Kids In Danger (KID) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children by improving children’s product safety. KID was founded by University of Chicago professors Linda Ginzel and Boaz Keysar. Linda and Boaz’s sixteen-month-old son, Danny Keysar, died in his Chicago childcare home in 1998 when a portable crib collapsed around his neck, strangling him. Although the portable crib had been recalled five years earlier, word of its danger had not reached Danny’s parents, caregiver, or a state inspector who visited the home just eight days before Danny’s death. To date, 19 children have died in cribs of similar faulty design. And portable cribs are just one of many children’s products that may prove to be dangerous.
KID is offering an internship position for the summer of 2013. We would like the intern to focus on developing our TEST program (Teaching Early Safety Training). This program is designed to promote the development of safe products by integrating children’s product safety, standards, and testing practices into the engineering curriculum. While KID has been running the program for several years, we are looking to expand its reach and impact on product design safety. We will be working with a team of University of Chicago Booth School of Business Net Impact Board Fellows this spring to develop a new charter for the program. That will give more direction to the intern plan for the summer.
Intern Work Plan:
· Familiarize the intern with Kids In Danger, the TEST program and the program activities to date
· Research product safety education tools and programs currently in use by Universities, associations, engineering firms, businesses or others
· Using the TEST charter developed this Spring, make a plan of action for TEST over the summer, for one year and a 3-5 year plan.
· Increase KID’s visibility in University Engineering programs beyond the three schools with whom we currently partner. Choosing appropriate schools will be done by analyzing current programs where TEST would be a good fit as well as schools KID has other relationships with such as Alumni board members or supporters.
· Develop program materials that are easily accessible and can be used in a variety of ways throughout the engineering curriculum. KID’s current materials may be updated or new materials designed and tested.
· Update KID’s website’s TEST page with new materials, easier ways to interact with the program and highlight the programs past successes and future goals.
· Consider new technology and applications that might expand the TEST program into new areas.
· By the end of the summer, provide action steps for moving forward and building on the summer’s work.
The intern should:
· Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills
· Be comfortable working closely alongside KID staff and communicating directly with the Executive Director daily.
· Maintain confidence in their ability to coordinate and execute projects.
· Have experience with Microsoft Office software including Word and Excel, and be familiar with Internet research.
· Have an outgoing personality, with patience and persistence in problem solving.
· Be able to adapt well to new situations
· Be self-starting and self-motivating in accomplishing tasks, and have the ability to set goals and the drive to achieve them.
· It is a good position for public policy, political science students, giving the opportunity to develop and implement programs.
The intern will gain a multitude of skills through his or her involvement with KID including:
· Project management;
· Material development that will provide a permanent and sustainable record of their work at KID;
· Heightened communication skills; and
· Experience in project evaluation.
On a broader level, the intern will have the unique opportunity to work closely with the KID staff and Executive Director, learn first-hand about the nonprofit sector, and gain a deep understanding of the way grassroots organizations can bring about important social change. The intern can understand this as a rare chance to be part of building a movement while working in an engaging partnership-style work environment. Through involvement with KID, he/she will help KID reform a system that puts children in danger and make durable change to protect our most vulnerable population: children.
This in an unpaid position but we will work with applicants to meet requirements for class credit. The position is 24-40 hours per week, depending on the student’s schedule and needs. This is an office based position and the KID offices are located at 116 West Illinois Street, Chicago, Illinois.
To apply, send cover letter and resume to Executive Director Nancy Cowles at Nancy@kidsindanger.org
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