Field Placement:  California Breathing
Location: Sacramento, CA
Preceptor: Deanna Rossi
Student Name: Carlos Bello
Year: 2008

I served as an intern at California Breathing, a state agency within the California Department of Public Health, from July 11, 2008 to September 18, 2008.  I was supervised by Deanna Rossi, the associate program director, on the development of an asthma policy brief and the evaluation of programs funded by the agency.  The objectives of my projects were to 1) write and develop a companion document to the Strategic Plan for Asthma in California, 2008-2012 for state legislators; 2) analyze the evaluation plans of the Strategic Plan Implementation Grant (SPIG) recipients; 3) evaluate the Healthy Homes Training; 4) actively participate in staff meetings, strategic planning, and stakeholder meetings; and 5) update and become familiar with the California Breathing County Asthma Profiles.  By the end of the internship, I developed an advanced draft of the policy brief; analyzed the evaluation plans of three SPIG grantees and outlined evaluation plan recommendations; developed and implemented a survey of the Healthy Homes Training; and easily achieved the remaining two objectives.  In addition, I presented the results of my program evaluation projects at a monthly staff conference call meeting with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funder.

The consistent support and feedback from the agency staff contributed to the success I had in achieving my internship objectives.  The agency committed a considerable amount of attention to my policy brief and allowed me to become an integral part of their program evaluation activities.  Health communication theories and program planning and evaluation concepts taken from my CHS coursework guided my projects.  I developed skills in the areas of creative brief development, communication, and leadership, and I gained knowledge in policy evaluation.  I will improve on prioritizing projects and communicating more effectively.

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