Youth Mentor

Alba Youth Mentor – Bilingual Specialization

$21.70 an hour. Full-time; Some evenings and weekends required

470 SE 165th Avenue, Portland, OR 97223

Transform Lives, Transform Yourself:

Are you eager to be a part of the change and care that supports youth in our community? Do you have experience that could be an assurance and lift for young people facing houselessness to help them with the skills and resources to lead healthy, independent lives? New Avenues for Youth seeks a compassionate and resilient Bilingual Youth Mentor to join our Alba Collaborative team.

As a Bilingual Youth Mentor, you'll be a consistent and intentional guide for youth navigating difficult paths. Your unique perspective, experience, and resilience will foster opportunity and empower young people to be more prepared and resourced to move through challenging moments and reach their unique goals.

Join New Avenues and…

• Make an Impact: Provide consistent support, guidance around resources, and advocacy.
• Thrive in a Supportive Team: Join a collaborative and inclusive environment where your contributions are celebrated.
• Grow as a Professional: Receive ongoing training, mentorship, and opportunities for career advancement.
• Enjoy a Robust Benefits Package: We value your well-being and offer a robust benefits package that includes:
• Full health, vision, and dental insurance at zero cost to the employee (with options to cover family members), to ensure your physical and mental health are prioritized.
• Generous holiday, personal, and paid time off (PTO) allowances to support your work-life balance and personal needs. Roughly five weeks of available time in year one with an additional week added in year two.
• Discounted gym memberships to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.
• Access to free counseling services to help you manage stress and maintain your emotional health.

Our Commitment to Equity:

At New Avenues for Youth, we envision a community where all young people thrive. We recognize that historical inequities and intersecting forms of oppression have created barriers for many. We are unwavering in our commitment to dismantling these barriers and fostering a truly equitable space where every voice is heard and valued.

Who You Are:

• Experienced: You have faced and overcome challenges related to substance use, mental health, and/or houselessness. Your experience is a source of strength and fuels your compassion and care.
• Compassionate Listener: You offer empathy without judgment, creating a safe space for young people to share their stories and struggles.
• Reliable Advocate: You are committed to showing up consistently, building trust, and following through on your promises to young people.
• Growth-Oriented: You embrace continuous learning, seeking new knowledge and skills to better support yourself and the youth you serve.
• Equity: You understand how systemic oppression impacts the lives of youth in programs and the systems that you will support youth in navigating. You approach this world with humility and a deep sense of growth and learning.

What You'll Do:

• Be a Mentor and Guide: Build genuine connections with youth, share relevant and intentional experiences to instill confidence and build trust.
• Empower Through Advocacy: Help young people navigate complex systems, access resources, collaborate and coordinate with other providers, and make informed decisions about their own recovery journey.
• Support Growth and Learning: Lead and participate in group sessions, recreational activities, and individual support meetings that foster connection and personal development.
• Document the Journey: Maintain accurate and timely records, ensuring that our programs have the data they need to thrive and continue serving those who need it most.

Qualifications:

• Relevant prior work experience, lived experience, or both. A bachelor's degree in social work, psychology or related human services field a plus.
• Minimum of two years’ experience working with high-risk youth and/or families required, case management experience preferred
• Fluent in speaking both English and Spanish
• Understands the issues of substance abuse, mental health, trauma, abuse and adolescent development including brain development.
• Experience, ability and commitment to working with sexual minorities and culturally diverse staff, participants and community.
• Excellent communication, organization, creativity, flexibility, optimism, positive humor and overall interpersonal skills.
• Must have regular access to an automobile, a valid driver’s license, and active auto insurance on that vehicle
• Must be willing to be CPR trained and certified

New Avenues for Youth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.