THIS IS A LIVE-IN POSITION.

Position: College and Career Mentor

Department: Program

Reports to: Residential Services Director

Organization

Boys and Girls Country’s mission is to change the lives of children from families in crisis by loving and nurturing them in a Christian home, raising them to become self-sustaining and contributing adults. Boys and Girls Country serves up to 88 boys and girls aged five to eighteen and young adults in our College and Career program. Boys and Girls Country is located 35 miles northwest of Houston (www.boysandgirlscountry.org).

Roles and Responsibilities

College/Vocational Preparation

• Work with staff and residents to create an atmosphere of high expectations for academic performance, career exploration, and future achievement.

• Work with juniors and seniors to determine their personal skills, talents, and interests through aptitude testing, interest testing, and performance.

• Direct students into appropriate vocational counseling or provide career counseling depending on the needs of each individual.

• Assist high school juniors and seniors in taking the SAT, ACT, and other tests.

• Assist students in choosing an educational institution or vocational school and applying to the schools of their choice.

• Work with the students, their families and Management team to secure the funds each student needs to be able to attend the college or vocational school of their choice.

• Manage the relationships and correspondence with scholarship sponsors, as needed, and communicate information to all parties involved.

• Accompany students to visit college campuses or vocational programs to finalize their decisions.

• Serve as primary liaison to assist students or career youth set up a dorm room or apartment. Tasks include finding furnishings, setting up bank accounts, making deposits for utilities and telephone, arranging transportation to and from destinations, etc.

• Maintain relationships with college/vocational/military students to encourage and assist them in their educational/workplace transition and keep them informed about ongoing alumni events:

• Develop a system to be able to encourage and assist the college and career students to make proper decisions regarding classes and/or career changes.

• Maintain bi-weekly contact to be aware of their adjustment and decisions and document the information.

• Send care packages each semester, and plan shopping trips, as needed, when they are home.

• Organize end-of-semester, end-of-summer, and/or Christmas and holiday celebrations, and encourage their participation in campus events such as Senior Day, Spring Festival, Awards Banquet, etc.

• Explore mentor opportunities, if needed, to assist with vocational exploration.

• Assist in locating appropriate intern and/or job opportunities during Spring Break and summers.

Education Program Activities

· Assist the Director of Education in attending teacher conferences, open house, and various activities from school, focusing on high school students.

· Arrange for tutoring as it applies to local college students, and/or high school juniors and seniors beyond the regular education program, and in preparation for college entrance exams.

· Assist education volunteers working with the junior and senior residents or following up with college and career students.

· Oversee College and Career students moving into college, trade school, etc. and keep track of progress reports, grades, successes and deficiencies to detect a pattern and plan for the future.

Independent Living Skills Program

· Develop and implement a creative system to identify needs, monitor improvements, provide oversight, and make necessary recommendations to teach basic life skills to all residents, from ages 5 through 18.

· Teach or find resources, and teach life skill classes monthly dealing with independent living skills.

· Participate in Plans of Care for 10th – 12th grade residents and assist Teaching Parents and students in establishing and meeting goals and objectives

Plans of Service

· Attend Plans of Care for junior and senior high school residents

· Motivate juniors and seniors to become part of the College and Career program.

Road Maps

· Work with the Director of Education and Intake Coordinator during the admissions process to provide an educational assessment for each child who is entering the Home at the sophomore, junior, or senior high level, and develop a college/career program suited to their individual needs.

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Critical Skills Set

The successful candidate will possess the following:

· Have the ability to live on-site and work 24 hours per day, with an 8 day on/4 day off schedule.

· Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

· Ability to work efficiently on several projects simultaneously and prioritize deadlines.

· Follows company policies and procedures designed to maintain resident, visitor, and employee safety.

Qualifications

· College & Career Mentor must be at least 21 years of age.

· Must be cleared through criminal background and FBI fingerprint investigation.

· Must be cleared through a drug test panel.

· All staff who have contact with students must be tested for tuberculosis before the staff is assigned a responsibility to care for students

· Must complete or have current CPR and First Aid training within 90 days of employment

· Must attend Boys and Girls Country orientation and pre-service training prior to being assigned responsibility for the care of students.

· Must complete at least 30 hours of in-service training annually.

· High School Diploma or state authorized high school equivalent certificate required

· Bachelor's degree preferred but not required.

· CPR and First Aid Training

· Crisis Intervention training

· A minimum of three years' job related experience. Three years’ experience may be substituted with unpaid church positions and service.

· Must have the ability to create a comprehensive plan with the team’s Program Manager.

· Must be highly organized and enjoy a fast paced work environment.

· Ability to present information concisely and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

· Ability to organize and prioritize work.

· Valid Texas driver’s license and good driving history

· Ability to transport children in agency vehicles to include 15 passenger vans