Role Details
Thank you for your interest in the BETTER For All Peer Health Coach Volunteer position. We appreciate your enthusiasm for this opportunity. Due to the high volume of applications, we have paused accepting new submissions, at this time. However, we may reopen applications in the coming months.
In the meantime, we encourage you to explore our volunteer portal for other opportunities that may align with your interests.
BETTER For All is a free program that provides support to racialized communities and newcomers to Canada aged 40-70 to take control of their health so they can reduce their risk of chronic diseases, including cancer. Volunteer Peer Health Coaches will provide regular support to participants so they can reach and maintain their health goals.
Description
To become a Volunteer Peer Health Coach, you will complete a (24-hour) virtual training program available to you online at any time. The program will be delivered over 5 weeks. While undergoing training, as part of a research study, you may be asked to complete questionnaires to evaluate the training program. Each questionnaire may take 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
As a Volunteer Peer Health Coach, you will join the BETTER For All program to virtually support individuals aged 40-70, including newcomers to Canada and members of racialized communities, in achieving personal health goals that can reduce their risk of chronic disease (being more active, healthy eating, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol, and getting screened).
You will be matched with a participant and connect with them by phone, text, email, or video conference for short 10-15 minutes sessions per week to coach them to reach their goals. Based on your availability, you may be matched with 1-5 participants at any given time (6-month timeframe per match).
Part of your work will include tracking outcomes, inputting patient information into the BETTER For All software, linking patients to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and other community resources, and providing regular updates back to your assigned supervisor.
When the BETTER For All program is implemented, we will continue the evaluation of the program. You will be asked to take part in research studies that will evaluate the BETTER For All program.
Why we need you
Did you know that about 4 in 10 cancers can be prevented? As a Volunteer Peer Health Coach with the CCS, you can educate and support individuals in reducing their cancer and chronic disease risks and in understanding how some cancers can be detected early through screening. We need your help to educate, support, and raise awareness, empowering your community to lead healthier, thriving lives!
What we're looking for
Peer Health Coaches can relate to the group of individuals being supported through BETTER For All because of their own lived experiences and backgrounds.
We are looking for:
- Individuals aged 18 to 70 who have previously attempted to achieve their health goal(s) and can speak to the challenges they encountered or overcame.
- Who understand these challenges and have had success in meeting their own health goal(s), whether through healthier eating, walking more, quitting smoking, or cutting back and reducing alcohol consumption.
- Who are non-judgmental and empathetic towards others facing similar challenges.
- Who can communicate effectively and through a variety of platforms (phone, email, text, or video conference) and have basic computer skills.
- Who can connect well with a variety of people and develop meaningful relationships based on trust and strong listening skills.
- Who are flexible in adapting to different people and situations.
- Who are open with availability to meet participant schedules.
- Who have strong organizational skills to track conversations and report on the successes patients have.
- Who have a strong commitment to confidentiality, the privacy of information and can maintain high ethical standards and professionalism by working within the boundaries of the program.
- Individuals who can speak and write in English. Ability to speak other languages such as French, Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin and/or Cantonese is an added benefit.
Please note that all volunteers must be from Ontario.
Our Investment
As an organization we will provide you with:
- Comprehensive training to become a BETTER For All Peer Health Coach.
- Certificate of completion for the Peer Health Coach training.
- Online resources and a Peer Health Coach toolkit.
- A designated CCS staff member who will provide ongoing support.
- Regular meetings with other Peer Health Coaches to build a strong community of practice.
Your commitment
- We are asking for a 1-2-year commitment of 3-4 hours per week due to the relationship-based nature of this role. The role can accommodate vacations.
- You have a willingness to be a part of a research study, contributing to project evaluation.
- Ongoing level of commitment which will include regular supervision check-ins and involvement within a community of practice.
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