Human Services Internship

DHS Internship Program Overview
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) Internship Program provides students with hands-on experience in public service. Interns contribute to projects that support vulnerable populations and improve the delivery of human services across Allegheny County.

DHS seeks undergraduate and graduate students who want to make a difference. Interns work on meaningful projects that strengthen public services and support vulnerable populations. Many interns continue working with DHS after graduation.

Why Intern at DHS

• Contribute to projects that improve lives across Allegheny County
• Gain experience with one of the top human services agencies in the country
• Work alongside professionals and community partners
• Build skills and explore career paths in public service

The 2026 Spring DHS Internship cohort starts on Monday, February 9, 2026 and the 2026 Summer DHS Internship cohort starts on Monday, June 1, 2026. 

Eligibility

• Candidates must be enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university
• Candidates must be available to work at least 20 hours per week (up to 29 hours/week)
• Candidates must be available to work in person at their assigned Pittsburgh office
  
• International candidates must be able to fulfill the federal I-9 documentation.  Please refer to page 2 in the link: I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification 

DHS Overview
DHS is the largest agency in Allegheny County government, with an annual budget of over $1 billion. Through partnerships with community organizations, DHS supports more than 200,000 of the County's most vulnerable populations.

Learn more about DHS at Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Allegheny County Analytics

Office of Analytics, Technology & Planning (ATP) Overview

The Office of Analytics, Technology, and Planning (ATP) supports policy development, quality improvement, and strategic decision-making for Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services. Through research, data analysis, and community engagement, ATP helps improve services for the county’s most vulnerable residents.

Location: Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222  

AVAILABLE  INTERNSHIPS - Project/Program Management

Justice Collaborations Intern

Join the Justice Collaborations team to support the development, planning, and implementation of cross-system initiatives that improve human services for individuals involved in the criminal legal system. This internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to systems-level change with a focus on equity, community-based support, and anti-racist practices.

The Justice Collaborations team works to ensure that justice-involved individuals have access to human services while remaining in the community whenever possible. The team is committed to reducing racial disparities and advancing justice through an anti-racist, trauma-informed, and collaborative approach.

Responsibilities

• Research & Program DevelopmentInvestigate evidence-based and promising practice models to inform the design of new programs or processes.

• Stakeholder Engagement Assist in facilitating stakeholder workgroups to assess and address systemic challenges.

• System Mapping & Analysis Map existing system processes and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Cross-System Coordination Support collaboration across agencies for complex individual cases.

• Data-Collection & Reporting Gather and organize data for grant reporting and program evaluation.

• Training Development Contribute to the creation of training materials for internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• A demonstrated interest in justice reform, equity, and systems-level work
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting
• Cultural humility and a commitment to anti-racist and trauma-informed practices
• Experience with community engagement, policy analysis, or human services (preferred but not required)

AVAILABLE  INTERNSHIPS - Computer Science/Technology

Infrastructure Support Engineering Intern

The Technology group within DHS’s Office of Analytics, Technology and Planning (ATP) designs and maintains the digital infrastructure that powers human services across Allegheny County.

The Infrastructure Support Engineering Intern will work alongside experienced engineers to help maintain, monitor, and improve DHS’s enterprise technology systems. This role is ideal for a student interested in IT operations, systems engineering, or technology in the public sector. The intern will gain hands-on experience in troubleshooting, automation, and infrastructure deployment at scale.

Responsibilities

• Assist in troubleshooting and resolving infrastructure-related issues (e.g., network, servers, storage)
• Monitor system performance and help implement automation for routine tasks
• Support the deployment and configuration of infrastructure tools and services
• Document system processes and contribute to internal knowledge resources
• Collaborate with ATP staff to improve system reliability and user experience
• Participate in special projects related to infrastructure modernization and security

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or experience in information technology, computer science, or systems engineering
• Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python, JavaScript, or PowerShell
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting
• Interest in public sector technology and infrastructure operations
• Experience with system monitoring tools or cloud platforms is a plus

Software Engineering Intern

The Software Engineering Intern will contribute to real-world projects that impact DHS’s products and services. Interns will work with experienced developers to design, build, and test software solutions, gaining hands-on experience in the full development lifecycle. This role is ideal for a student interested in public sector technology, civic innovation, or enterprise software development.

