Richard B. Kirchhoff Public Policy Internships

The Richard B. Kirchhoff Public Policy Internship provides undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on experience in public policy and advocacy while building their understanding of key health policy issues. The program equips interns with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding suicide prevention and mental health at a systems level and demonstrates the critical role public policy and advocacy play in advancing public health outcomes.

This internship combines short- and long-term projects with ongoing assignments that provide meaningful exposure to public policy and advocacy work. Internship opportunities are available during both the fall and spring semesters, with the option to extend across both terms upon approval.

The Richard B. Kirchhoff Public Policy Internship is currently operating in a hybrid format, with interns working from AFSP's office in Washington, D.C., one day per week.

Internship responsibilities include:

• Supporting legislative, regulatory, and grassroots advocacy initiatives aligned with AFSP's public policy priorities
• Tracking and researching federal and state policy issues, legislation, and regulations related to suicide prevention and mental health
• Monitoring policy developments and preparing written summaries, memos, and analyses
• Attending relevant congressional hearings, briefings, coalition meetings, and advocacy events
• Assisting with policy and advocacy projects, events, and stakeholder engagement activities
• Completing at least one substantive special project in collaboration with AFSP's Policy & Advocacy Office staff
• Providing additional support on policy, research, communications, and administrative projects as needed

Applications will be open late Fall and early Spring yearly. A link to the posting on our AFSP careers portal will be posted here while applications are open. For further inquiries, email [email protected].

During the 2025-26 academic year, I had the privilege of working with the AFSP Public Policy and Advocacy office to complete my practicum for my Master’s of Public Health degree. Since beginning my higher education journey, I had my eyes set on working for this office. This opportunity was everything I could hope for and more. I gained real-life policy analysis experience, created policy materials, and helped plan and implement the annual advocacy forum. It was a fun challenge to work both on federal and state suicide prevention policy, ultimately giving me transferable skills. I was also able to practice adapting and shifting priorities due to the fast-paced nature of suicide prevention policy. AFSP has dutifully prepared me for the remainder of my career in suicide prevention policy.

Are you interested in becoming a Volunteer Advocate? By signing up as a volunteer advocate, you join thousands of other advocates as a vital part of AFSP’s large grassroots network with the resources and tools to speak out for suicide prevention and mental health at all levels of government.

• Take action TODAY on the AFSP Action Center
• Sign up as an AFSP Volunteer Advocate to stay connected to AFSP Advocacy and get updates on new opportunities to take action
• Go to our Advocacy Resources page for additional learning resources
• View our Policy Priorities, including University and College Campus Suicide Prevention
• Attend an Advocacy Action Day, an annual event where AFSP advocates can meet with their state legislators to discuss top suicide prevention and mental health policy priorities
• Host an Out of the Darkness Campus Walk