on a path to partnering with health care organizations that collectively serve 5 million patients by 2030.

We do not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies or the government. Our work is made possible by generous support from venture philanthropy. That privilege comes with high expectations about growth and scale and a focus on measurable outcomes and impact. 

We’re a 2023 Audacious Project recipient that continues to garner attention from many leading publications, including Harvard Public Health, Bloomberg, MedPage Today, Baltimore Sun, the Fresno Bee, and WBUR. We welcome individuals interested in career opportunities, partnerships, or philanthropic endeavors seeking additional information to visit our website (www.upstream.org) or email us at info@upstream.org.

Position Summary

As an Intern on our Policy team at Upstream, USA, you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and contribute to various aspects of the Policy function. You will work closely with members of our Policy team to track systems change and policy implementation efforts across the country, conduct in-depth research into the payor landscape, monitor pharmacy-level access to contraception, and contribute to additional policy projects as needed. Availability to commit to 40 hours per week for the duration of the internship preferable.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Tracking Systems Change 
• Support the team in  tracking the scale and impact of policy changes at the state and federal levels, helping to translate complex systems change efforts into measurable data points
• Identify indicators of strong implementation of contraceptive policy efforts and the factors that contribute to their success
• Synthesize existing research on the short and long term effects of contraception-related laws
• Payor Research and Engagement: 
• Conduct research on state Medicaid priorities and highlight potential overlap with contraceptive access
• Examine managed care landscape in key states
• Synthesize research on innovative payor approaches to expanding contraceptive care and related priorities 

Contraceptive access at the pharmacy level:

• Monitor state approaches to expanding pharmacy-level access to contraception (e.g. pharmacist prescribing, OTC coverage mandates)
• Identify key gaps and opportunities in priority states 
• Additional duties and special projects as assigned.  

Required Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

Upstream fosters a mission-oriented workplace and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds. The ideal candidate upholds our mission of accessible, patient-centered contraceptive care, builds trust through empathy and honesty, and contributes to a collaborative culture. They bring enthusiasm to their work, creating opportunities for connection and celebration.

• Pursuing a graduate degree in Public Policy, Public Health, Law or a related field.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills.
• Some experience in and knowledge of policy and advocacy (state and/or local level) is preferable.