Professional Mentor "Friend"

Basic Function/Position Objective

Friends serve as a positive role model to eight elementary children developing loving, caring, and sustained relationships with each child. For each child, a Friend will set positive expectations; nurture and promote each child’s strength, talents, and abilities; help ensure 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 the ongoing evaluation process. Friends will work primarily one-on-one with the children they serve, while also building trusting supportive relationships with parents/caregivers.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain a long-term, caring, protective, and loving relationship with each child.
• Spend time with children, one-on-one and in groups in the school classroom and community.
• Partner with parents/caregivers to provide concrete and social emotional supports for the family.
• 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.
• Deepen cultural connections for youth by incorporating specific cultural knowledge and interventions and programming.
• Provide enrichment resources and activities that include opportunities for cultural identity development.
• Develop positive relationships with families, teachers, and others involved in each child’s life.
• Maintain basic academic skills.
• Work a 40-hour work schedule typical to standard business hours with some flexibility allowed with supervisor approval.
• Maintain spending within budgetary guidelines.
• Complete, distribute, and collect time summaries, activity journals, short-term plans, expense reports, and evaluations materials accurately and in a timely manner.
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings and staff functions.
• 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.
• Provide information and support to the executive team on related activities.
• Fulfill other responsibilities as requested.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills

• 2 or 4 year degree with experience working directly with children.
• Alternatively, 4 to 7 years experience working with children and families will be considered in lieu of a college degree.
• Ability to advocate in schools and the classroom for youths’ academic success. Strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with children with high barriers and who have experienced trauma. Ability to develop trusting relationships with children, families, teachers, and others involved in each child’s life.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player.
• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• A sense of humor is a plus.

Salary Range

$24.50/hourly - $26.00/hourly

Benefits

• 3 weeks paid vacation.
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and long-term disability.
• 401k with 3% match.

Reports To

Program Director

Location

Spokane, Washington