Youth Program Facilitator (Volunteer)

More parents than ever have cancer. That means more kids are facing the challenge of a parent’s diagnosis. Pickles Group provides free peer-to-peer support and resources for kids and teens whose parents have cancer.

Volunteer Role - Fully Remote (US Only), or In-Person in the North Chicago Suburbs

We offer clinician-observed, career-relevant volunteer opportunities for students or professionals pursuing Social Work, Child Life, Nursing, Psychology and the like. Our volunteer opportunities are mentored and overseen by our Chief Clinical Officer, and work directly with youth providing social-emotional support around their parents' cancer journey. We would be a great fit for any grad student or professional who wants to work with school-aged kids, in proximity to cancer care, and/or want experience with bereavement support (bereavement isn't the main part of our work so those who are adverse to it won't have to be involved; we have a subset of programming that focuses specifically on grief).

What You’ll Do As a Youth Program Facilitator

• Co-lead and actively participate in virtual or in-person activities, games, and structured fun for school-aged kids and teens impacted by parental cancer, separated into groups based on age, development, and circumstances.
• Review curriculum and all materials designed and provided by Kelsey Mora, CCLS, LCPC, our Chief Clinical Officer, to feel prepared to facilitate with ease.
• Support and customize the experience to fit the curriculum and your group.
• Communicate with families about attendance and absences each session.

Additional Opportunities for extra experience may include:

• Access to professional development from Chief Clinical Officer
• Supporting and facilitating for Pickles Group at signature events
• Attending industry-related conferences as a Pickles representative
• Relationship-development with prestigious hospital systems
• Career-specific Family Outreach, like new family referral and intake calls

Qualifications for Role:

• Graduate-level students or professionals focused on Child Life, Nursing, Oncology, Social Work, or other related fields. Similarly-qualified people are welcome to apply.
• At least one year of direct experience working with children and families
• 21 years of age or older
• Must pass a background check
• At this time, all facilitators must be located in the United States.

How to Apply

To join us as a Youth Facilitator, complete and submit the volunteer application form by these dates:

• Deadline September 25th: group assignments made according to organizational needs; no priority or preference
• Note: low availability for Fall opportunities! Those who want to start in the Fall should complete the application ASAP, as we are interviewing as the applications come in.

For more information about about our programming and their time commitments for the 2024-2025 academic year, take a look at our role descriptions here, and/or our website here.