Veteran recovery

Community Transitions Center VAPAHCS Peer Mentor Internship

Goal: To provide work experience for veterans who have completed the community college

Peer Mentor class and are enrolled or plan to enroll in the cooperative education program at the community college. Interns will increase their confidence, comfort level, and job skills.

Learning Objectives:

Peer Mentor Intern will

  • Develop facilitation skills (coach/teach vs. “do for”)
  • Foster and model supportive, caring relationship skills
  • Practice use of self, share own experience, once per class
  • Promote hope, responsibility, and recovery through role modeling
  • Understand the use of feedback and practice giving constructive feedback
  • Learn to use supervision to address learning objectives and improve skills
  • Develop skills in setting limits in classroom setting and individual interactions
  • Develop boundaries between professional (work) and personal (therapy) issues
  • Improve public speaking skills in 1:1 and class format through practice and feedback

Job Expectations:

Peer Mentor Intern will

    1. Self-initiate two comments/statements in each class
    2. Co-facilitate one class per day, each with a different instructor
    3. Routinely meet with instructor pre and post co-facilitated class
    4. Engage student(s) in one community integration activity per week.
    5. Seek consultation from supervisor with job-related problems
    6. Offer 1:1 mentoring with students to assist in WRAP development
    7. Optional: Teach basic computer and internet skills
    8. Optional: Assist with development of a Warm Line

Skills will be acquired by:

    1. Observation—External: in class and small group interaction
    2. Observation—Internal: self-reflection on use of language, timing, point of self-disclosure, comments, and boundaries
    3. Discussion of development and use of skills in supervision
    4. Practice in classroom, 1:1 settings, and community integration activities

Requirements:

  • Weekly supervision
  • 6 month commitment to the Peer Mentor internship
  • Establish a work schedule and leave policy with supervisor
  • Wear your VAPA volunteer “Peer Mentor Intern” photo ID on the job only
  • Register as a volunteer with VAPAHCS voluntary services – (to get ID

Contact Frank Schleifer x22262 and explain the Peer Mentor Internship)

  • Enroll/complete requirements for cooperative education at the community college
  • Coordinate/monitor cooperative education needs with CTC Supervisor and Cooperative Education Coordinator. *(Cooperative education guidelines require 75 internship hours per 1 unit of credit; 15 hours per week for 15 weeks will earn 3 units - 225 hours