Therapeutic Youth Mentor

MISSION STATEMENT

The Childrens Network of Southwest Florida is committed to working with the community to protect children and preserve families.

General Purpose of Job

To support clients engaged in the dependency system through mentoring and modeling to develop a strong therapeutic bond with assigned children. The mentor will work with the child and caretakers to create a plan to address areas of improvement, such as academic performance, interpersonal relationships, placement instability, and behaviors. The mentor will create a safe environment, develop positive relationships, and recognize youth for their efforts.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide support and guidance with a trauma informed approach while presenting self in a positive, professional manner to youth, caregivers, and other agency personnel.
• Empower youth to find their voice and learn appropriate self-advocacy.
• Develop a relationship with the children on your caseload that increases trust and communication.
• Provide respite, advocacy, training of developmental life assets, and mentoring.
• Meet minimum requirement per month of direct to face to face time and 1 contact per week with each assigned youth.
• Act as a resource to families as they engage the community for formal and informal supports.
• Develop a service plan with the youth with clear goals and objectives.
• Participate in reviewing referrals and new intakes as needed.
• Participate in staffings as needed.
• Complete required documentation in a timely manner.
• Other duties may be assigned, and special projects may be requested.

Working Hours

This position requires 40 hours per week. Schedule will vary to include evenings and weekends as scheduled to accommodate youths schedule.

Travel

Travel in and outside of Circuit 20 (Lee, Charlotte, Collier and Hendry/Glades counties) is required. Transportation of youth on your caseload to planned and designated activities during your mentoring schedule.

Training

All employees must complete fifteen (15) hours of on-line or classroom Training on an annual basis.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Education and Experience

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required, at least two (2) years working with youth and family support related experience; must have a working knowledge of community services and resources in our local five (5) county area. Strong organizational skills and problem-solving abilities is a must. Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships is also a must.

Skills and Abilities

Must be able to operate standard modern office machinery, including fax, telephone, calculator, computer, scanner, printer, copier and mail machine. Minimum typing speed of 50 wpm; excellent word processing skills. Must be competent with Microsoft Office Suite programs, including Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Publisher and Outlook. Must be competent with basic e-mail protocol and procedures including sending, receiving, replying, attachments, and meeting scheduling; excellent written and oral communication skills; effective listening skills; self-motivated; ability to manage various work assignments simultaneously; ability to work as a team member, and the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment. Must abide by the highest standards of confidentiality.

pre-employment requirements

Certificates, License, Registrations, backgrounds, drug screens, Etc.

• Valid drivers license required, with proof of insurance
• Drivers license check is a requirement
• No special certification or registration is required for this position
• Criminal background screening (fingerprinting) (Local Law Enforcement and FBI/FDLE)
• Drug Screening is a requirement
• Childrens Network participates in E-Verify

Other Requirements

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top managers, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent, to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job requires the ability to sit for extended periods; walk; stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. This job requires visual acuity sufficient to read and to operate standard modern office machines. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This is administrative work in an indoor office environment with a moderate noise level (business machines, printers, computers, telephones).

ADA: Childrens Network of Southwest Florida, LLC will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

EEO: Childrens Network of Southwest Florida, LLC does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, religion, veteran status, or disability in employment, in provision of services, or in access to programs.

Childrens Network of Southwest Florida, LLC is a Drug-Free Workplace.

I certify that the statements above to the best of my knowledge accurately describe the duties performed and agree that I am qualified in education and skill to meet the requirements of the position. If the employee does not agree, indicate here:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required,
• at least two (2) years working with youth and family support related experience;
• must have a working knowledge of community services and resources in our local five (5) county area.
• Strong organizational skills and problem-solving abilities is a must.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships is also a must.