Members in AmeriCorps Youth Transition provide numerous services to the On Campus Transition Program and other Arc Jacksonville sponsored programs that work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Members that primarily serve at OCT assist OCT students with developing independent living, academic, wellness and work readiness skills. Below is a full list of the various different types of members and what they do:
Academic Advisors
Academic Advisors assist OCT students on a daily bases with their coursework and ensure students are receive the support needed to be successful in the classroom. They also mentor OCT students with academic related topics such as effective study habits. This position is for individuals who are able to provide supports to OCT students at the OCT office during the day.
Independent Living Mentors
Independent Living Mentors work with OCT students in developing and improving skills that would assist an individual with successfully living independently (i.e. cooking, cleaning, how to use public transportation, etc). OCT has a residential component where OCT students live with a peer mentor at the District on Kernan Apartment Complex. Independent Living mentors dedicate the majority of their time providing supports to these residential students. This position is not for individuals who lack patience and or have obligations in the afternoon/evening.
Work Readiness Mentors
To be independent, it is essential for an individual to be able to have a job and financially support themselves. Work Readiness mentors are dedicated to teaching OCT students those skills that will assist them in finding, attaining and retaining a job. Work Readiness mentors recruit campus departments to be internship sites for OCT students. If a student needs additional supports at the job, Work Readiness mentors will provide on the job training until that individual has developed the skills to effectively perform the duties of the position.
Wellness Mentor
Wellness mentor is a role model for OCT students and is passionate and knowledgeable about proper nutrition and how to maintain a healthy life style. UNF has numerous resources to keep the Osprey community fit and healthy. The Wellness mentor ensures that students in the program are knowledgeable about these resources and helps OCT students take advantage of these resources. In addition to these on campus resources, the Wellness mentor will provide and present workshops to OCT students on various types of relating topics from how to handle stress, to how to properly read a food labels.
Mentor Recruiters/Coordinators
Mentor Recruiters are not afraid to present in front of large groups of people. This position entails having strong communication and presentation skills and great understanding on the UNF campus community including campus clubs and organizations. The title speaks for its self, mentor recruiters/coordinators, recruit UNF students to dedicate at least an hour a being an academic, social and wellness mentors to OCT students. Each UNF student who becomes a mentor goes through and extensive orientation that is conducted by mentor recruiters.
Budget Facilitators
Budget Facilitators have experience in basic accounting principles and/or money management (personal or for others). This position requires working with the National Disability Institute (NDI), UNF's Building Economic Success Together (BEST) Alliance, and other community agencies (i.e., United Way's Real $ense, etc.) to develop and implement financial literacy training to OCT students. Budget Facilitators use hands-on experiences to assist students in learning how to manage their money in real-time, as well as to educate them on available government benefits to optimize their finances. This position is for a creative individual that can modify their teaching style according to student needs.