Responsibilities

• Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Participate in code reviews, testing, and debugging
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand requirements and deliver features
• Assist in documenting technical processes and user guides
• Contribute to internal tools, public-facing applications, or data-driven platforms
• Support efforts to improve accessibility, performance, and user experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, JavaScript, Java, or C#)
• Experience with web development frameworks (e.g., React, Django, Node.js) or backend systems
• Familiarity with Git, version control, and agile development practices
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Interest in public sector software, civic tech, or human services innovation
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment

AVAILABLE  INTERNSHIPS - Data Analytics

Housing and Homeless Analytics Intern

This intern will assist the Housing and Homeless Analytics Team with data cleaning, analysis, and visualization to support strategic initiatives. This role is ideal for a student interested in public health, housing policy, or applied data science. The intern will gain hands-on experience working with real-world datasets and contributing to projects that impact housing services and homelessness prevention.

Responsibilities

• Clean and organize data related to shelter usage, housing programs, and outreach activities
• Assist in analyzing trends in homelessness, eviction, and housing displacement.
• Contribute to dashboards, reports, and visualizations for internal and public use.
• Support data quality checks and documentation of analytic workflows
• Conduct background research to contextualize findings and inform policy recommendations
• Collaborate with program staff and external partners to understand data needs and deliver insights

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or experience in data science, public health, urban studies, or related fields
• Proficiency in Python, R, SQL, or similar programming languages
• Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, matplotlib, ggplot2)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Interest in housing equity, homelessness prevention, and public sector analytics
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting

Criminal Justice Analytics Intern

The Criminal Justice Analytics Team is seeking a dedicated intern to support monitoring and evaluation efforts for the Community Violence Reduction Initiative. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to data-driven public safety strategies and gain hands-on experience in applied criminal justice analytics.

The Criminal Justice Analytics Team, part of DHS’s Office of Analytics, Technology and Planning, uses data to improve outcomes for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The team develops dashboards, conducts research, and collaborates with partners to inform policy on incarceration, court services, and behavioral health interventions. They also monitor and evaluate contracted provider services to ensure accountability and effectiveness across the justice-involved population

 Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data related to community violence reduction programs.
• Support the development of performance metrics and evaluation frameworks
• Contribute to the creation of reports, dashboards, and visualizations for internal and external stakeholders
• Help maintain documentation and organize program data and files
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to problem scoping and solution design

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework or experience in criminal justice, public policy, data science, or a related field
• Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and communication skills
  

Data Analytics Intern (Children, Youth & Family)
The Data Analytics team is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Data Analyst Intern to support a wide range of analytics and programmatic tasks. This role is ideal for someone who is available for consecutive internship seasons and is potentially interested in transitioning into a full-time role. You’ll gain hands-on experience working with data tools, visualization platforms, and program operations in a collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Analytics & Data Handling

• Write and optimize SQL queries for data extraction and analysis
• Use Python or R for data cleaning, transformation, and statistical analysis
• Perform advanced Excel-based modeling and reporting
  

Visualization & Mapping

• Build dashboards and visualizations using Tableau or R
• Support GIS-based mapping projects and spatial data analysis
  

Administrative & Data Management

• Conduct data entry, validation, and integration across systems
• Maintain documentation and support data governance efforts

Program Support

• Assist with problem scoping and survey development
• Help organize program files and support operational workflows

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with SQL, Python, R, and Excel
• Familiarity with Tableau or other BI tools; GIS experience is a plus
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Interest in long-term collaboration and potential full-time opportunities