What is a Wellness Coach?

A Wellness Coach is a publicly and privately funded initiative developed to support:

1. Middle school and high school students with emotional and behavioral health challenges.
2. Beginning professionals to launch careers in behavioral health / health, education, and human services.  

Specifically, Wellness Coaches:  

• Have foundational knowledge in adolescent development and behavioral health.
• Learn and apply evidence-based strategies for social emotional skill-building, healthy habits promotion, and case management.
• Work in schools and youth organizations to support youth facing challenges, such as anxiety, mild depression, loneliness, poor social & organizational skills, and unhealthy habits (poor eating, sleeping, and screen time routines). 
• Are supervised by licensed mental health clinicians.    

How does someone become a Wellness Coach?

Wellness Coaches are AmeriCorps service Members– those beginning their career, college students and individuals trying a new professional field looking to serve their community!

These are candidates new to the behavioral health/education field who can commit to:

• Full Coursework – see below.
• Up to 20 hours of Service per week at Partner Sites.
• Click here for a Member Position Description.

Those interested in either Wellness Coach track must apply to – and if accepted - complete an 11-month Wellness Coach certification program and training.

Training - Wellness Coach trainees complete the following training / course sequence:

Summer Courses (August – September): 

• Identity & Intersectionality in Wellness (Adolescent/ Youth Development)
• Behavioral Health #1: Healthy Habits
• Behavioral Health #2: Evidence-based Strategies to Improve Well-Being
• Introduction to Case Management & Navigation
• Practice Course

School Year - Seminar (End of Sept - June):

• Applied Behavioral Health & Wellness Practice Seminar / Practicum

Benefits of the Wellness Coach Certification Program

Wellness Coach trainees learn and earn - receiving the following:

For the AmeriCorps Track: 

• $14,000 living expenses stipend awarded over the course of their certification program.
• College credits (pending review) for completed course work and support with admission with partner colleges.
• Up to $2,800 AmeriCorps Education Awards towards college tuition.
• Post-program job placement support. Walker will seek to place certified Wellness Coaches with partner schools and community organizations as full-time Coaches.
• Mental health support if needed.