Official Field Guide
As an official representative for Hope For The Day®, please take a moment to learn about the mission of H.F.T.D and the Agents of Impact program.
INCENTIVE POLICY
With each Agent level you complete, you are able to earn different achievements and perks such as discounts on store items and shipping, customized crewnecks and shirts, and special recognitions by H.F.T.D. (Rules and conditions are listed in more detail in the Field Guide.)
After completing the first 3 Agents of Impact levels, you can continue representing Hope For The Day and reach level 4, the highest level, and participate in additional Auxiliary missions.
You are able to participate in monthly missions and fundraise at your own pace in order to rank up to the higher AOI levels.
For every mission completed, a self-report form must be filled out and submitted in order to keep track of your A.O.I participation in missions.
After you complete all aspects of fundraising and completing seasonal missions you will be able to level up and receive incentives based on your level of participation.
In order to receive incentives, you must complete all requirements to move up to the next level 20 days before the United States federal government's fiscal year.
Q1: January, February, March
Q2: April, May, June
Q3: July, August, September
Q4: October, November, December
This includes filling out and submitting the self-report forms and fundraising the amount required per level, and additional AOI tasks per level.
If all aspects are not completed and submitted before the deadline, or they are completed in the 20 days after the HFTD deadline of the fiscal quarter, incentives will be granted at the end of the following fiscal quarter.
Achievement System
As you positively impact your peers and community, each achievement will move you closer to earning incentives as tokens of H.F.T.D’s gratitude. (Specific guidelines are explained in the Field Guide.)
Accomplishing the initiatives helps you rise from a level 1 Awareness Agent all the way to a Level 4 Surrogate: someone capable of facilitating mental health education programming as an official H.F.T.D volunteer representative.
Action Agents Level 1
Start a classy page
Raise a Minimum of $121 via classy
Complete a total of 2 seasonal missions
Community Agent Level 2
Take mental health first aid course
Raise a minimum $400 via classy
Complete a total of 4 seasonal missions
Facilitator Agent Level 3
Recruits 3 people for A.O.I
Host a physical fundraiser or event
Raise minimum of $1500
Complete a total of 6 seasonal missions
Things we don’t say H.F.T.D training
AOI Surrogate Level 4
Raise a total $5000
Host or facilitate a Things We Don’t Say presentation
Complete 8 missions total
Fall/ Winter Mission:
THE LIGHT PROJECT
Continuing our initiative to raise the visibility of mental health, this fall/ winter HFTD is focusing on the theme of LIGHT; inspiring individuals to break the silence of stigma through photography and story-telling.
Join us in participating in a portrait and story series that sheds light on individuals impacted by mental health and suicide.
The Light Project, co-created by photographers, Jamie Parker and Chris Callen in collaboration with Hope For The Day, aims to inspire as many people as possible to share their mental health experiences and showcase how they’ve overcome darkness in the most challenging moments of their lives.
Through black and white photography we will feature the diverse faces of mental health and teach one another that darkness and light exist in all of us.
When we talk about our mental health along with what gives us hope, we can proactively move towards the light and help guide others to resources and support.
HOW TO COMPLETE THE LIGHT PROJECT MISSION
The Light Project involves capturing your facial expressions in TWO separate photos as you contemplate and answer two questions:
How has mental health impacted your life?
What gives you hope?
You can take your own Light Project portrait, or have a trusted friend, family member, or photographer complete this mission with you!
PROPS NEEDED:
Camera/phone camera, black backdrop, a ring light or other source of soft even lighting, notebook/recording device
STEP BY STEP GUIDE:
Hang your black backdrop behind you to create your set
Angle your light source so it casts a shadow on a single side of your face. This will create the dark/light contrast
Have your friend/photographer ask, or ask yourself the question: How has mental health impacted your life?
Take your time to think about and answer this first question. While you answer the question out loud, have your friend/photographer snap a few photos of your facial expression and record your response in writing or on a recording device/in a voice memo. OR take a selfie while you contemplate this question and then write down your answer.
Have your friend ask the question: What gives you hope?
If you are anything like us, your facial expression should naturally change as you think about and answer this question. Have your friend/photographer take your photo while you respond and document your response. Or take another selfie and then write down your answer.
Repeat the same process with your friend if they are willing to participate!
SHARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The Light Project is designed to be a black and white photo series. To ensure this project is recognizable and impactful please apply a black and white preset or filter to your portraits before posting to social media. We recommend using the following presets/filters:
Lightroom Preset:
-light_studio
Photoshop Template:
-soft_black
Instagram Filter:
-Moon
SOCIAL MEDIA POST GUIDELINES:
THE PHOTOS:
On Instagram include both photos in one post using the slide format.
On Facebook and Twitter include both photos in one post!
THE CAPTION:
Include your answers to both the questions in your caption!
Tag @hopefortheday and use hashtags #LightProject and #ITSOKNOTTOBEOK
FINAL STEP: Fill out a self report form to track your completion of this mission!
Photography is a powerful tool for self expression and story telling. Through this mission we aim to document the diverse ways mental health has affected our lives and communities, while inspiring others to always HAVE HOPE. Together we can break the silence.
Auxiliary Missions
Auxiliary missions are additional opportunities for an Agent to extend their energies in unique ways and earn unique incentives, but are not required to climb the standard levels.
Hope Travels
Transform leisure travel into an opportunity to start the conversation on mental health.
Team Thrive
Raise the visibility by combining your passion for physical activity with mental health education.
Special Agents
Special shout out to our Agents of Impact who have done an outstanding job raising the visibility of Mental Health in their communities and beyond!
Follow their progress online and show your support to by liking and sharing their social media posts and fundraising pages.
Nancy Bartosz : Hope Travels
As the founder of Hope Travels, Nancy Bartosz has dedicated months to working within communities to improve awareness surrounding mental health and suicide. This work has left lasting impacts across Africa and the sheer amount of time and work Nancy has devoted to Hope Travels is rewarding for all involved. Traveling somewhere for the singular intent of helping to strengthen a community is a uniquely gratifying experience well worth the amount of time it requires.
Sarah Moss : Team Trive
As an accomplished long distance runner and running coach, Sarah Moss uses her active lifestyle to connect physical and mental health by sharing her personal victories on and off the race course, and encouraging fellow runners to find inspiration and hope regardless of challenges.
One of the qualities that makes Sarah so inspirational is her willingness to be open about the things she has gone through. Despite the many accomplishments she’s earned, she is no stranger to mental health challenges. During her pursuit to get in shape she lost 60+ pounds, however she describes the weight loss as a physical and mental challenge to maintain.