About the role

StrongSteps Behavioral Health Foundation is seeking a Volunteer Community Support Group Coordinator to help expand our community-based mental health and peer support programming in Binghamton and the surrounding Southern Tier.

This volunteer will join our community programs team and work with StrongSteps leadership to develop, organize, and support recurring groups that create welcoming spaces for connection, encouragement, education, and peer support.

This is a great opportunity for a college or graduate student studying psychology, social work, human development, public health, human services, counseling, or a related field who wants hands-on experience in behavioral health and nonprofit community programming.

The position is flexible and includes a combination of program planning and in-person community involvement. This is an unpaid volunteer position.

What you'll do

• Help plan and launch new StrongSteps community and peer support groups.
• Research potential group topics based on community needs.
• Develop group schedules, discussion topics, activities, and resource materials.
• Help identify and coordinate community locations for meetings.
• Assist with participant registration, reminders, and communication.
• Help promote groups through community partners, colleges, social media, and outreach.
• Welcome participants and help create a respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment.
• Assist trained facilitators during group meetings.
• Co-facilitate appropriate peer-support activities after completing required training and orientation.
• Help recruit and coordinate additional volunteers and facilitators as the program grows.
• Maintain attendance and basic program records while protecting participant confidentiality.
• Gather participant feedback to help StrongSteps evaluate and improve groups.
• Identify local behavioral health, crisis, social-service, and community resources that may benefit participants.
• Participate in regular planning and supervision with StrongSteps leadership.
• Help StrongSteps expand support groups throughout Binghamton and the Southern Tier.

This is a nonclinical volunteer role. Volunteers do not diagnose conditions, provide psychotherapy or clinical counseling, or represent themselves as licensed mental health professionals.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who is compassionate, dependable, organized, and genuinely interested in helping people feel connected and supported.

Ideal candidates will:

• Have an interest in mental health, behavioral health, peer support, social services, or community programming.
• Be comfortable interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
• Demonstrate empathy, professionalism, good judgment, and respect for confidentiality.
• Have strong communication and organizational skills.
• Be dependable and able to follow through on assigned responsibilities.
• Be willing to complete StrongSteps orientation and any required training before assisting with groups.
• Understand and maintain appropriate boundaries within a peer/community support environment.
• Be comfortable asking for assistance or escalating concerns when a participant may require professional or crisis support.
• Be available for some in-person programming in the Binghamton/Southern Tier area.
• Be able to commit approximately 5–10 hours per week, with flexibility around school or work schedules.

College and graduate students are encouraged to apply. Students studying psychology, social work, human development, counseling, public health, human services, sociology, education, or related fields may find this opportunity especially relevant.

Previous professional mental health experience is not required for the program-planning and support portions of this position. Training and guidance will be provided.

StrongSteps may work with students seeking community-service hours or experiential learning when permitted by their educational institution and StrongSteps' program requirements.

About StrongSteps Behavioral Health Foundation

StrongSteps Behavioral Health Foundation is a nonprofit, peer-led organization dedicated to improving access to mental health support and essential services across Upstate New York. Our work is grounded in lived experience, allowing us to connect with individuals in a way that is authentic, compassionate, and effective.

We focus on addressing real-life barriers that impact well-being, including access to housing, care coordination, and community-based support services. By meeting individuals where they are, we help them navigate complex systems and build pathways toward stability and long-term success.

Through partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and local resources, we ensure individuals receive the support they need to move forward with confidence.

What We Do

At StrongSteps, we provide services that directly support individuals facing mental health and life stability challenges, including:

• Care management and service coordination
• Housing navigation and support services
• Connections to food, healthcare, and community resources
• Advocacy and guidance through complex systems

Our approach is rooted in peer support principles — we believe lived experience is a powerful tool for building trust, promoting recovery, and creating meaningful change.

Why Work With StrongSteps

Working at StrongSteps is more than just a job — it’s an opportunity to make a real impact in people’s lives every single day.

Peer-Led, Mission-Driven Work

You’ll be part of a team that values lived experience and uses it to guide meaningful, person-centered support.