Mental Health & Wellness Director | Volunteer
Lead trauma-informed, youth-centered wellness support across Cougs 4 Kids programs—creating safe spaces, training volunteers, and connecting youth and families to resources when needed.
Questions? [email protected] • Applications reviewed: rolling basis • Reports to: Program Operations Director
Quick Summary
The Mental Health & Wellness Director leads the C4K HEART Team—a specialized volunteer group focused on emotional wellbeing across Cougs 4 Kids programs. You’ll design and implement trauma-informed supports, create safe spaces for youth and volunteers, and coordinate resource referrals when concerns arise.
This role is ideal for a calm, compassionate leader with experience in youth mental health, social-emotional learning (SEL), counseling, school psychology, or trauma-informed education. You will help build a culture of empathy, safety, and growth.
Here’s what happens next
- Apply: submit the online form or email your resume + brief letter of interest.
- Screening: background check and youth protection requirements.
- Onboarding: role orientation + wellness and safety protocols.
- Build the HEART Team: recruit, train, and launch wellness supports for the season.
About Cougs 4 Kids
Cougs 4 Kids, an initiative of Believe in Me, unites Washington State University alumni, student-athletes, and volunteers to empower youth across Washington State. We create programs that foster confidence, character, and community—helping kids thrive and reminding them they’re never alone on their journey.
Volunteer Role Overview
As the Mental Health & Wellness Director, you lead emotional wellbeing strategy and response across programming— from pre-event check-ins, to live safe spaces, to post-event reflections. You are also the primary escalation point for emotional concerns raised by youth, volunteers, or staff.
Primary Volunteer Outcomes
- Youth-centered safety: supports that are developmentally appropriate, culturally humble, and trauma-informed.
- Operational readiness: clear playbooks for prevention, escalation, and referral pathways.
- Volunteer resilience: debriefs, check-ins, and supportive practices that prevent burnout.
- Program learning: wellness trends and success stories captured for leadership and impact reporting.
Core Responsibilities
- Recruit, train, and lead the HEART Team (Health, Empowerment, Access, Resilience, Thriving).
- Design and oversee pre-, during-, and post-program wellness supports:
- Pre-event check-ins and wellness surveys
- Live safe space breakout rooms
- Post-event reflections and emotional debriefs
- Train HEART Team members in digital safety, trauma-informed practices, and virtual facilitation (Google Meet/Classroom).
- Curate and maintain an age-appropriate digital wellness resource library (videos, mindfulness tools, crisis/hotline guides).
- Serve as the primary point of escalation for emotional concerns during programming; coordinate appropriate resource referrals.
- Collaborate with the Health & Safety Director and Program Directors to uphold participant wellbeing.
- Promote volunteer wellbeing through post-event debriefs and proactive check-ins.
- Report wellness trends and success stories to leadership for inclusion in program and impact reports.
Sample HEART Team Roles You Will Manage
Before Programs
- Wellness Curriculum Assistant
- Remote Resource Curator
- Youth Support Volunteer Onboarding Facilitator
During Programs
- Remote Safe Space Facilitator
- Wellness Chat Monitor
- Group Wellness Moderator
- Mental Health Floater
After Programs
- Reflections & Feedback Coordinator
- Confidential Testimonial Collector
- Volunteer Debrief Facilitator
- Follow-Up Wellness Buddy
Skills & Qualifications
- Experience in mental health, youth counseling, school psychology, SEL, or trauma-informed education.
- Knowledge of adolescent development and emotional regulation strategies.
- Experience leading or training volunteer teams.
- Comfort with virtual facilitation and online wellness tools.
- Empathy, discretion, and cultural humility.
- Willingness to engage in emotionally sensitive conversations and make resource referrals.
Time Commitment
- Planning & Prep (Jan–June): ~5–10 hours/month
- Final 4 Weeks Before Camp: ~10 hours/week
- During Camp (July/Aug): full-time for 5–7 days
- Post-Camp Debrief & Reporting: ~5 hours
Note: programming may include remote components and seasonal on-site commitments depending on the event.
Volunteer Requirements
- Minimum one-year commitment.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Background check and youth protection training.
- Completion of required training sessions:
- Trauma-Informed Practices
- Cultural Sensitivity
- DEI Foundations
- Youth Safety Protocols
What You’ll Gain
- Executive-level leadership experience with a high-visibility initiative.
- Deep community engagement and mentorship impact.
- Feature stories in C4K media and letters of recommendation.
- A role that changes lives—and leaves a legacy of possibility.
How to Apply
Send your resume and a brief letter of interest to [email protected]. Please include “Mental Health & Wellness Director – C4K HEART Team” in the subject line. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
You can also apply online: cougs4kids.org/get_involved_with_cougs_4_kids
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this role remote?
Remote-first for planning and virtual facilitation, with seasonal on-site participation depending on the program calendar.
What kind of background is helpful?
Experience in youth mental health, counseling, school psychology, SEL, or trauma-informed education is most relevant.
What does the HEART Team do?
The HEART Team supports youth and volunteers through check-ins, safe spaces, resource curation, and post-event debriefs.
Do I need to make clinical diagnoses or provide therapy?
No. This role focuses on prevention, supportive practices, facilitation, and referrals to appropriate resources when needed.
What is the time commitment?
Planning is ~5–10 hours/month (Jan–June), increasing to ~10 hours/week in the final month, then full-time for 5–7 days during camp (July/Aug).
Help youth feel safe, supported, and seen
Apply online or email your resume and brief letter of interest. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Email: [email protected]