DBH Student Programs Unpaid Internship Opportunities General Application Summer & Fall 2026

At the State of Ohio we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits visit ourTotal Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off including vacation personal sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth Adoption and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds Public Service Loan Forgiveness and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS STRS SERS and HPRS)&Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Student Programs
Unpaid Internship Opportunities
General Application Summer & Fall 2026

Who we are:

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

We proudly employ over 2800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals Ohio Pharmacy Services Ohios prison systems and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus OH.

DBH Values:

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered Solution Oriented Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable Reasonable Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well get well and stay well. Join our collaborative service-oriented environment where you will be respected and valued.

Position Qualifications

Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program related to the desired internship field.

Must be able to provide your own transportation to/from work location.

Primary Job Skill: Internship
Technical Skills: Human Resources Information Technology Administrative Support/Services Behavioral Health Communications Mental Health Nursing Data Analytics Database Administration
Professional Skills: Active Learning Attention to Detail Listening Goal Setting Teamwork

Please note this is a general application for unpaid internship opportunities. Your application will be made available to multiple hiring managers who have open positions compatible with your stated areas of interest.

Unpaid internship positions can be used for credit toward a university practicum requirement.

What youll do at DBH:

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) offers a dynamic Student Internship Program designed to provide undergraduate and graduate students with meaningful handson experience across a broad range of professional fields. This program is ideal for students pursuing careers in behavioral health human services public administration law data and technology communications and other related disciplines. It is also wellsuited for students interested in the operational clinical and administrative functions that support a statewide behavioral health system.

Internships are based at DBHs central office at 30 E Broad Street Columbus OH 43215 where students gain exposure to the inner workings of Ohios behavioral health infrastructure. Opportunities vary by semester and may include placements in areas such as:

Behavioral Health & Clinical Services

• Medical Directors Office Support initiatives related to clinical standards medical policy and quality of care.
• Forensic Services Learn about the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system.
• Hospital Services Assist with projects that support state psychiatric hospital operations and patient care.
• Crisis Services Contribute to statewide crisis response initiatives and system coordination.
• Treatment Services & Integrated Care Explore programs focused on mental health substance use treatment and wholeperson care.

Community Recovery & Justice-Involved Services

• Office of Community Services Support communitybased behavioral health initiatives.
• Bureau of Recovery Support Assist with programs that promote longterm recovery and peer support.
• Bureau of Workforce Sustainability Work on strategies to strengthen Ohios behavioral health workforce.
• Criminal Justice & Recovery Services Engage with programs serving justiceinvolved individuals.
• Bureau of Criminal Justice / Bureau of Correctional Recovery Services Learn how behavioral health services are delivered within correctional settings.
• Community & Family Resiliency Support initiatives that strengthen families and communities across Ohio.

Administrative Policy & Regulatory Functions

• Directors Office & External Affairs Gain experience in strategic planning stakeholder engagement and government relations.
• Behavioral Health Policy Assist with research policy development and legislative analysis.
• Licensure & Certification Learn about regulatory oversight of behavioral health providers.
• Legal Services Support legal research compliance and administrative processes.
• Financial Management & Capital Planning Explore budgeting fiscal analysis and capital project planning.

Technology Data & Operations

• Information Technology Gain experience in IT support cybersecurity systems management and digital transformation.
• Health Information Systems Support projects related to electronic health records and clinical data systems.
• Data Analytics Assist with data collection analysis visualization and reporting to inform statewide decisionmaking.
• Hospital & Administrative Operations Contribute to process improvement and operational efficiency projects.

Communications & Human Resources

• Communications & Marketing Assist with public relations content creation social media and outreach campaigns.
• Human Resources Learn about talent acquisition employee relations training and workforce planning.

Through this program students apply classroom knowledge in a realworld environment explore potential career paths and develop critical professional skills. Interns collaborate with experienced professionals contribute to meaningful statewide initiatives and gain insight into how Ohio supports mental health and addiction recovery across diverse communities.

Internships are unpaid and tailored to align with each students academic focus and career goals. Schedules are flexible and can be adjusted to accommodate academic commitments.

Application Procedures
To be considered for this position you must apply online through this posting website (). We no longer accept paper applications. When completing your online Ohio Civil Service Application be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined on this job posting. We will not give credit for your qualifications experience education and training in the job selection process if there is no evidence provided on your addition see resume is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be fully supported by the work experience/education sections of your application. You may check the status of your application by signing into your profile on this website (). We will communicate with you through the email you provided in your profile and job application. Be sure to check your email regularly.

Background Check Notice
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicants prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

RuleBackground check on applicants outlines disqualifying offenses that will preclude an applicant from being employed by the Department of Behavioral Health.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for the application process assessment &/or interview please contact Andrew Seifert EEO/ADA Administrator at or .

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39) and as outlined in the posting.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services activities programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.