Professional Mentor "Friend"

Basic Function / Position Objective:

We are currently seeking a mentor to serve as a positive adult role model to eight elementary children and develop loving, caring, and sustained relationships with each child. For each child, a Friend will set positive expectations; nurture and promote each child’s strength, talents, and abilities; help ensure physical and emotional well-being; teach life and academic skills; provide enrichment activities; and model responsible behavior. A Friend will fully document activities and participate in the ongoing evaluation process. Friends will work primarily one-on-one with the children they serve, while also building trusting supportive relationships with parents/caregivers. A Friend must know, understand, honor, and support the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles, and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function.

The ideal candidate will have the following Education, Experience, and Abilities

2 or 4-year degree

Alternatively, at least seven years progressive experience working with children and families will be considered in lieu of a college degree.

Willingness to commit for a minimum of three years

Advocate to secure additional resources, opportunities, and services for youth as appropriate

Assist with systems navigation in schools to secure conditions for optimal academic success

Strong interpersonal skills

Demonstrated ability to work with children in varied capacities and settings

Ability to develop trusting relationships with children, families, teachers, and others involved in each child’s life

Demonstrated ability to develop trusting relationships with Indigenous children and families

Demonstrated understanding of Indigenous cultures and ways of knowing and interweave this knowledge in all aspects of the work

Ability to work independently and as a team player

Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively

Strong written and verbal communications skills

Strong organizational and time management skills

A sense of humor is a plus

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Develop and sustain a long-term, caring, protective, and loving relationship with each child.

Spend time with children, one-on-one.

Partner with parents/caregivers to provide concrete and social emotional supports for the family.

Set realistic expectations and goals based on each child’s strengths, talents, abilities, and needs.

Teach life skills and help develop a talent/skill/area of interest with each child.

Deepen cultural connections for youth by incorporating specific cultural knowledge and interventions and programming.

Provide enrichment resources and activities that include opportunities for cultural identity development.

Develop positive relationships with families, teachers, and others involved in each child’s life.

Reinforce basic academic skills.

Maintain a 40-hour work schedule that includes afternoons, evenings, and weekends (normal working days are Tuesday through Saturday with Sundays and Mondays off).

Maintain spending within budgetary guidelines.

Complete, distribute, and collect time summaries, activity journals, short-term plans, expense reports, and evaluations materials accurately and in a timely manner.

Attend and actively participate in team meeting and staff functions.

Maintain current driver's license, good driving record, and vehicle insurance.

Maintain First Aid/CPR certification.

Transport children in personal vehicle as required for mentoring activities.

Provide information and support to the executive team on related activities.

Fulfill other responsibilities as requested.

$20.67/hourly-$25.48/hourly (approximately $43k-$53k)