Youth Education and Outreach Coordinator (AmeriCorps*VISTA)

The Hepatitis Education Project (HEP) is committed to providing support, education and advocacy for people affected by hepatitis and to helping raise awareness among patients, medical providers and the general public. Based in Seattle since 1993, HEP is one of the oldest and most active hepatitis-focused non-profit organizations in the country. HEP's work has grown to include population specific education, direct services to high risk populations, and partnerships with other community-based organizations and governmental agencies.

Overall Responsibilities

HEP's AmeriCorps VISTA member will focus on reaching youth in the Greater Seattle area with medically accurate and appropriate information about hepatitis with the support of HEP's site supervisor. The member will serve as HEP's Youth Outreach Program Officer and will work with schools and youth-focused service organizations in and around Seattle to schedule and facilitate education sessions, offer free hepatitis C testing and link at-risk and positive youth with local resources and services.

To raise awareness amongst youth who are in and out of school about the risks of hepatitis, the VISTA member will engage partner organizations and local high schools to schedule health education sessions and train session facilitators. The member will develop an updated youth curriculum to be used for these sessions. Additionally, the member will produce updated educational materials and additional online and other media outreach tools to be used by HEP staff and partners in conducting youth outreach. The member will develop a simple curriculum to be used by educators including teachers at schools and counselors at transitional living centers to teach youth about liver health and the risks of hepatitis. The member will use HEP's existing relationships with these educators to recruit and train an initial group who will facilitate the curriculum in their existing classes.

Responsibilities Include:

• Continuing ongoing education on Hepatitis.
• Develop curriculum consisting of 5 lesson plans that teach hepatitis basics to youth and can be facilitated by existing teachers and outreach site staff.
• Maintain relationships with existing outreach sites by visiting, scheduling classes and facilitating when necessary.
• Identify 5-10 teachers and outreach site staff who will facilitate one or more lesson plan and enroll them in the program
• Train facilitators to implement one or more of the lesson plans in the newly developed curriculum.
• Provide ongoing implementation support and program evaluation.
• Develop updated educational materials for youth related to liver health, safer drug and sex habits, and viral hepatitis to be used by HEP's direct service staff in conducting outreach either with or without the VISTA member's new youth curriculum

Hours and Days Needed

The VISTA Member is expected to serve a flexible 40 hour week. This includes required weekly staff meetings, Site Supervisor check-ins, and Sound Youth VISTA Team meetings on Fridays twice a month.

Qualifications and Skills Required

Preferred qualifications:

• Experienced in public speaking, volunteer recruitment, training, and management.
• Experience in training curriculum design preferred.
• Computer Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, work, Excel and Power Point; experience using social media and web applications.
• Ideal canidate will be responsible, positive, flexible, open-minded, self-motivated, able to work independently and manage time efficiently.

About Sound Youth VISTA

AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. AmeriCorps*VISTA members are stipended volunteers that serve for one year, full time at nonprofit or governmental organizations building capacity. Sound Youth VISTA recruits, places and supports VISTA members in nonprofit organizations working with underserved youth in the Seattle area.

About the Organization

AmeriCorps*VISTA Benefits

• A living stipend of $12,696/year (pre-tax)
• A three day Pre-Service Orientation (PSO)
• Loan forbearance or deferment for qualified student loans.
• An education award of $5,500 or $1,500 (pre-tax) end-of-year cash stipend
• Health coverage
• A child care subsidy
• 10 personal days and 10 sick days
• Some subsidized transportation for service-related travel
• A relocation allowance for people moving >50 miles
• 1 year of non-competitive eligibility for Federal jobs

• Note: VISTA members CANNOT hold secondary jobs or make additional income during a VISTA service term.

Member Duties and Responsibilities

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident of the U.S.
• A Bachelor's Degree is preferred, however some college combined with work experience may substitute for a degree
• Significant experience with community service and/or non-profit organization work
• Must be available to serve full-time for one year

If you have any questions about the position, Sound Youth, or AmeriCorps VISTA, please contact the Sound Youth Director by email at elord@thechurchcouncil.org.