Overview

Facilitators lead or co-lead small grief circles, family support groups, or mindfulness gatherings (in person or online). Circles are grounded in cultural humility and trauma-informed practices, with a focus on accessibility and dignity—especially for low-income families, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, disabled participants, immigrants, and those facing systemic barriers.

Core Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate 60–90 minute grief circles or support groups (virtual or on-site).
• Open and close sessions with grounding practices (breath, silence, brief meditation, or gentle ritual).
• Set community agreements; maintain psychological safety, confidentiality, and respectful dialogue.
• Guide sharing rounds and reflective prompts; track time and participation with care.
• Offer basic grief education (grief processes, nervous system basics, common myths) within a non-clinical scope.
• Identify resource needs; provide warm referrals to Antara’s navigation team (food, housing, legal, mental health, disability supports, etc.).
• Document sessions succinctly; escalate concerns to program leads when safety or higher-level support is needed.

Training & Ongoing Support

• Orientation in group dynamics, circle process, and inclusive facilitation.
• Grief literacy (acute grief, anticipatory grief, secondary loss, disenfranchised grief).
• Trauma-informed approaches, boundary-setting, and mandated reporting basics (as applicable).
• Templates: agendas, prompts, check-in/out scripts, and follow-up emails.
• Reflective supervision and peer debrief circles to sustain facilitator well-being.

Time Commitment

• Typical cadence: 1–2 circles per month (60–90 minutes each) plus prep/debrief.
• Additional optional opportunities for family-specific sessions or community events.
• Suggested service term: 3 months minimum.

Qualifications

• Grounded presence, excellent listening, and a gentle, organized facilitation style.
• Comfort holding silence and emotion; honors consent and boundaries.
• Respect for all identities, faiths, and cultural practices.
• Basic tech comfort for Zoom facilitation (if facilitating virtually).
• Ideal for: therapists, chaplains, spiritual counselors, educators, peer support leaders.

Accessibility, Equity & Inclusion

• Volunteers of all backgrounds and abilities welcome; circles can be adapted for accessibility needs.
• Priority opportunities for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, immigrant, veteran, and justice-involved applicants.
• Language access and ASL interpretation arranged when possible; plain-language materials available.

See our Community Care Standards and
Non-Discrimination Policy.

Screening & Onboarding

• Volunteer application and interview.
• Reference and background check (required for certain placements; covered by Antara).
• Completion of training modules and agreement to Antara’s care standards.
• Shadowing or co-facilitation prior to independent leading, as appropriate.

What You’ll Gain

• Experience facilitating grief-informed, inclusive community spaces.
• Mentorship, templates, and ongoing reflection to deepen your practice.
• Meaningful connection and impact with individuals and families in need.
• Verification of volunteer hours upon request.