Teach the community healthy habits by becoming a Master Wellness Volunteer

Have you ever wanted to make an impact in the community?

As a Master Wellness Volunteer, you can do just that by teaching a variety of programs, usually aimed at building healthier habits, and assisting Danae Hicks, the Family and Community Health agent in Ellis County.

“My Master Wellness Volunteers help me extend programming into the county because I’m only one person,” Hicks said. With the new year just around the corner, Hicks is looking for new Master Wellness Volunteers. Anyone can be a Master Wellness Volunteer, and Hicks said no prior experience is needed. She has volunteers who worked in the health industry, the teaching industry and the hospitality industry.

“Volunteerism as a whole is great because it gives you self-fulfillment and gives you a purpose,” Hicks said. “This is a really unique opportunity because we have the college students that need to build resumes and build community connections, and we give them that; plus, they get presentation skills. It can give stay at home moms, empty nesters and retirees a little bit of extra fulfillment while giving back to the community.”

Applications will be available for those 18 years and older from Dec. 19 to Jan. 9. They can be picked up at the AgriLife Extension office, or Hicks can email a copy for applicants to fill out, scan and email back to her.

Once an application is submitted and a background ground check is passed, they will go through 40 hours of training, with 16 hours taking place in-person at the extension office Jan. 18 and March 1, and the rest taking place online at the volunteer’s pace. During the training, volunteers will hear from extension specialists on their programs and learn what it means to be a Master Wellness Volunteer. Following the completion of training, volunteers will need to pass a written exam over everything they’ve learned before they begin their year-long internship with the Extension office. During their internship, volunteers must complete 40 hours of community service, helping with programs. Hicks said during this time, she will pair up a new volunteer with one of her seasoned volunteers, allowing them to partner with each other and build a mentor relationship.

Volunteers will work together to teach programming to the community, and they will assist Hicks in setting up programming, writing newsletters and more. After the completion of the 40-hour internship, volunteers will be able to start teaching programs on their own, as they feel ready. Curriculum for every program is provided to the volunteers by the Extension office.

Hicks said she gives each volunteer programming that aligns with their interests and hobbies. Different types of programming include safety, cooking, health, biology, psychology and more.

“If they like cooking, we’d push them more toward Dinner Tonight or Cooking Well,” Hicks said. “But then we have people who love psychology and biology, so we’d push them toward Master of Memory or our hypertension classes.”

Volunteers who enjoy working with youth can help teach classes at the schools with the Extension office’s Better Living for Texas agent or teach classes at day camps hosted throughout the summer.

Cost for the program is $75 for adults and $25 for full-time college students. Following the completion of their internship, volunteers only need to complete 10 hours of training and 20 hours of community service each year to continue being a Master Wellness Volunteer.

For more information or to get an application, contact Hicks at danae.hicks@ag.tamu.edu or visit the Extension office at 701 S. Interstate 35E. Originally published December 5, 2022 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/open/teach-the-community-healthy-habits-by-becoming-a-master-wellness-volunteer/article_55a83a40-74c4-11ed-8e78-5f95310b3f6f.html