Application to Join Active Minds’ Mental Health Advocacy Academy
Youth and young adults have made clear that many of the most pressing mental health-related issues are connected to racial and social justice, creating equitable access to mental health care, developing youth-centered mental health policies (school board, local, or state), and achieving affordable, culturally appropriate comprehensive health care. The Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Academy is a leadership development and mental health advocacy academy that equips high school students to address mental health-related issues and affect change in their schools, communities, and states.
This unique, paid leadership program provides rising 9th-12th grade high school students with the tools and resources needed to develop mental health advocacy campaigns that will transform and positively impact school, community, and state culture and increase mental health resources for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth and their communities. Academy members will develop a mental health campaign that can be implemented in their schools and communities.
Qualifications:
Eligible Academy members must be:
High School Students.
Invested interest in supporting BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ youth and experience engaging or working with BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ communities.
Have an interest in civic engagement and a desire to learn more about mental health advocacy, policy, and how to affect change in your community.
Have creativity, initiative, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Able and willing to work independently and as a team member with people of various perspectives and backgrounds.
Internet access.
Obtain parental/caregiver consent to participate and sign an agreement that specifies expectations and the terms of participation
Expectations:
Academy members will be expected to:
Meet during the Pregame week virtually via Zoom May 20th, 21st, and 22nd (1 Hour) to engage with peers and to cover academy expectations and guidelines. Please note that May 20th is parent night. Students should be present with their parent(s)/guardian(s). Pregame will be held between 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST.
Meet virtually via Zoom weekly on Tuesdays for 2 hours from May 28th through June 25th, 2024. Meetings will be held between 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm EST. Meetings are informal, and participants are expected to be conversational and engaged. It is expected that you attend all of the meetings.
Participate in two small learning community sessions with Active Minds’ Staff. These sessions will take place during the last 20 minutes of the 1st and 4th Academy meetings.
Complete between-meeting assignments that may involve meeting with other Academy members, Active Minds staff, or mentors.
Develop an outline for a mental health advocacy campaign. The outline will be showcased during the final Academy meeting. (Times for the last Academy meeting may be extended for student presentations.)
Complete Academy evaluations (during and after).
Leadership Development Opportunities and Stipend:
Academy members will have the opportunity to:
Engage in learning communities that specifically focus on BIPOC and LGBTQ+-related issues.
$750.00 total stipend (the stipend will be paid after the completion of the Academy). Note that Academy members will not be employees of Active Minds.
This unparalleled opportunity to gain real-world policy advocacy knowledge to make a difference in your local community.
Professional training from nationally renowned policy and mental health experts.
Networking opportunities with other young adult mental health advocates.
Unique leadership opportunity that is a resume builder.
Opportunities to inform and participate in Active Minds' mental health policy and advocacy efforts.
Application is due on or before May 6, 2024
If you have any questions about the application, reach out to the Active Minds K-12 Initiatives team at K12@activeminds.org