Professional Mentor (Friend) - Los Angeles

About the role

Friends of the Children – Los Angeles (Friends LA) is seeking a passionate, committed, professional mentor, known as a Friend, to support our mission of breaking the cycle of generational poverty for children facing significant challenges. Our model pairs trained, full-time professional mentors with youth across the country.

Core Job Accountabilities

- Develop and sustain a long-term, trusting relationship with each child and their family. - Spend time with children, one-on-one and in the classroom. - Develop and maintain a Roadmap or Transition Plan for each child. - Set realistic expectations and goals based on each child's strengths, talents, abilities, and needs. - Teach life skills and healthy habits to foster both basic development and learning, and build positive self-esteem. - Identify and develop a talent or skill area for each child to boost their confidence. - Provide enrichment activities that include cultural awareness, diversity, and community service. - Help children acquire behavioral management skills, tolerance, respect, courtesy, and compassion. - Build positive relationships with families, teachers, and other stakeholders. - Collaborate with teachers to support each child's academic journey. - Reinforce basic academic skills and learning. - Model and promote good problem-solving and decision-making skills. - Utilize available programming resources to meet the needs of each child. - Maintain spending within budgetary guidelines. - Complete and distribute enrollment forms, activity journals, monthly and quarterly reports, expense reports, and evaluation materials accurately and promptly. - Attend and actively participate in team meetings, trainings, and staff functions. - Provide information and support to the development team and related activities as needed. - Engage caregivers in their child's development. - Link children and families to resources as appropriate. - Work closely with your supervisor and program team to assess parents' needs, develop family goals, and link families and children to community resources as necessary. - Support caregivers in the home with positive role modeling, creating structure, and discipline for their children. - Fulfill other responsibilities as required.

Essential Skills and Abilities

- Ability to relate to children and develop and sustain trusting, supportive relationships. - Strong interpersonal skills. - Demonstrated ability to work with children in various capacities and settings. - Ability to cultivate trusting relationships with children, caregivers, teachers, and community members. - Ability to maintain confidentiality and communicate appropriately within the workplace. - Ability to use creativity and initiative in planning activities. - Ability to work independently in diverse environments with limited supervision. - Ability to work as a team player. - Ability to set goals and develop plans to ensure the development of each child. - Ability to complete administrative tasks accurately and on time. - Ability to handle high mobility and driving demands safely and with good judgment. - Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management skills. - Basic computer and keyboarding skills, proficiency with e-mail systems, familiarity with MS Outlook, and ETO (or other database applications). - Ability to exercise good judgment independently, in various situations and environments, and under varying levels of stress.

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.

Working Hours

This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Due to the nature of the role, work hours may include late afternoons and evenings. Each Friend is expected to exercise discretion in scheduling these hours according to Program guidelines.

Education and Experience Required

An Associate’s degree is required, with a Bachelor’s degree preferred, and two to three years of experience working/volunteering with children. Mentoring experience with children and understanding of the child welfare system is preferred.

BENEFITS

Friends LA offers a generous vacation and sick leave policy, quarterly reset days, 12 paid holidays, summer half days, a summer recess the first week of July, and an annual winter recess during the last week of December. Employees are eligible for medical benefits (including vision and dental), 401k retirement plan, EAP, and ongoing professional development opportunities. Optional plans, such as medical coverage for dependents, Flexible Spending Accounts, supplemental life insurance, and more, are available at employee expense. Friends of the Children – Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to addressing discriminatory practices and promoting racial equity. The company prioritizes hiring applicants with lived experience but hires and promotes individuals solely based on their qualifications for the job.