□ NEW MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Your Journey Can Help Others
Join our Community Navigator Program and guide families through the same challenges you've overcome
"I wish someone who had been through this could have helped us when we were starting out. Now I can be that person for others."
— Former HBIA Client, Now Community NavigatorYou've Lived It. Now Share It.
You know what it's like. The unexplained symptoms. The doctors who didn't believe you. The fear when you discovered mold in your home. The overwhelming process of assessment, remediation, and recovery.
You made it through. And now, your experience — the wisdom you gained, the lessons you learned, the hope you found — can be a lifeline for families just starting their journey.
The Healthy Building Institute of America is inviting former clients like you to become Community Navigators — peer mentors who provide guidance, support, and hope to families facing what you once faced.
Guide Families at Every Stage
You'll support families wherever they are in their journey
Beginning Stage
Help families who just discovered they may have environmental issues. Share what you wish you'd known at the start. Ease their fears. Point them in the right direction.
Middle Stage
Support families going through assessment and remediation. Help them navigate decisions, manage stress, and stay focused on recovery.
Recovery Stage
Encourage families after remediation is complete. Share your experience rebuilding health and life. Celebrate victories. Provide hope.
What Community Navigators Do
- Share your story to help families feel less alone
- Answer questions about what to expect at each stage
- Provide emotional support during a difficult time
- Offer practical tips you learned from your own experience
- Connect families with HBIA resources and professionals
- Celebrate progress and encourage persistence
- Participate in community events and support groups
Benefits of Becoming a Community Navigator
Your service makes a difference — and comes with meaningful rewards
□ Official Recognition
Receive HBIA certification as a Community Navigator with official credentials to display
□ Ongoing Training
Access to continued education about environmental health and peer support best practices
□ Community Connection
Join a network of fellow Navigators who share your experiences and passion for helping others
□ Purpose & Meaning
Transform your difficult experience into something positive that helps other families
□ Your Voice Matters
Contribute to HBIA's mission and help shape how we support families
□ Make an Impact
Know that your guidance is helping families avoid pitfalls and find hope
Who Can Become a Community Navigator?
- Personal Experience: You or your family have been through environmental illness and/or remediation
- Recovery Progress: You are in a stable place in your own recovery journey
- Compassionate Heart: You genuinely want to help other families
- Good Listener: You can listen without judgment and support without overwhelming
- Respect Boundaries: You understand that you provide peer support, not medical or professional advice
- Commitment: You can dedicate a few hours per month to supporting families
- Training: You complete our Community Navigator orientation course
"Being a Community Navigator has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. When I was sick and overwhelmed, I felt so alone. Now I get to be the support I wish I'd had. Every family I help heals a little piece of my own journey too."Michael R., Community Navigator since 2024
Ready to Turn Your Experience Into Hope for Others?
Complete this form to request membership as a Community Navigator. We'll contact you with next steps.