Wellness Advisors

Wellness Advisors are seasoned licensed mental health professionals who provide Girls Write Now mentors and staff with guidance in handling sensitive issues and difficult situations they may encounter with mentees. Additionally, Wellness Advisors help train mentors in teen mental health and social-emotional youth development.

We recognize the multi-dimensional nature of a trusting mentoring relationship and the holistic needs of teen girls and gender nonconforming youth, and rely on our Wellness Advisors to provide necessary support, thus enabling staff and mentors to focus on our mission—writing and mentoring.

VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT

Wellness Advisors are asked to commit for a minimum of one academic school year, providing up to 3 hours of support per month. If starting mid-year we ask for a semester commitment. 

Wellness Advisors activities will include the following:

• Field mentors’ questions and concerns (moderated by GWN staff) to offer strategies and advice for mentoring or supporting a teen through difficult circumstances.
• Serve as a panelist or presenter at select virtual training sessions, workshops, Wellness Wednesdays, or Thursday Community Chats (or at the Girls Write Now office in midtown, safety permitting), to provide mental health-related information.
• Recommend resources (online, over the phone, and in-person—when deemed safe) for teen mental health and well-being that can be shared with mentors, GWN staff, mentees, and included on the GWN website.
• Meet with high need mentor-mentee pairs as needed

VOLUNTEER QUALIFICATIONS

• Current, valid licensure as a mental health professional (priority given to NYS)
• Ability to successfully pass a background check 
• Passion for our mission to mentor the next generation of writers
• Experience in crisis management and/or working with high-need teen girls and gender nonconforming youth
• Private practice experience and proof of malpractice insurance preferred

ABOUT GIRLS WRITE NOW 

Girls Write Now mentors underserved young women and gender nonconforming youth to find their voices through the power of writing and community. As the first writing and mentoring organization, we have been a nationally respected leader in arts education for over 20 years. Girls Write Now breaks down the barriers of gender, race, and poverty, pairing underserved girls and gender nonconforming youth with professional writers and digital media makers—building skills, networks, and life-long relationships that open doors and change lives.

WHO WE SERVE

Girls Write Now serves a culturally and educationally diverse community of girls and gender nonconforming youth (mentees) — 90% of color, 90% high need, 75% immigrant or first generation and 25% LGBTQ+/gender nonconforming. These underserved teens, who have long been negatively impacted by the lack of resources and opportunities in public schools, face significant challenges to educational and professional success. Unfortunately, in our city and our country, girls and gender nonconforming teens of color are rarely given the guidance, care, and systemic support they need to gain confidence in their talents and accomplishments, graduate from high school and access viable college or career opportunities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and disempowerment. Girls Write Now is uniquely positioned to help correct these longstanding inequalities.

APPLICATION PROCESS

If you are interested in becoming a Wellness Advisor, please fill out the below form. As a next step, we will contact qualified candidates for an interview. Please note that all candidates will be asked for proof of licensure, resume and three professional references. If you have any questions, please contact Erica Silberman erica@girlswritenow.org.