Mentoring opportunity--Be a MAMA Ally

Save to Favorites

Mothers in Arizona Moving Ahead (MAMA) is a pilot project focused on individual and systems-level changes that improve health outcomes and financial stability for mothers and children in poverty. In MAMA, low-income mothers become partners, not just participants, to identify system changes needed in practice and policy to achieve greater equity and to provide healthcare that is more responsive and effective for people living in poverty.

The CFP is seeking volunteers to serve as allies. Allies play an important role in supporting mothers who are building their resources and working toward goals for greater stability. The allies’ role is threefold:

1) to support and "coach" the MAMA participants as they strive to enact their goals;

2) to listen and gather data on the barriers the participants encounter as they work on their goals

3) to learn about what poverty is like from the perspective of the participants, to learn about community resources as well as service gaps, and to consider ways to be advocates in their own social and professional networks.

Time Commitment: Meet once a month for three hours. Attend trainings (1.5 days total). Commit to at least six months participation.

Skills/ Expectations

1. To have an open mind, a caring heart and to be a good listener
2. To make as many meetings as possible
3. To have healthy boundaries so that both you and the moms are protected and to agree to abide by the guidelines set up by the program
4. To provide supportive feedback for participating moms
5. To be supportive of your fellow allies
6. To learn about and investigate community resources to help mothers achieve their goals
7. To be self-reflective on your own economic background and experience
8. To be both culturally sensitive and a willing learner about other cultural experiences
9. To review and sign the Coaching Agreement
10. To be willing to be a positive ambassador for MAMA in the wider community
11. To address any problems or concerns early

Trainings: Ideally, an ally would attend these trainings before beginning, but it is not a requirement. The goal would be to complete the trainings as soon as possible.

1. Attend Understanding Poverty training (one day/ $25*) to understand core concepts, increase understanding of the complexity of poverty, and have an overview of the Getting Ahead class and MAMA program. (*Reduced cost from $50.)
2. Attend Ally training (3 hours/ no cost) to have a deeper understanding of the MAMA program and format, to consider some approaches to being an ally that are drawn from fields such as coaching and motivational interviewing, and to meet the program coordinator and other allies who will be on your team.