Youth Mentor- Guiding Stars

JOB SUMMARY: At The Children’s Home Network, we take a holistic approach to mentoring. We believe that intervention and prevention are imperative to mitigating the negative impact that trauma has on early childhood development. Through mentorship, we strengthen the support system and create a safe nurturing environment that promotes healing and empowers youth/child to cultivate and develop resilience. Safe, stable and nurturing relationships are one of the most important factors in building resilience, and they are essential to ensure that the kids in our program are able to thrive and reach their full potential. Our mentors work with mentees and their caregivers on strategies that support cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development so that our youth/child can successfully cope with life’s challenges, regulate stress, and process their emotions and feelings in a healthy way without turning to maladaptive coping mechanisms. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Key Responsibilities: Each of our Mentors develops safe, stable and nurturing relationships with mentees utilizing trauma informed training. This means: 

·         Set positive expectations. 

·         Nurture and help mentees to identify and develop their individual strengths, talents and abilities. 

·         Help assure physical and emotional well-being. 

·         Teach life and academic skills. 

·         Support youth/child and their families and connect them to other services and resources. 

·         Model responsible behavior. 

·         Each Mentor will spend approximately 2-4 hours per week with each mentee and participate in activities that promote child development. 

·         Attend monthly team meetings. 

·         Track time involved with mentees and report progress/barriers to the Program Manager. 

·         Document activities with the mentees each week.

·         Understand and make a written commitment to follow The Children’s Home Network process manual. 

·         Inform Program Manager of any incident reports or changes in mentee behavior, concerns, or questions. 

·         Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

***THESE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS ARE NOT TO BE CONSTRUDED AS A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF ALL DUTIES PERFORMED.  EMPLOYEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM OTHER JOB-RELATED MARGINAL DUTIES AS REQUIRED***

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

·         Mentors must be 21 years of age with a minimum of AA degree, BA strongly preferred. 

·         At least 2 years’ experience working with children.

·         Experience working with youth/child from under-resourced communities. 

·         Good relationship building skills and ability to maintain constructive relationship boundaries with mentee, mentee’s family, and program staff. 

·         Ability and commitment to maintain confidentiality and act in a manner that is consistent with The Children’s Home Network policies and procedures. 

·         Must be comfortable using web-based data management tools. 

·         Proficiency with Excel, Word & Calendar 

·         Must possess a mission-driven growth mindset, and a commitment to lifelong learning 

·         Must pass drug screening, fingerprint, and background checks. 

·         Must have your own vehicle, safe driving record and valid driver's license. 

·         Must have your own cell phone for communication with families and Children’s Home Network.

·         Hours may vary at times, but flexibility and reliability is essential. 

Licenses & Certifications:

• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license with no record of criminal

driving offense of license suspension.

• Must possess means of providing job related transportation and show proof of required

insurance. Must be insurable under CHN’s current auto insurance policy.

• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Must successfully complete and maintain FDLE clearance, Federal background and State criminal background check and sexual predator screening.
• Current CPR and First Aid Certification.

COMPETENCIES & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Annual Training Requirements: The following training topics are required annually: Sexual

Harassment, Blood-borne Pathogens, Workplace Accident Prevention and Reporting,

Confidentiality and Privacy Practices, Diversity/Cultural Competency, Child Abuse and Neglect

Mandated Reporter Statutes and Methods, Prevention of Violence in the Workplace, OSHA–

related training, Crisis Prevention, and Program Goals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing. Ability to establish effective

working relationships with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and other individuals. 

• Possess effective interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of agency’s organizational structure, standard operating procedures, and policies.
• Knowledge of Department of Children and Families rules and regulations regarding the care of children.
• Knowledge of child abuse or neglect reporting procedures and methods.
• Knowledge of intervention and behavior management methods, strategies, and techniques.
• Knowledge of quality documentation as required by agency standards, rules, and

regulations.

• Ability to conduct assessments to develop family services, and to provide follow-up services.
• Ability to work as a multi-disciplinary team member in a positive productive manner.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS:

• Visual: ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, read printed materials, and make

observations of physical facilities.

• Hearing: ability to understand and comprehend spoken dialogue in individual and group

settings.

• Ability to speak clearly and effectively.
• Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a

disability.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

• Works outdoors, community settings, within an office environment or in family’s home.
• High level of emotional discussions, requiring self-awareness regarding loss/abuse issues and understanding of professional boundaries.
• High interaction with children.

·         This position may be called upon and must be capable of de-escalation and crisis intervention involving youth/child and/or family members working through trauma.