Out of Poverty Co-Facilitator

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Title: Out of Poverty Co-Facilitator

Programs: Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter, Alexandria Community Shelter, & Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)

Reports to: Out of Poverty Facilitator

Description of Role: New Hope Housing is seeking volunteers to serve as co-facilitators for our core life skills course Out of Poverty (OOP). OOP is a structured curriculum designed to foster personal transformation. Developed by an educator and a social worker, the curriculum fosters the mental, emotional and behavioral changes necessary to intervene in the poverty cycle and build a different future. The program uses a group process and helps each individual to accept responsibility for his/her life experiences and to develop methods of moving beyond those experiences while learning new behaviors. The OOP lessons include self-management, work relevant values and self-determination, and tools such as action planning, mental rehearsal, understanding personal responsibility, and the keys to negotiating differences. The co-facilitator will be matched up with a member of the NHH staff to assist in conducting this course. NHH is an EOE/ADA that values diversity!

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assist staff facilitator in conducting OOP course
• Develop relationships with clients in the class
• Facilitate discussion on the lessons

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Act as a representative of New Hope Housing while volunteering and in the community
• Stay abreast of information current to homelessness and housing issues and trends in the Northern Virginia area
• Keep supervisor informed of any changes in schedule or availability
• Maintain confidentiality

Skills Needed:

• Friendly, positive, professional demeanor
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Ability to work with people of many different backgrounds and abilities
• Ability to work cooperatively with staff, volunteers, and clients

Desired Experience:

• Working with individuals experiencing homelessness
• Facilitating group discussions

Requirements: New volunteers must attend a volunteer orientation and interview with the Volunteer Coordinator. Volunteers must also have signed Confidentiality, Liability, and Photo release forms on file with the Volunteer Coordinator. Volunteers must be 22 years or older. Volunteers must attend training on Monday, April 24 th, 7-8:30 p.m. held at the Admin office (8407-E Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22309).

Location: Classes will be held at the Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter (9155 Richmond Hwy, Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060), the Alexandria Community Shelter (2355-B Mill Rd, Alexandria, VA 22314), and PSH, location TBD.

Time Commitment: Volunteers need to be available for each OOP lesson, which are held on Monday nights, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Spring OOP will start on May 1 st. The Spring OOP Graduation will be held on Monday, June 26 th at a TBD location.