Child Family Health International
The UI College of Public Health has a standing agreement with Child Family Health International (CFHI) that allows public health students to participate in a number of global internships around the world. CFHI provides community-based global health education programs for students and institutions. Their unique model fosters reciprocal partnerships and empowerment in local communities, transforming perspectives about self, healing, and global citizenship. Students can choose from internships in 10 different countries around the world, focusing on a wide variety of public health issues, including community engagement, healthcare access, reproductive health, and disease prevention.
Their programs emphasize a model to let the world change you and encourage students to commit themselves to address disparities at home and abroad, recognize the complex determinants of health, and embrace cultural humility. Students witness the building of health systems, governmental and non-governmental collaborations, and intimate exchange between healthcare providers and patients that uncover cultural, historical, and social influences to health and healthcare. Their Theory of Change emphasizes the strengths of sustainable, local health systems, enabling public health policies and economic development to address health disparities at home and abroad.
Internships focus on a wide variety of public health focus areas and differ by location. Opportunities include community medicine, healthcare access and inequities, infectious disease prevention, and many others. During the enrollment process, students will have an opportunity to specify their areas of interest to ensure an optimal and educational experience. However, students should review the program types available in each location carefully before applying as not all locations offer every opportunity.
Some locations do have a minimum foreign language requirement.
CFHI does not offer course credit. However, UI students may arrange to receive UI course credit if so desired. All arrangements are the responsibility of the student and must be made prior to the program start date.
Note: This experience is currently only for CPH graduate students. Undergraduate students should contact the UI Office of Study Abroad for eligible undergraduate programs.