Teen Outreach Program Partners needed - Planned Parenthood

REQUEST FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM (TOP) ™
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest (PPGNW) is currently seeking community partners to help implement the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) ™. TOP is a comprehensive youth development strategy that promotes the positive development of adolescents through a combination of curriculum-guided group discussion and community service learning. TOP aims to promote academic achievement, encourage positive school behavior, and prevent unintended teen pregnancy by covering a variety of topics such as healthy relationships, sexual health, goal setting, and values. TOP is being implemented in various schools across WA and funded through a federal grant awarded to the Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest.

COMMUNITY PARTNER ROLE:
We are searching for community partners who have a shared commitment to serving youth and valuable insight of the schools/communities we are working in. With this partnership, we strive to offer our participants another trusted role model in the classroom and a different perspective of the TOP curriculum.

Community Partners will identify a staff member to serve as a co-facilitator to work in partnership with a skilled Planned Parenthood Youth Development Specialist. The co-facilitator will assist in the classroom by delivering weekly TOP sessions and coordinating service-learning opportunities using the Teen Outreach Program model. In addition, this position supports strategies to support overall goals of the project (healthy behaviors, life skills, and a sense of purpose) ultimately ensuring successful implementation and provision of accurate sexual health information in a safe, non-judgmental manner, as aligned with the Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest’s mission and the TOP program model.

The co-facilitator must have prior experience working with youth, be knowledgeable about the school/community that hosts the TOP program, and be able to commit to the program for the entire school year (October 2011-June 2012). The work is part-time approximately 8-10 hours a month. Training on the TOP curriculum and youth development practices will be provided. Community Partners will also be provided with a stipend.

CO-FACILITATOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Attend identified Teen Outreach Program trainings prior to program start (Sept. 2011).
2. Meet with Youth Development Specialist routinely to prepare for weekly TOP sessions.
3. Co-facilitate weekly TOP sessions, ensuring program fidelity and quality, as scheduled throughout the school year.
4. Assist Youth Development Specialist with coordinating service learning opportunities for participants.
5. Model culturally-relevant and appropriate cognitive, language, emotional, and social development; and group management techniques for meeting the diverse needs of youth.
6. Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance at TOP session, training, and meetings.

MIMINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated experience and ability to work with diverse populations of youth
- Knowledge of the school/community that hosts the TOP program. TOP program sites include: King County- Rainier Beach High School, Aki Kurose Middle School, Cleveland High School, Global Connections (Tyee), and Odyssey High School (Tyee). Pierce County: Lincoln High, Lincoln
Center. Mason County: Hood Canal and Oakland Bay Junior High. Clallam County: Port Angeles High School, Forks High School.
- Experience coordinating service learning projects
- Team player

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:
Interested community organizations should email a letter of interest to Mona Grife, TOP Program Manager, at Mona.Grife@ppgnw.org to set up an appointment. Letter of interest should include: 1) How your organization/program’s mission fits with the TOP program. 2) How your identified staff member meets or exceeds the minimum qualifications. For more information, please call Mona at 206.861.7535. Submissions will be accepted through Friday, July 8th.

The mission of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest Youth Development programs is to work with youth to develop critical thinking skills, promote self knowledge, and support informed decision making in all aspects of their lives. We encourage socially and sexually healthy behaviors through: school-based, long term, holistic programs and opportunities for meaningful relationships with peers and trusted adults.