THE ORGANIZATION
Founded at the University of Michigan Medical School, TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) is among the most innovative and rapidly-growing school-based mental health solutions in the country. After a decade in the academic setting, TRAILS spun out from the University in 2022 and became fiscally sponsored by Tides Center with approximately 35 staff. Within a year, our staff size had more than doubled. Today, our growing team is working toward the TRAILS mission of transforming the landscape of youth mental health care delivery by equipping school staff with the training and resources they need to provide evidence-based and culturally responsible programming to their students.
To date, TRAILS has brought essential skills and resources to more than 14,000 teachers, administrators, and school mental health professionals. Our best-in-class program materials are built specifically for the school setting, and our unique training model is driven by research from the field of implementation science. Our website and library of materials are utilized by educators and clinicians across the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world. While our impact today is greatest in our home state of Michigan, TRAILS is expanding nationally with strong support from education and health sector leaders, public offices, and state policymakers.
As we work to respond to massive demand for TRAILS programming from schools and districts throughout the United States, our team is guided by a core commitment to equity: The TRAILS growth strategy identifies Title I designated schools as our broadest target population, and we aim specifically to impact students who experience high risk for poor mental health outcomes and disproportionate barriers to quality care. As we grow our team, we seek candidates who share our commitment to equity in health and healthcare access, who practice cultural humility, and who thrive in and contribute to an inclusive working environment.
Team: Culturally Responsible Programming Intern
Reports To: Clinical Director of CRP
Location: Remote
Type: Part-time, Temporary, Non-Exempt
THE ROLE
The TRAILS Culturally Responsible Programming (CRP) internship will provide one graduate-level student with an opportunity to gain leadership skills and qualities necessary to inform improvements to TRAILS’s school-based mental health programming through community engagement. Under the supervision of the Clinical Director of Culturally Responsible Programming, the CRP Intern’s primary duties and responsibilities will include developing and facilitating youth engagement activities to enhance our three tiers of programming. More specifically, the CRP Intern will oversee the recruitment process of board members for our internal youth ambassadors program. and identify key activities for board members and support the facilitation of board meetings.
Throughout this internship, the CRP Intern will gain foundational knowledge of TRAILS' three tiers of school-based mental health programming, receive leadership training, learn engagement strategies to maintain community partnerships, review research literature to ensure best practices are implemented for board activities, and aid in improving TRAILS’s clinical programming. Furthermore, the CRP Intern will gain exposure to projects and efforts related to enhancing the representation of DEI principles in mental health programming.
The ideal candidate for this position is keen to make a difference in youth mental health from a public health, racial equity and community engagement lens. The ideal candidate can commit to a 10-12 month internship and flexible work schedule between 9:00am and 5:00pmET Monday through Thursday, with occasional weekend availability, totaling an average of 20 hours per week.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES
Youth Advisory Board Program Coordination (90%)
Conduct research on youth advisory board engagement strategies and activities specifically within not-for-profit organizations for application to TRAILS’s youth board.
Support the recruitment of student board members.
Identify current gaps within TRAILS’s programming to support activities and projects for board members to explore and engage in during board meetings, fostering improvements.
Facilitate board member activities, such as quarterly board meetings throughout the academic year and professional development seminars.
Communicate with school administrators from each participating student’s school as needed, in the event of concerns or emergencies.
Participate in weekly check-in meetings with the Clinical Director of Culturally Responsible Programming/CRP Specialist.
Participate in relevant TRAILS collaborative meetings and workgroups, such as the Language Access Workgroup and implementation team members.
Develop communications, such as newsletters, briefs, or bulletins, to share updates from the board with the larger organization.
Team Responsibilities (10%)
Attend all staff meetings and retreats, workgroups and other relevant TRAILS meetings as necessary.
Support the TRAILS team with all hands on deck events as needed and other team initiatives.
THE PERSON
Our experience suggests that the following types of professional experiences lend themselves to this work:
Demonstrated experience working with community partners.
Demonstrated experience facilitating focus groups or related efforts with community partners.
Keen interest in working with youth in the community.
Demonstrated interest in academic, social, and emotional disparities observed in school-aged youth.
Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly as it relates to TRAILS’ mission and vision
Our experience suggests that the following types of skills lend themselves well to this work:
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including experience with facilitating and leading groups.
Strong team player with the ability to take initiative and work well independently.
EDUCATION
Our experience suggests the following certifications and degree(s) lend themselves well to this work:
Current enrollment in a graduate degree-seeking program (e.g., MA/PhD/PsyD) with a major in the liberal arts, public health, applied sciences, or education. Will also consider an undergraduate student if qualifications meet the job description.
COMPENSATION
This is a part-time, non-exempt, temporary position. The total available stipend for this internship is $21,633, paid at an hourly rate of $20.83.
APPLICATION NOTES
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Addressing inequities in access to evidence-based mental health care is intrinsic to the TRAILS mission. The intentionality behind this approach is woven into everything we do at TRAILS, resulting in a staff-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for all facets of our program. If this commitment is something to which you could positively contribute, we encourage you to apply, particularly if your voice represents a historically excluded perspective.
TRAILS, a project of Tides Center, is an “at-will” and equal opportunity employer. Applicants and employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy and gender expression) identity, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance.
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