Health & Wellness Youth Advisory Council Member (14-15 years of age), OSHW

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third-largest school district in the United States, serving over 330,000 students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers.

CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.

In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans : academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.

Six core values are embedded within these commitments student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) aims to eliminate health-related barriers to learning and promote health equity.

A key component of supporting this aim is data : understanding what data is available to the District and how to leverage it to support our students through programming, grant writing, and more.

Job Summary :

The Health & Wellness Youth Advisory Council is a diverse group of CPS high school students who work with the CPS Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) to plan, implement, and evaluate barriers to adolescent health in their community through activities and projects.

This council strives to fully represent the district’s student population, including high school students from a wide range of grade levels (9th 11th), geographic areas, school types (district-managed, charter, contract, and options schools), and cultural, racial, gender, and sexual identities.

This council will engage in projects under the scope of the Office of Student Health and Wellness to advance their own knowledge and interests in the education system and public health.

Council members will discuss issues related to public health and school health in CPS. Council members will select an issue or issues they feel strongly about to create student-led projects and influence structural change in their school community, or across the district.

The committee will work with OSHW staff, community-based organizations and leaders, and their schools to receive and provide feedback on their projects and other District initiatives.

Committee members will participate in workshops and activities with strategic partners, their peers, and CPS staff to build community, strengthen relationships, and emerge with leadership skills to advance their personal interests and projects.

Council members will participate in a 6-week hybrid program (virtual and in-person) on Mondays-Thursdays from 11 : 00 am - 3 : 00 pm to work on projects, community building, and any additional work as decided upon by the council.

Members will be paid for their time.

Potential Health & Wellness Youth Advisory Council Project Topics :

• Mental Health Support
• Sexual Health Curriculum
• Sexual Health Services
• Condom & Menstrual Hygiene Product Availability
• Student Rights to Confidential Care
• School Meal Program & Menus
• Chronic Conditions
• LGBTQ+ Support

more!

The Health & Wellness Youth Advisory Council Member will be held accountable for the following responsibilities :

• Engage in projects under the scope of the Office of Student Health and Wellness to advance their own knowledge and interests in the education system and public health.
• Create student-led projects and influence structural change in their school community, or across the district.
• Work with OSHW staff, community-based organizations and leaders, and their schools to receive and provide feedback on their projects and other District initiatives.
• Participate in workshops and activities with strategic partners, their peers, and CPS staff to build community, strengthen relationships, and emerge with leadership skills to advance their personal interests and projects.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Health Data must possess the following qualifications :

Education Required :

Committee applicants must be in 9th 11th grade at any CPS school (district-managed, charter, contract, or options).

Experience Required :

Experience in an office setting; nonprofit and health-related work experience is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Interest in student health and public health.
• Ability to work collaboratively with fellow students.
• Ability to be communicative, open-minded, respectful, responsible, and motivated.
• Ability to travel downtown and attend in-person sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to :

Establish / Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.

The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary / part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.

Be Fully Vaccinated or Submit to Weekly COVID-19 Testing -Employees are required to be fully vaccinated within 30 days of their hire date.

Full vaccination is defined as at least two weeks after your second shot of a two-shot vaccination course, or at least two weeks after a one-shot vaccination course.

Unvaccinated staff must submit to weekly testing.

CPS Non-Union Job Grade : N / A

Estimated Annual Salary Range : N / A

Final salary offers are dependent upon candidate qualifications.