Join our Community Boards
Three Community Boards shape the work of the JEAP Initiative:
This board includes young adults (age 18-25) 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 Training Institute, 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 communities that otherwise are not as involved in research careers.
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. Meet our current board members here. 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.
Skills and experience we're looking for
The qualifications to join a Community Board are:
For the Young Adult Board: ages 18-25; for the Justice-Involved Board: all ages welcome
Lived experience with recovery from substance use
For the Justice-Involved Board only: lived experience with the justice system
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 experiences to the table.
Interested in joining? Reach out to our team!
Note: we do not currently have openings on the Community Boards, but you can contact us to be added to the waitlist in case an opening becomes available. When there is an opening, our team will 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.
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.
Contact us to be added to the waitlist. If an opening becomes available, 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 $150 for each 90-minute board meeting they attend. The compensation includes the time for preparing ahead of meetings (e.g., reading materials to prepare for meeting discussions), as well as efforts after meetings. Board meetings are typically 1.5 hours in length and are held about four times per year.
You will attend virtual meetings, which are typically 1.5 hours long and scheduled about four times per year. In addition to the meetings, you'll have approximately 2 hours prior to each meeting 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 meetings take place virtually on Zoom. This is a national board that will include members in all different US time zones. The meetings may be during the day or in the evening. If you are invited onto the board, we will ask you for your availability.
You have the option of whether you'd like to publicly share your leadership role of serving on a Community Board or keep your participation in the board confidential. On the About the Community Board page, you can see examples of board members who have chosen each of these options.
Sign Up for Updates
Hear about job openings, trainings, mentorship opportunities, and other ways to get involved by subscribing to the JEAP Initiative newsletter.