Organization: Next Step
Position: Mentor Specialist
Location: 99 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge MA
Organization Description(s):
At Next Step, we serve young people living with chronic illnesses—cancer, HIV, sickle cell, and other rare genetic conditions—between the ages of 16-29. We believe that if you empower them with the right skills, tools, and knowledge they will begin asking “What’s next?” instead of “Why me?” We help young people accomplish this shift in mindset through our change process—a 3-step cycle built upon the following pillars:
- Engagement: Building Community + Changing Perspective
- Education: Learning Skills + Growing Confidence
- Empowerment: Building Resilience + Developing Leadership
All of our programs are free of charge to participants. Our signature programs, our “Campferences,” are 4-day residential programs that combine the recreational fun of camp with the information and networking opportunities possible conferences. Like all of our programs, the impact of our Campferences lies in the relationships we build among youth. The only person in the world who can understand what it’s like to share your diagnosis with a friend for the first time or miss extensive days of school because of your diagnosis is another young person who’s been there too. The power of that shared experience can be life changing.
Over the past 10 years, we have partnered closely with the MassCARE (Massachusetts Community AIDS Resource Enhancement) program to deliver workshops and activities for HIV positive youth.
MassCARE is a statewide initiative that provides access to coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered, culturally and linguistically competent medical care, social service support and peer services for women, infants, children, and youth living with HIV and their affected family members. MassCARE promotes early identification and enhances available care in a community-based setting with an HIV medical home approach. It is a federally funded Ryan White Part D program operating in 3 community health centers in Brockton, Lowell, and Worcester.
Program Description:
In order to help HIV positive young people achieve brighter futures, Next Step and MassCARE are partnering to develop the Mass STYLE Mentoring Program. This mentoring program will aim to accomplish the following goals:
- Engage and support HIV positive youth ages 16 -29 as they set goals focused on improving life skills and attaining academic and professional success
- Provide 1-on-1 support for positive youth as they navigate the resources necessary for them to meet their needs
- Create opportunities for youth mentees to connect with one another and brain storm solutions to their common challenges
Position Description:
The Mentor Specialist will lead the administration and delivery of this program. The job responsibilities are as follows:
- Provide 6 month cycles of ongoing 1-on-1 mentoring support for approximately 10 HIV positive youth
- Help youth set tangible and achievable goals
- Identify and link youth to relevant resources based on their specific goals
- Establish and build a resource database for youth to access
- Be able and willing to drive regularly to meetings with youth and staff
- Support youth recruitment at 3 Mass CARE clinic sites in Brockton, Lowell, and Worcester
- Serve as liaison between Next Step and MassCARE Health Centers
- Facilitate monthly meetings (in-person, phone, or web) with clinic staff about youth progress and support needs
- Deliver one social outing or activity for group of youth
- Deliver one residential overnight activity annually
- Serve as Campference Director for MassCARE Campference
- Develop Campference curriculum—along side youth feedback and input
- Provide onsite Campference leadership and facilitation during the retreat
- Where possible, find and identify presenters for the Campference
Qualifications
- Have experience with HIV
- Have excellent organizational and computer skills
- Exceptional communication skills and professional boundaries
- Comfort working with diverse audiences
- Education and or significant experience with addressing areas of multicultural diversity, including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, abilities/disabilities and intersectionality
- Experience with mentorship, guidance or other one on one skills development
- Have experience facilitating residential group programming and events
- Have experience working with adolescents and young adults
- Can demonstrate understanding and awareness of group formation and dynamic
- Have experience working with health related issues pertinent to this population
- Possess a good sense of humor and work ethic
- Responsible and professional
- Are willing to travel and work residential weekend programs when needed
- Are able to work independently
- Are able to manage a fast paced, all hands on deck atmosphere
- Demonstrate a commitment to the mission of Next Step
- Have a strong interest in public health, medicine, and social justice issues
- Have a car and valid drivers license
The Mentor Specialist will receive supervision from Next Step’s Program Director on a biweekly schedule. Supervision will also include some on-the-job training around logistics and program roll out. All training, specifically those centered on mentoring, will be provided by Duke University’s Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. This program utilizes a Positive Youth Development framework that will be the basis of our programs mentoring work. The Mentor Specialist will also receive support and additional resources from MassCARE and other Next Step partners.
This is a 32-hour a week position and compensation is 36k. Candidates with bachelor’s degree are preferred. Please email resume and cover letter if interested to kepler@nextstepnet.org.
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