ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:
In June 2019, Friends of the Children, a nationally recognized, dynamic non-profit mentoring organization serving the most vulnerable youth in our community, has selected our second class of youth. We are seeking talented Professional Mentors (“Friends”) with experience working with youth from high-risk environments and confidence in understanding and navigating systems (DHS, Schools, Mental Health) to join our diverse team of dedicated and passionate professionals.
Friends of the Children’s mission is to break the cycle of generational poverty for the highest priority youth in our community. We do this through a 12 ½-year program that emphasizes development of socio-emotional assets and the skills to succeed in post secondary programs and sustainable careers.
Friends of the Children is at an exciting point in our trajectory. In partnership with the Center for Equity & Inclusion, we completed a year-long racial equity initiative, and are poised to transform our organization through the development and implementation of a staff-driven equity action plan. Additionally, we have just launched a five-year strategic plan that sharpens our programmatic focus on supporting long-term self-sufficiency for our program graduates. We are committed to our community, to equal employment opportunity, and to diversity in our workplace.
BASIC FUNCTION:
A Friend works intensively with an assigned group of eight to ten (8-10) youth as a positive adult role model to develop a caring, trusting and sustained relationship with each youth.
For each youth, a Friend will:
Friends work both one-on-one and in group settings with each of their youth for about four hours per week. A Friend will fully document all youth service efforts and participate in an ongoing reflection, observation, and evaluation process.
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:
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Associates degree or three years of direct experience in lieu of degree; Bachelor’s degree preferred, plus a minimum of one year of experience working/volunteering with youth. Mentoring experience with youth from high risk environments preferred. Bilingual/bi cultural candidates strongly preferred. Candidates with strong knowledge of systems that our youth encounter preferred.
Mentoring experience with youth from high risk environments preferred. Bilingual/bi cultural candidates strongly preferred. Candidates with strong knowledge of systems that our youth encounter preferred.
ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:
WORKING HOURS:
This is a full-time, exempt position. Work hours vary but are generally 10:00am – 7:00pm, Tuesday – Saturday; flexibility is essential. Due to the nature of a Friend’s role, the work hours are somewhat nontraditional 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 youth being served. Each Friend is expected to exercise appropriate discretion in this regard. During the school year, the general work week is Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday as days off. During the summer, and for spring and winter breaks, many Friends work a standard Monday through Friday work week.
The Program requires that you provide direct and indirect service to each of your assigned youth 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.
COMPENSATION:
Starting annual salary is $35,000 base pay (depending on experience) plus a generous comprehensive benefits package for all of our employees.