Master of Public Health student Aine K. Brain is one of this year’s legislative analysts for the Idaho Caregiver Alliance (ICA). Brain works alongside Master of Social Work student Quetzal Castaneda.
Throughout the 2025 legislative session, Brain and Castaneda monitor current issues and legislative developments that impact Idaho’s caregivers and help share that information through the ICA Legislative Update and Bill Tracker newsletter. This position, Brain said, has deepened her interest in the intersection between policy and public health and broadened her public health experience.
Read on to learn more about Brain’s experience as an analyst and graduate student:
Q: What encouraged you to begin working with the Idaho Caregiver Alliance?
A: I had heard about the ICA a year or so before doing a MPH class where we were learning about coalitions and how they work. In looking for an internship, my advisor forwarded me the ICA’s advertisement and it spoke to the interests I have developed over the course of my academic career in finding the intersection of legislation and policy.
Q: What is your role with the Idaho Caregiver Alliance?
A: We (Brain and Castaneda) read lots of newsletters, follow current events and the 2025 legislative session looking for information and potential bills that would impact the population the ICA serves — caregivers and those receiving that caregiving.
Q: What legislative updates do you find caregivers are most interested in learning about?
A: I feel that the most important issues revolve around funding, so anything to do with IDHW services, programs and budgets and most importantly — Medicaid Expansion.
Q: What about your job as an analyst for this session has been the most rewarding?
A: The most rewarding part is just the opportunity to learn and share in this work. Learning about the legislative process is fascinating. I know the connections I make now will help in my future career.
Q: What drew you to pursuing an MPH degree and what do you enjoy most about your studies?
A: Honestly, I started before there was an MPH program. It was a Master of Health Science degree when I started in 2017! The biggest benefit was that I could attend school part-time and the classes fit with my work schedule, all in the evening.
As the program developed into an MPH, I have really enjoyed learning about public health and feel it speaks to what I truly want to see in the world, better health, better programs and improvements in population health overall. I’ve really had a chance to use my past experiences working in healthcare to learn about myself, my strengths and weaknesses and to hone what I want to do after I graduate — something related to policy analysis or a government type of liaison relating to policy and legislation.
Q: How do you incorporate your studies into your internship and vice versa?
A: I am learning new skills, especially related to how legislation works, the process, funding, and terminology. I’m seeing how the things I learned about in my classes, such as coalitions, advocacy, and data can be used to support an agenda. I see how policy impacts legislation and vice versa. There is a system of governing and I’m learning where there is leverage to make the changes we want to see happen. I see amazing people doing the work I want to be a part of and to have the opportunity to learn from them.
Interested in hearing caregiver-related legislative updates from Brain and the Idaho Caregiver Alliance? Visit the ICA website to subscribe and learn more.