Three Community Boards will shape the work of the JEAP Initiative
This board includes youth & young adults (age 16-25) who are in recovery from substance use.
This board includes adults of any age who are in recovery and who have former or current involvement with the juvenile or adult justice system.
This board includes staff from organizations that provide or pay for recovery support services.
As a board member, you will:
Help improve recovery support services
This research will serve to improve recovery support services. The Community Boards are integral to ensuring that the research focuses on the most important issues, serves the most critical populations, and that the results are shared with the community.
Shape research on recovery support services
The Community Boards will set the research priorities, give input on the design of research studies (training will be provided), and will decide which research projects on recovery support services receive pilot funding.
Shape the next generation of researchers
The Community Boards will determine which researchers are selected for our Postdoctoral Fellowship, our Trainee program, and our pilot study funding. We will be seeking applicants who have lived experience with substance use or the justice system, or who are from groups that are underrepresented in research, including communities of color.
Identify priorities for research
Board members will brainstorm what topics and populations are important for researchers to study within recovery support services.
Share your expertise and lived experience
Community Board members bring the unique perspective and expertise of having lived experience. To the extent that you are comfortable, you will have the opportunity to share within the board your lived experience and how it shapes your perspective on recovery support services.
Gain skills and make connections
You will be working alongside a team of your peers from around the country, and will receive training to enhance your knowledge on research and recovery support services. No previous knowledge of research is required - all training will be provided.
Learn more about serving on a Community Board
Watch this short video for an overview of the role of a Community Board member, what backgrounds and experiences we’re looking for, and what training you’ll receive.
What skills and experience we're looking for
The qualifications to join the Young Adult Community Board are:
Youth and young adults - age 16-25
Lived experience with substance use issues
Enthusiasm for participating in the board and sharing your perspective
No specific educational or professional background is required; all training will be provided. We aim to have board members from a range of backgrounds, education levels, and perspectives
No previous board or committee experience is required
Because we want to effectively address the needs of a variety of communities affected by substance use disorder, including communities that may be overlooked in research, we are working on creating a board with members who bring a variety of identities and experiences to the table. People encouraged to apply include Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color; women; people who are gender non-binary; people with disabilities; and people in the LGBTQ community.
Interested in joining? Apply Now!
Click on the link below to fill out our brief online application form. Our team will then email you to schedule a 30-minute follow-up Zoom call so that we can share more about the project, get to know you, and answer any questions you have.
The Justice-Involved and Provider and Payor boards are now full. The application deadline for the Young Adult Community Board is February 15, 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
No - we are aiming to have board members with a mix of different educational and work backgrounds. Especially for the Young Adult board, we recognize that you may not have work experience yet. No previous experience on a board or advisory group is required - we will provide all the training you need.
Nope! We will provide trainings on what you need to know about research so that you are prepared to give input on research studies.
Click here and fill out the brief application. Our team will then email you to schedule a 30-minute follow-up Zoom call so that we can share more about the project, get to know you, and answer any questions you have.
Board members will receive a stipend of $50 per board meeting they attend. Board meetings will generally be once a month for the first year, then decrease to three times per year after that.
You will attend monthly virtual meetings, which will be one hour long, except for the first meeting, which will be 1.5-2 hours. In addition to the meetings, you'll have approximately 2 hours per month of preparation and reviewing materials. Other activities beyond this can be done on a voluntary basis, if you desire. We are asking for a commitment of joining the board for at least one year.
The monthly meetings will take place virtually on Zoom. Once we have selected the board members, we will coordinate schedules to identify a monthly meeting time. This is a national board that will include members in all different US time zones. The meetings may be during the day, during the evening, or on the weekend. If you are invited onto the board, we will ask you for your availability.
Your participation in this board will be kept confidential within the JEAP Initiative Team, and will not be shared publicly. If, however, you would like to publicly share your leadership role of serving on a Community Board, there will be opportunities to do so.
Community Board Liaison
Danielle Rich
Danielle Rich serves as the Community Board Liaison for the JEAP Initiative. Danielle is a Committed Research Assistant at the UMASS Medical School-Transitions To Adulthood Research Center and is focused on transition-age youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions. Danielle has lived experience with Mental Health Conditions, and also has a strong working knowledge of mental health and health services research. For the past 3 plus years, she has worked on the Peer Academic Supports for Success Project (PASS Study) which offers peer support to transition- aged college students who have a mental health conditions. Danielle is particularly passionate about providing a support system for emerging adults.