LSNer Position Description

LSN (Listen, Support, Navigate; pronounced “listen”) is a peer support program that provides live virtual support from fellow students as a means for listening, supporting, and navigating peers to the appropriate resources. LSN volunteers (“LSNers”) provide peer support through live chat accessible through the Heels Care Network and CAPS websites. Additionally, LSNers may also provide peer support through community activities and ongoing support. LSNers are comprised of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who are trained in peer support skills, Mental Health First Aid, and other skills and topics.

We’re looking for student* volunteers for LSNer positions who are willing to lend an empathetic listening ear to their peers, help peers identify their own needs, access relevant campus and community resources while respecting a peer’s personal preferences, and provide ongoing support as requested. These supporters will contribute collaboratively to the integration of campus services, actively participate in quality improvement of this peer support initiative, promote a culture of care and mutuality in the Carolina community, and protect the privacy of their peers.

*All current UNC-CH students are eligible, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. We strongly encourage students to apply who identify as belonging to one or more high-priority groups: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color), first-generation college/graduate/professional, low family income, LGBTQ+, international, military-affiliated and veteran, female-identifying in areas in which females are historically underrepresented, and people with disabilities.

Training

• Duration: Approximately 16 hours total across the semester
• Training Components
  • Peer Support Skills and LSN Program Procedures (3.5 hours)
    • Initial training is mandatory and will be held from 9:00am-12:30pm ET on Saturday, February 3 via Zoom
  • Mental Health First Aid (8 hours)
    • Free via UNC-CH School of Social Work
  • High-Priority Group Training
    • LSNers are expected to complete at least one training pertaining to a high-priority group with whom they do not identify; they are encouraged to complete more than one
    • Examples include Safe Zone and Green Zone; others may be submitted for consideration to LSN staff
    • LSN staff will aim to schedule periodic high-priority group trainings on behalf of LSNers as a group, but LSNers may attend these trainings whenever offered
  • Ongoing Peer Support Topics and Campus Resources
    • Offered on ongoing basis in conjunction with weekly check-ins as much as possible

** Mental Health First Aid and High-Priority Group trainings may be completed before becoming a LSNer. In these cases, please provide relevant documentation of completion.

Position commitment for Academic Year 2023-2024

• Weekly Time Commitment: 3-4 hours per week 
• During 2-3 of the hours each week, you will be scheduled to: 
  • Provide support to students via Heels Care Network live chat
    • During live chat time, you may engage in quiet activities while remaining available to a peer via the chat platform (i.e., studying, watching a TV show) 
  • Re-engage/follow-up with any previous students who have requested ongoing support via e-mail or other channels
  • Some of these hours may be scheduled for nights or weekends. Scheduling may change over time according to student demand and with consultation of LSNers
• Attendance at weekly meetings is mandatory. Weekly check-in meetings are currently held on Tuesday evenings.

LSN volunteers who complete training and at least one spring or fall semester of commitment... 

• Will receive a certificate recognizing their contributions
• May include their volunteer time on any professional resumes and applications
• May request a letter of recommendation from program staff
• May apply training and volunteer hours toward required skills training (i.e., BPSS, scholar programs, et al.) and volunteer hours (i.e., service-learning course, BPSS, et al.) in accordance with requirements of those external programs