What is the Wellness Coach experience?
When you join Walker’s Wellness Coach Program (WCP), you serve alongside Walker’s team and your Wellness Coach cohort to gain valuable early career experience supporting students with emotional and behavioral health challenges so they can thrive in Boston’s public schools and out-of-school time (OST) programming. This service position allows you to develop your skills, earn a living stipend, and support students in building interpersonal skills, emotional regulation, and executive functioning, helping to create positive and supportive environments where youth can thrive.
Note: Wellness coaches are not therapists and should not be confused with physical fitness coaches. They are trained and supervised to support youth, teach effective skill-building strategies, and identify when referrals to clinical or social services may be needed.
What skills will you learn?
As a Wellness Coach you begin your service year on August 31st, 2026, with four weeks of immersive onboarding and training to develop a strong foundational knowledge in child and adolescent development and behavioral health. You will learn evidence-based behavioral health supports, social emotional skill-building interventions, and case management approaches. This training prepares you to provide one-on-one and group-based support to youth in classrooms and program settings.
How will you apply your skills?
Starting in September, you will be matched with an in-person service location (Boston Public School or Boston-based out-of-school time program), where you will spend 15 hours/week supporting youth in grades 3–12 who are experiencing emotional and behavioral health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and challenges related to sleep, nutrition, and screen time. As a Wellness Coach, you will be supported by your site-based supervisor, and a licensed clinical Walker supervisor. You will continue to learn from your peers and supervisors in seminars, professional development sessions, and weekly supervision meetings.
Service Schedule:
- Service Year: The 2026-27 service year will run from August 31, 2026, to June 25, 2027.
- Weekly Schedule: Coaches must be available to serve for 5 hours/day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the service year. This comes out to 15 hours/week or 585 hours across the entire service year. Schedules will be determined during the orientation period based on coach availability.
- Orientation: Before being placed at sites, there will be an orientation period from August 31 to September 24. Coaches must be available for a morning (9am-12pm) or afternoon (1pm-4-pm) slot on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to attend in-person training and activities.
- Breaks: Thanksgiving Week (November 23-27) and December Break (December 24-January 1)
Wellness Coach member benefits:
Throughout your year as a Walker Wellness Coach, you will be provided with many opportunities to learn more about the field of behavioral health and education with opportunities to develop your leadership and professional skills, build your professional network, and learn more about educational opportunities. You’ll not only make a measurable impact on the lives of the youth and communities you serve, but you will grow as an individual, and leave with skills that will help you advance your career after WCP—whether you choose to go into nonprofit, education, law, medicine or business.
Additionally, you will receive:
- Living Stipend: $11,500; approximately $547.61 as a bi-weekly stipend
- Walker Service Completion Award: $1,500 upon successful completion of 600 hours
- Public Transportation Stipend: T-pass provided
- Career Support: Post-service job placement support
- Mentorship & Supervision: Guidance from licensed mental health clinicians
Who should apply?
This role is ideal for individuals early in their career who are interested in mental health, social work, education, or youth development. If you are looking for hands-on experience in behavioral health and are passionate about supporting young people, this opportunity provides a structured learning environment with direct mentorship from licensed clinicians. Whether you are exploring a career in psychology, social work, education, or related fields, this role will give you valuable training and experience.
Qualifications:
- High school Diploma/ GED equivalent
- Be 18 years old or older at start of service
- Able to pass DESE Background Check
- Reliable means of transportation to attend service site and trainings
- Able to commit 15 hours per week from August 31st, 2026-June 25th, 2027, upon successful completion of background screening
- Able to commit to a 42-week service term aligned with the school calendar. This service term applies to all slot types.
Essential Service Activities:
- Facilitate structured 1:1 and small group coaching sessions for youth focused on behavioral health, social-emotional skill building, and wellness promotion.
- Deliver coaching services in either a school-day setting or an out-of-school-time (OST) setting, as assigned:
- School-day setting: Provide scheduled coaching sessions during the school day in coordination with school staff; coaching does not replace academic instruction, classroom management, or administrative duties.
- Out-of-school time setting: Provide structured coaching sessions and wellness activities during after-school programming; role does not include general program staffing, supervision coverage, or administrative support.
- Maintain a clearly defined coaching role and scope of service; responsibilities are limited to youth coaching, relationship building, and wellness support and do not include clerical tasks, substitute teaching, or general operational support.
- Travel to the Roxbury office and off-site Boston locations for onboarding and training in August and September 2026; travel to the assigned service site 3 days per week; and travel to the Roxbury office at least once per month throughout the service year.
- Attend all scheduled orientation and training sessions; complete required service hours for the assigned term (slot type); comply with all WCP requirements; and serve through the program’s graduation date.
- Participate in weekly meetings with your supervisor and on-site coordinator.
- Attend bi-weekly group seminars.
- Document and submit timely, accurate coach activity notes capturing youth interactions, including session length, presenting concerns, interventions provided, and outcomes.
- Uphold professional standards and maintain appropriate boundaries.
Marginal Activities:
- Support and engage with youth during field trips as opportunities to build relationships and reinforce social-emotional and wellness skills in real-world settings.
- Participate in outdoor and indoor recreational activities to promote positive peer interaction, physical activity, and social-emotional development.
- Attend and engage in events organized by the host site or Walker that align with youth development, relationship building, and wellness promotion goals.
- Provide brief, in-the-moment support to students during the school day (e.g., helping students regulate, stay engaged, or problem-solve), when aligned with coaching goals and not serving in a tutoring or instructional role.
- Engage with students during unstructured times (e.g., lunch) to build rapport, model positive social interactions, and support social-emotional skill development.
Skills and experience:
- Proficiency in basic computer systems for documentation and communication.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply (but not required).
- Have experience working with youth.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Reliable, adaptable, and able to work collaboratively as part of a team.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Walker prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, national origin, gender identity or expression, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability (mental or physical), political affiliation, familial status, marital or parental status, pregnancy, reprisal, submission of a complaint, genetic information (including family medical history), military service, or any other characteristic protected by law. Walker is committed to building a workforce that reflects and respects the diversity of the communities served.
Accommodations
Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for applications, interviews, and service. Please contact our Operations Manager Teale Bohen at [email protected], if you require accommodations.
Questions about the position: Please reach out to Taiany Goulart at [email protected].
Pay: $7,650.00 - $20,400.00 per year
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- Why are you interested in becoming a wellness coach?
- How many hours are you available to work per week?
- Please indicate education or training which you believe qualifies you for the position you are applying.
- What strategies do you use to stay motivated, balance competing priorities, and take care of yourself during long-term commitments? Please include an example.
Work Location: In person
