The Community Health Leadership Initiative (CHLI) provides free training and mentorship for people who are interested in starting a career in the sexual health or substance use field. We also provide opportunities for experienced workers to mentor the future workforce. Please see information below for how to get involved.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more, please reach out to Katie Faulkner, CHLI Director, at katie@springboardhealthlab.org.
CHLI Training and Mentorship Program
The CHLI Training and Mentorship Program is a workforce development program for individuals interested in entering careers in sexual health and substance use health. We aim to develop and sustain a workforce reflective of the communities most served in San Francisco.
This personal and professional development and training program serves as an introduction to HIV/HCV/STD and drug-use health careers for individuals who may have limited to no experience in the field. Participants will join a supportive community of peers and passionate mentors to assist their learning and exploration of the field. Participants will receive training (provided by the Academy) and mentoring and engage in field activities, community-building, networking, and professional-skill-building activities. People with lived experience are encouraged to apply.
Our next cohort will be starting in January! You can sign up for more information on the January-May cohort below.
San Francisco HIV Frontline Organizing Group Mentor Program
What is the Frontline Organizing Group Mentor Program (FMP)?
This is a mentorship program in which new frontline workers will be paired with more experienced frontline workers based on various matching questions. A learning framework will be provided for the more experienced worker to guide the new worker through the program. The learning framework includes three Tiers that build upon each other. These Tiers include information essential for HIV frontline workers to know how to competently and effectively support their clients. There will also be an opportunity to create your own learning goals.
This program is designed to support the key Frontline Organizing Group (FOG) goals of:
• Building the capacity of HIV frontline workers to best support their clients
• Stimulating professional relationships in support of cross-agency collaboration
• Investing in workers’ professional development and career growth
Through this program, mentees will:
1. Develop and utilize their professional resource toolbox to effectively address client needs in collaboration with veteran workers
2. Illustrate how to efficiently and confidently triage a client’s presenting issue to resolution (e.g., resolve medication access barrier; present a client in crisis to behavioral health crisis provider)
3. Develop a network of support that includes key relationships at agencies across San Francisco for ongoing collaboration in support of meeting clients’ needs
Through completion of this program, mentors will:
1. Update their professional resource toolbox to more efficiently address client needs through collaborative mentorship of a newer worker
2. Demonstrate advanced abilities for identifying and triaging clients’ presenting needs to resolution
3. Refresh their current network of support, including key relationships at agencies across San Francisco with whom to collaborate to help meet client needs
4. Identify and respond to the needs of the newer workers in the SF HIV systems of care, in support of macro-level capacity building
Who is this program for?
We recommend this program for:
• New workers who have been in the HIV services field in San Francisco for less than 2 years, who would like to develop their knowledge, skills, and professional network to better assist their clients, and learn from an experienced worker;
• Experienced workers in the HIV services field in San Francisco (in the field for over 2 years) who would like to give back by sharing their wisdom and experience with a new worker, while also furthering their mentoring skills and professional development
How do I sign up?
Once you’ve received initial approval from your supervisor to participate, sign up for the FMP by completing one of the sign-up forms below:
• FMP Mentee Sign-up Survey & Matching Assessment Form
• FMP Mentor Sign-up Survey & Matching Assessment Form
Questions?
Interested mentors, mentees, and their supervisors can send questions to Katie Faulkner at katie@springboardhealthlab.org. Your queries will be responded to promptly.
We look forward to you joining our growing community of mentors and mentees and supporting you on this mentoring journey!
Other Mentor Opportunities
Are you an experienced worker in San Francisco in the HIV/ HCV/STI or substance use health field? Would you like to utilize your knowledge and experience to support people who would like to enter the workforce, or are in their early career? Please get in touch to find out more about the mentoring opportunities available to you.
Please contact Katie Faulkner at katie@springboardhealthlab.org.
Workforce Development Collective
Are you involved with workforce development efforts in San Francisco? Would you like to be connected to other workforce development programs? Come join our network!
Please contact Katie Faulkner at katie@springboardhealthlab.org for more information.
CHLI Training and Mentorship Program
