Member serves as a mentor for adults with I/DD/MH, specifically with students participating in the On Campus Transition Program at the University of North Florida. Members work one on one with students on improving their overall health and maintaining habits that promote a healthy lifestyle. The members are serving in partnership with The Arc Jacksonville and agree to abide by the mission & vision of the agency.
Service Activities
Develop personalized plan for students to include goals and action plans in the area of Health/Fitness/Wellness
Encourage adoption of habits that are conducive to a higher quality of a healthy life
Provide students with training, workshops and experiential learning opportunities regarding nutritious meals and maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Accompany students to UNF fitness center and track fitness hours
Teach students how to correctly utilize fitness equipment
Develop fun, fit, and integrated activities for students surrounding health and wellness
Research and coordinate on campus activities related to student wellness initiatives and promote those activities (intramural sporting events, yoga sessions, Health Promotion activities and programs, etc.)
Assist students with stress management and provide helpful strategies to minimize stress, utilizing campus resources when appropriate
Lead “Fun with Food Fridays” cooking classes
Utilize lessons from the MyHealthCare Curriculum when appropriate
Community Need Addressed
In Jacksonville, adults with I/DD/MH lack essential skills: social, educational, health/wellness, work readiness, independent living, and self-determination, which are necessary to become independent and contributing members of society. Poor outcomes are often the result of I/DD/MH populations being grossly underserved during critical educational experiences, and insufficient opportunities to experientially learn different aspects of independent living (fitness, nutrition, social skills).
Position Outcomes
The Project provides 1:1 and small group mentoring to these individuals to focus on understanding wellness and healthy living. Mentors will assist students in increasing understanding the importance of forming and maintaining habits that promote health and wellness. Mentors will assist students in understanding wellness resources available to them and how to access them.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree, GED/High School Diploma, Credential or Certification
CPR, First Aid, Mental Health First Aid
Skills you will gain
Leadership, communication strategies, lesson plan development, active listening, time management, problem solving, interpersonal skills, and transferable skills.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment