The Legacy Project: a structured mentorship program to support long term PHA empowerment
The Legacy Project implemented a multi-faceted approach centered on group mentoring and capacity enhancement activities to strategically address the social determinants affecting access. This program engages PHA peers and allies to build structured mentorship relationships to facilitate life goal identification and more effective involvement in volunteerism or employment. This program is a partnership initiative led by the CAAT, in collaboration with other organizations with ongoing PHA capacity building programs.
to support, mental well-being, education, and employment for priority populations. These efforts aimed to bolster engagement throughout the testing to care continuum. The program’s target communities actively participated across all levels, contributing to the program advisory committee and various working groups as creators, implementers, evaluators, and knowledge disseminators.
Each project activity seamlessly integrated capacity strengthening, reflective team learning, and mentorship practices. These elements fostered peer leadership within a community of shared learning, ensuring the participation of individuals with specific lived experiences (e.g., addictions, service providers, aging concerns, employment/school preparation) in group mentoring endeavors.
Initial mentorship training consists of 2 full days on the weekend. In addition, there will be quarterly reflective practice meetings as well as ongoing mentor/mentee matched pairs meeting defined by participants themselves.
The key skills gained by a PHA during this program
- Mentoring/Coaching skills
- Identifying and exploring life goals
- Understanding roles, boundaries and conflict of interest
- Applying leadership & life skills in various volunteer and employment settings
Key skills developed include effective peer mentoring and application of leadership skills in variety of volunteer and employment settings. Many of our PHA graduates of the program will be invited to return as co-facilitators, often with practicum opportunities will be created with partner agencies to provide placement for program participants
In March 2022, funding for the Legacy Project was extended for five years. Program planning process included comprehensive consultations with existing partners (6) and potential agencies (3). The goal was to identify strengths and gaps in the current program model, facilitating the development of a needs-based curriculum to enhance partnerships.
Key Findings and Recommendations:
- Existing partner agencies acknowledged the practicality and relevance of Legacy Project’s
content, empowering community members to navigate migration journeys and enhance
capacities. - Partners identified challenges, including confidentiality concerns due to limited trust
with CAAT, a need for linguistically tailored programming, and minimal collaboration beyond
recruitment.
For more information, contact the CAAT Legacy Project Coordinator (Contact Us)