Friends of the Children – Los Angeles (Friends LA) is looking for a passionate, committed, professional mentor, who we call Friends, to support our mission to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with trained full-time professional mentors—12+ years—no matter what. Our model is proven to break the cycle of generational poverty for children who face the most barriers by providing paid professional mentors to thousands of youth across the country.

BASIC FUNCTION:

A Friend works intensively with eight (8) children as a positive adult role model to develop a caring, trusting, and sustained relationship with each child.  For each child, a Friend will set positive expectations; nurture and promote their strengths, talents, and abilities; help assure 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 an ongoing evaluation process.  Friends will work primarily one-on-one with their children while empowering their parents to advocate for their children through an ongoing, respectful, and strengths-based partnership.  A Friend must also know, understand, honor, and support the organization’s mission, vision, values, principles, and policies, and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function.

CORE JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Develop and sustain a long term, caring, trusting, and accepting relationship with each child;
• Spend time with or on behalf of the child one-on-one in the classroom and in the community;
• Develop positive relationships with parents/caregivers, extended family, teachers, and others involved in each child’s life; advocating for youth and empowering youth to advocate for themselves;
• Partner with parents/caregivers to provide concrete and social-emotional supports for the family.
• Support parents/caregivers in the home with positive role-modeling, creating structure and discipline for their children;
• 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;
• Provide enrichment resources and activities which include opportunities for cultural awareness;
• Reinforce basic academic skills and learning;
• Model and promote good problem solving and decision-making skills;
• Participate in the programming and resources available through the organization, effectively utilizing program resources to meet the needs of each child;
• Maintain spending within budgetary guidelines;
• Complete, distribute and collect time summaries, activity journals, short term plans, expense reports, and evaluation materials accurately and in a timely manner;
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings and staff functions;
• Provide information and support to the development team and related activities as needed;
• Fulfill other responsibilities as required.

ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• 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;
• Must be comfortable working in community settings.

WORKING HOURS:

This is a full-time, exempt position.  Due to the nature of a Friend’s role, the work hours are somewhat non-traditional and include late afternoon and evening work.  We recognize that each Friend’s daily work schedule will vary due to the uniqueness of the role and the needs of the individual children being served.  Each Friend is expected to exercise appropriate discretion in this regard.  During the school year, the general workweek is Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday as days off.  During the summer, spring, and winter breaks, and during COVID-19, many Friends work a standard Monday through Friday workweek.  The Program requires that you see each of your assigned children both in and outside of school, for an average of four hours each week, although how you accomplish that is at your discretion within established Program guidelines.  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: 

Bachelor’s degree preferred, plus 2-4 years’ experience working/volunteering with youth in a social service setting or with families impacted by systemic injustice and chronic trauma. Associate’s degree required, plus 4-6 experience.

Mentoring experience with children and understanding of the child welfare system preferred.

If you are this amazing person, here is what we have to offer:

Salary: $45K

Benefits: Full

Friends LA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends LA provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. Friends LA hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.