Serve
your
community
and
launch
your
career.
Be an active part of improving the mental health and well-being of Utah’s youth. Contribute to real solutions, serve your community, and explore meaningful career pathways in the behavioral health field. Youth Mental Health Corps members receive training and may earn industry-recognized certifications or credentials while gaining hands-on experience. Join the Youth Mental Health Corps and build your future while making a difference.
Apply to Serve
Be an active part of improving the mental health and well-being of Utah’s youth. Contribute to real solutions, serve your community, and explore meaningful career pathways in the behavioral health field. Youth Mental Health Corps members receive training and may earn industry-recognized certifications or credentials while gaining hands-on experience. Join the Youth Mental Health Corps and build your future while making a difference.
The service experience
AmeriCorps members participating in Utah’s Youth Mental Health Corps will embark on an exciting path, helping youth in communities across the state access mental health resources and improve their well-being. Members will gain hands-on experience while earning recognized credentials that represent a beneficial step toward fulfilling and in-demand careers in the healthcare, mental health, and social services fields.
Explore service benefits
You can earn industry-recognized credentials or higher-education credits, receive professional development and career support, and may be eligible for a living stipend and the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to help with future goals. Beyond practical benefits, service builds confidence, expands your professional network, and deepens your sense of purpose through meaningful community impact.
Program partners
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County is to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens and leaders. Youth Mental Health Corps members support youth through a mix of direct service and program support. Members deliver small-group mental health skill-building sessions, provide individualized student support, connect youth to appropriate resources, and assist with administrative functions. They also mentor students in emotional regulation, stress management, healthy coping strategies, resilience, and goal setting through non-clinical group interventions and activities.
The One Utah Service Fellowship provides opportunities for young adults to participate in sustainable and high-impact service to address the critical priorities and needs in Utah while supporting debt-free pathways to higher education. Youth Mental Health Corps members serving through the One Utah Service Fellowship support junior high and high school students by improving attendance, engagement, and social-emotional and mental health outcomes. Members provide support through weekly one-on-one meetings and help connect students and families to appropriate school and community resources.
If your school or organization is interested in becoming a host site, please fill out the interest form and you will be contacted with more information.
As a Youth Mental Health Corps AmeriCorps member you may participate in any one of three service-to-career pathways: Community Health Worker, Mental Health School Navigator, or Certified Peer Support Specialist. Activities can include:
- Connecting students and families to mental health services, resources, and educational information
- Partnering with families, schools, and mental health providers to improve students’ educational experiences
- Supporting administrative and care coordination (e.g. - maintain accurate and confidential client records, collect data, make progress notes, incident reports, referrals, and after care documentation)
- Supporting non-clinical assessment, monitoring, and care planning activities
- Supporting intervention and treatment activities
- Supporting peers and near peers along their recovery journey
All members will have a variety of required and/or optional training and support that may include but is not limited to the following:
- AmeriCorps State programs orientation
- Professional development and technical assistance throughout the service term
- Supplemental career readiness and career development activities
- Information and resources related to college readiness
- Workshop opportunities focused on durable skills, labor market information, and service-to-career pathways
- Suicide prevention training, including Mental Health First Aid and/or Creating Safety
- Multi-tiered levels of support
- Training in trauma-informed practices
- Certification opportunities as a Community Health Worker or Certified Peer Support Specialist
Benefits of serving as a Youth Mental Health Corps AmeriCorps member include:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, based on term of service
- Modest living stipend
- Opportunity to earn certifications, credentials, or postsecondary credit
- Access to member assistance programs, wraparound resources, and professional development
- Exclusive Youth Mental Health Corps benefits, made possible through the support of the Schultz Family Foundation, including professional support through a national peer mental health network, one-on-one career counseling, and access to a member assistance fund
Essential qualifications to participate in the Utah Youth Mental Health Corps include:
- Must be age 18-24 years old at start of service term to serve as a Community Health Worker or Mental Health School Navigator; must be age 18-29 years old at start of service term to serve as a Certified Peer Support Specialist.
- Must have high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
- Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or Lawful Permanent Resident
- Must pass a criminal background check
The Utah Youth Mental Health Corps is made possible by:
