AMVETS Jobs

**[POSITION SUMMARY [Sitka AmeriCorps members serve the community of Sitka using a healing centered engagement and culturally responsive program model. The goal is to form developmental relationships through academic support, mentoring, providing mental health and life skills, and enrichment activities. These relationships build youth resiliency which results in better long-term outcomes. The AmeriCorps members are embedded within the schools in a way that is unique and provides a nurturing role model for at risk youth that affects their lives in a meaningful way. [The key to being a successful AmeriCorps member is communicating with staff to best assist them and ensure that you are supported as an individual. Flexibility and communication as well as good rain gear are all you really need to be happy and helpful.

[DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES [The AmeriCorps Member position(s) at Sitka Counseling support(s) the Family Center program by providing direct service to teens and adults, coordinating community outreach efforts, and by developing or expanding program resources and capacity. This unique position will expand capacity for the Family Center program to include ecotherapy-informed practices in the Therapeutic Behavioral Health Services (TBHS) provided to clients. These will include aspects of nature-based play and expressive arts, outdoor physical activities and challenges for groups and individual clients, and mindfulness-based activities. [While the AmeriCorps Member is initially developing skills and understanding of the program (and building rapport with clients), focus will also be given to conducting a literature review and exploring ecotherapy-related approaches as applicable to teens and adults and youth. Once there is an established understanding of TBHS services (often skill-building activities) and confidence in how to facilitate therapeutic groups and individual sessions, this will inform the member's development of training and lesson plan resources for staff to use with [a variety of client ages, diagnoses, and group sizes. This is an excellent opportunity for the AmeriCorps volunteer with an educational background and/or professional interest in the mental/behavioral health field. [50% -- To develop an understanding of TBHS activities and the agency/program, this team member assists in the daily operations of the Family Center program by interacting directly with clients and actively supporting their therapeutic progress. To this extent, the AmeriCorps member will fulfill some roles shared with those of the Direct Service Provider (DSP) position, which facilitates behavioral health support services delivered at the Family Center for teens and adults in preschool through middle school. As part of a provider team, AmeriCorps Member(s) will work alongside DSP staff members to provide full programmatic support, to include building therapeutic rapport with teens and adults and families, planning and facilitating activities, observing, and addressing behavior, communicating with Clinicians, transporting teens and adults, and documenting services provided. This experience will inform the AmeriCorps-specific half of the job: [50% -- The AmeriCorps Member will support the agency with unique responsibilities to facilitate community outreach and to develop therapeutic resources for use with teens and adults. This position will research ecotherapy-informed activities and concepts to incorporate into the Therapeutic Behavioral Health Services (TBHS) provided to clients ages 13-18, developing a wide range of approaches and concrete lesson plans to be facilitated with individuals and groups. The Member will also develop and facilitate presentation and training materials to orient program staff to these new approaches and to introduce the curriculum - after piloting several of them and adjusting recommendations, instructions, etc. ]{century="" gothic=""}]{century="" gothic=""}]{century="" gothic=""}]{century="" gothic= "}]{century="" gothic=""}]{century="" gothic=""}]{century="" gothic=""}]{century="" gothic=""}]{century="" gothic=""}**

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Researches and organizes information about a wide range of nature based and outdoor-related mental health therapies appropriate for teens and adults, youth, and adults, eventually developing curriculum to be incorporated into the TBHS lesson plans and residential group therapy curriculum. This includes a literature review of evidence-based therapies.

Establishes multiple example ecotherapy TBHS and residential group lesson plans in a variety of modalities and therapeutic target areas using the program's SHANARRI Wheel; activities should be applicable to a wide range of client ages, abilities, diagnoses, and therapeutic need.

Pilots ecotherapy activities and adjusts lesson plans; orients and trains program staff in how to facilitate these activities.

Ensures the physical and psychological safety of clients throughout their experience with the agency, its personnel, its facilities, and its programming.

[Researches, organizes, and utilizes Risk Management Theory to inform ecotherapy programming. Trains program staff in theory, decision making processes, and best practices for facilitation eco-based programming. Support the agency in developing and/or revising policies related to ecotherapy rooted in ris ]{century="" gothic=""}