Texas Network of Youth Services, Incorporated TEST - Policy and Advocacy Intern Austin, TX · Remote · Part time

The Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) seeks a graduate student for a Policy and Advocacy Intern for the 2023 Spring Semester to enhance our policy work to improve the outcomes of Texas youth and young adults (YYA) and our advocacy work done alongside our diverse network of youth-serving organizations and the YYA they serve. The Policy and Advocacy Intern will support TNOYS policy and legislative advocacy during the 88th Texas Legislative Session. The Intern will work predominantly with TNOYS Director of Public Policy but will collaborate with various internal TNOYS teams to conduct bill tracking and legislative analysis, prepare YYA to share their stories to advocate for change, and help to coordinate TNOYS Day of Action for Youth. Since 1980, TNOYS has led the charge to strengthen and support the organizations that work for and with Texas’ most resilient YYA to ensure their success. This work is guided by four priorities: equity and inclusion, youth voice and youth-adult partnership, research and performance-driven programming, and cross-systems collaboration. These priorities drive TNOYS’ strategy to advance systems change in the following youth-serving systems: housing and homeless services, child welfare, justice, education, workforce, health and behavioral health, and victim and survivor services. Individuals with lived experiences with these systems are strongly encouraged to apply.

Description

Reports to: TNOYS Director of Public Policy


Principal Responsibilities:

Support TNOYS policy and legislative advocacy 

  • Track and analyze legislation relevant to TNOYS work across youth-serving systems.
  • Research policy proposals and solutions related to filed legislation.
  • Support engagement of TNOYS membership and the YYA in our network during the legislative session.
  • Support TNOYS team in the coordination and execution of TNOYS Day of Action for Youth, bringing YYA and TNOYS members to the capitol to advocate in support of the TNOYS policy agenda.
  • Support development and writing of TNOYS’ legislative recap, summarizing relevant legislation passed during session. 
  • Track engagement with TNOYS members, stakeholders, and legislative offices through Salesforce.


Qualifications:

  • Comfortable in a remote work environment.
  • Willingness and ability to travel to the Texas Capitol for some days.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills & excellent organizational and time management skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment but also able to work alone.
  • Ability to manage several tasks concurrently and prioritize work effectively.
  • College degree and seeking a Master's degree preferred.
  • Knowledge of youth services preferred.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the legislative process strongly preferred.


Compensation:

The intern will work approximately 15 - 20 hours each week with flexibility around class schedules. There is a possibility that the internship could be extended through the end of June.


Other Details:

The proposed start date of the position is January 23, 2023. Applicants will be screened on a rolling basis and interviews will be scheduled as qualified applicants are identified. The final date to submit your application is January 15, 2023. 


About TNOYS:

The mission of Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) is to strengthen services and support for Texas youth and families to help them overcome challenges to achieve healthy development. We work with young people across Texas to center their voices in the policies and programs that most affect them. TNOYS is a statewide membership network comprised of individuals and organizations who share a vision where all youth and young adults (YYAs) in Texas are valued, their strengths are recognized, their voices are heard and respected, and they have access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to meet their goals.


TNOYS is an equal employment opportunity employer and strongly encourages diverse candidates to apply. TNOYS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy), gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, medical condition including genetic characteristics, mental or physical disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, (including transgender status), weight, height, linguistic characteristics (such as accent and limited English proficiency, where not substantially job-related), citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Salary

$17 - $22 per hour