The Center for Grieving Children – Student Support Specialist

The Center for Grieving Children’s Intercultural and Collective Loss Peer Support Program creates healing communities for children who have resettled in Maine from countries that have experienced war, violent conflict, and natural disaster. This successful program has been offered in collaboration with the Portland area Public Schools for 24 years. The Center’s Intercultural Peer Support Program exists to create a sense of safety and community, increasing youth resiliency, social-emotional competencies and coping skills, fostering a sense of belonging, and renewing hope at weekly meetings throughout the academic year. Programming incorporates collaborative art projects, movement, and writing, giving children voice to their experience. Center staff members collaborate closely with school staff and administrators. The Center’s peer support model integrates dedicated volunteers, who are supported and supervised by clinical program staff.

The AmeriCorps member in this position will join the Center’s team, with primary responsibilities related to our Intercultural and Collective Loss Programming. They will work closely with the Intercultural Peer Support Program Coordinator and team to deliver programming serving students whose families have resettled in Portland from countries that have experienced war, conflict, and natural disasters. Reflecting these diverse communities, participants have come to Maine from nations including Somalia, Angola, Sudan, Rwanda, Congo RDC, Honduras, and Guatemala. Programming incorporates collaborative art projects, helping children give voice to their experiences and connect with others. This position includes liaison with school partners, assisting with planning and coordinating programming, co-facilitating peer support groups, supporting and managing volunteers. They will participate in other program activities as needed including meetings, phone calls, documentation, outreach, and training.