Youth-Led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Coordinator / Facilitator

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 "Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For" by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

SUMMARY:

Serving in the role as the Youth-Led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Coordinator/Facilitator, the Program Associate I coordinates and facilitates youth-led participatory action research projects driven by the Youth Action Hub (www.youthactionhub.org), a program fiscally sponsored by the Public Health Institute (PHI). The Youth Action Hub (YAH) is a participatory action research hub and network driven by young people with lived expertise of housing instability, co-led by Dr. Heather Mosher, a senior researcher. YAH conducts rigorous research that has direct implications for policies and practice to transform social systems-advancing health, housing, and wealth equity for young people. YAH works closely with organizational and community partners across the state to translate research into solutions.

This role also involves facilitating group research sessions and supporting a team of young adult action researchers through training, mentorship and support on multiple action research projects.

This is a hybrid position that is mostly remote with periodic local travel to in-person meetings and field data collection in Connecticut. The incumbent must be based in Connecticut. This is a regular part-time 90% FTE position with a schedule of 36 hours/week.

This is a time-limited position that is expected to end on December 31, 2025, with a possibility of extension dependent on funding availability. At PHI, a time-limited position is defined as regular employment with an expected end date of no more than one year from the beginning of the position. In rare circumstances, time-limited positions may be extended (e.g., when additional funding is available) to a maximum total length of up to eighteen (18) months from the start of the employee's original time-limited position.

Full pay range for this position: $28.26 to $40.29 per hour. The typical hiring range for this position is from $28.26 (minimum) to $34.28 (midpoint) per hour. The starting wage is determined using a variety of factors, such as the candidate's knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as internal equity consideration and budget availability.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Facilitate and support the youth/young adult (YYA) co-researchers

• In partnership with the Director, create overall program structure and materials, drawing from YAH's library of materials to outline a preliminary curriculum focused on raising critical consciousness, community/group building, youth-adult partnership, YYA development, and research skills development.
• In partnership with the Director, create a recruitment and selection process that intentionally invites YYA with learning differences, whose voices and perspectives are too often excluded from traditional research spaces.
• Assess youth learning styles to provide differentiated and scaffolded learning experiences.
• Train and mentor YYA co-researchers on research skills, data analysis and other relevant topics to support them in participating actively in the research process.
• Support each YYA co-researcher and the team and build their confidence to:
• identify and actively participate in research activities that best nurture their strengths and abilities;
• feel part of the YPAR research team, work effectively together and to engage with wider partners and agencies;
• apply their lived expertise and acquired participatory research knowledge and skills to the YPAR project via ongoing support and oversight;
• adhere to research guidelines on collecting, researching and storing data, via ongoing training, support and oversight;
• keep to the project timeline and aims, by monitoring research progress and through providing additional support and guidance as needed; and
• create action plans to address issues of concern and prepare materials and strategies to disseminate their research.

Coordinate and manage YPAR projects

• Assume responsibilities and tasks related to the coordination and undertaking of YPAR research projects, ensuring that it stays on track, meets its objectives, and stays within its budget and timeframe. This may include compiling background research, question formation, development of methodology, data collection, analysis and sense-making, action-oriented dissemination of findings, and fulfilling project reporting obligations.
• Adhere to ethical research guidelines, ensuring that all participants are treated with respect and that their privacy and confidentiality are protected.
• Establish and manage a central point of data collection under the guidance of the Director, and train and support the YYA co-researchers to use this system.
• Provide oversight in maintaining data and other research-related files.
• Maintain documentation required for compensating youth/young adults, reporting to agencies, and reporting on grants.

Build strategic partnerships

• Ensure that the research project builds collaborative links with existing local voluntary and community groups or other local partnerships.
• Regularly report on the progress of the research project to partners.
• Create a safe and inclusive space for dialogue, encouraging active participation, and ensuring respectful communication and authentic partnership among all stakeholders.

Process evaluation and grant report

• Encourage a reflective learning approach to overcome challenges, meet project priorities, and implement lessons learned.
• Collect and maintain documentation of the process/project based on grant requirements.
• Assist the preparation of grant reports.

General

Other work as required as part of a small and supportive team.

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, public health, education, community development, or related field; or substitute with four additional years of relevant experience.
• Two years of experience in PAR or community-based research.

Other Qualifications

• Knowledge of ethical research practices, community organizing principles, trauma-informed practice, and anti-oppressive practices.
• Solid understanding of the PAR approach, including data collection techniques (e.g., interviews, focus groups, surveys), data analysis methods, and the cyclical process of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting.
• Strong facilitation skills to guide discussions, manage group dynamics, and encourage critical reflection.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Skills in relating to young people and a range of people and groups and a capacity to encourage and support community participation.
• Experience networking and relationship building.
• Ability to work collaboratively on teams, and independently on tasks to meet project goals.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Computer competency including proficiency in Microsoft Office and social media.
• Report writing skills.
• Access to technology for virtual meetings (for audio, video, and review/editing documents).
• Must be able to pass background checks required for this position.

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

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We're so pleased the Public Health Institute is an organization you would like to work with. Do you have questions about this opportunity? If so, email our recruitment team at Recruitment@phi.org.

Additional information about PHI's benefits and compensation offerings can be found here.

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at Recruitment@phi.org.