EmpowerU Getting Ahead Faciliator
LOCATION
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Fingerprint/background clearance is required.Training required which may significantly delay start of service hours or which needs to be completed prior to the start of the semester.
No fingerprinting required. Background clearance consists of a criminal background check using public information, there is no fee for the student. Processing takes two days. Students can be placed in the internship program after the background check is complete.
Training on the Getting Ahead material and how to facilitate group conversations is delivered to interested interns in a one-on-one or group setting.
SCHEDULE OPTIONS
Semester availability
FallSpring
Summer
Service hours
AfternoonEvening
Available days/hours
Getting Ahead workshop series are scheduled throughtout the year. Workshops are typically scheduled on weekday evenings from 5:30 - 7:30PM.
REQUIRED/DESIRED SKILLS
Qualifications
- Experience and skills in facilitating co-investigative activities, or a willingness to be trained
- Experience and skills in encouraging individual response and group dialogue, or a willingness to be trained
- Able to use open ended questions, actively listen and empathize
- Able to work with people from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
- Interested in empowering others and issues of social justice
- Experience in servant-leadership positions
- Excellent public speaking and communication skills
- Passion for helping others develop new skills
- For Spanish language workshops only, Spanish fluency is required.
- Must be available evenings
- Must undergo reference and criminal background check
TRAINING PROVIDED:
Catholic Charities Welcome and Orientation
Paths of HOPE and the HOPE Corps overview
Getting Ahead Facilitator Training
Workbook and facilitator’s guide provided
CATEGORIES
AdultsCrisis Intervention
Education
Mentoring
Social Services
COMMUNITY PARTNER
Catholic Charities Community Services
ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP
Duties
Paths of HOPE is a Catholic Charities program that helps motivated individuals and families achieve long-term prosperity. Resources for prosperity include income, housing, personal and family health, positive social relationships, strong role models, educational advancement and more. Paths of HOPE helps participants develop their own plan for accessing the resources of prosperity through financial education, personal development, planning and mentoring.
The Paths of HOPE continuum includes:
- Financial education classes
- Getting Ahead, a 10-12-week series of personal development, resource building and planning workshops
- Circles of HOPE volunteer mentor teams
- VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) free tax preparation
All Paths of HOPE services are delivered by the HOPE Corps – motivated, trained volunteers from the communities we serve. This internship listing pertains to the second step in Paths of HOPE: Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-by-World. This free 10-12 week workshop series provides in-depth personal development, resource building and planning to help participants chart a course to a stable, secure life.
Getting Ahead is based on the understanding that individuals and families living at low income level often suffer from a lack of access to resources, only some of which are financial. Resources for long-term prosperity include income, housing, language, social and spiritual support, physical and mental health and more.
Getting Ahead facilitators guide participants through interactive activities and discussion Participants explore the effects of economic class, complete a resource self-assessment, develop strategies to build their own resources and graduate with a dream plan for prosperity.
Completing financial education is a prerequisite for participation in Getting Ahead. Getting Ahead workshops are offered in English and Spanish across Maricopa, Yavapai and Coconino counties. To make classes more accessible Getting Ahead participants receive a small stipend and childcare and light meals are provided.
Workshops average 10 – 12 participants and are typically held at community and faith-based partner organizations. Workshops are scheduled for two hours, which includes check-in and mealtime before the 90-minute facilitation begins.
Getting Ahead workshops require (1) Site Coordinator and (2) Getting Ahead Facilitators. ASU Interns serving as Getting Ahead facilitators will also assist with workshop scheduling and logistics, and participant recruitment.
Population served
Getting Ahead facilitators serve adult men and women who graduate from Paths of HOPE financial education classes.
During our first year of programming, more than half of participants were making less than $10,000 per year. Participants typically lack access to resources which would allow them to move from crisis to stability.
Community need/impact
Catholic Charities views poverty as more than just a financial issue, but rather as a lack of access to resources, including housing, social support, physical and mental health and more. However, families in Maricopa County, living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level are the primary audience of Paths of HOPE programs (participants are not means tested).
The federal poverty level is $22,050 for a family of four. Currently, 34% of Arizonans live at or below 200% of the poverty level and 45% of children do. Paths of HOPE is designed to provide a means for these households to reach a state of stability and security.
During our first year of programming, more than half of participants were making less than $10,000 per year.
When one focuses exclusively on financial resources, they might feel constrained, but through the language of resources in Getting Ahead they often realize they have resources that they had not recognized before their involvement.
Serving as a Getting Ahead facilitator you help participants develop a plan to move from crisis to stability by developing a plan to access resources and achieve long-term success. In doing so, you help make our community healthy and vibrant!
