Mentor Specialist

Build Inc•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Mentor Specialist (MS) (40 hours, Full-time), Non-Exempt BUILD, Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) is presently seeking a committed, self-motivated, and innovative individual to join our team. BUILD is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization based on Chicago’s West Side. Since 1969, BUILD has worked to save lives and mentor young people who live in the city’s most challenging neighborhoods. When you work at BUILD, you make an important difference to the thousands of youths and families we serve. Our Core Values: Empathy, Passion, Persistence and Innovation. The Mentor Specialist is responsible for effectively engaging youth in-school and community through: In-school, after-school, and community-based activities to identify concerns, seek solutions, mediate disputes, demonstrate restorative methods and best practices as alternatives to traditional disciplinary consequences and encourage education. Conduct an Individual Assessment of strengths & needs and collaborate with the MHTS therapists to identify individual treatment goals. Support Individuals that are at increased risk of experiencing trauma-related instability, recidivism, or community violence in stabilizing, thriving, and setting and accomplishing goals Establish and maintain rapport with youth who have experienced trauma and encourage them to engage in behaviors that will deter limiting or destructive behaviors toward themselves, others, and community assets. Facilitate external referrals, follow-through/support. Recognizing the vicarious trauma of staff working with crisis-oriented youth. Maintain and establish healthy relationships with school Personnel & Staff The Mentor Specialist reports directly to the Manager of School-based Mentorship.

Requirements

Minimum three years’ experience working with inner-city youth in a human service setting, social service setting, or related field; or a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services, Human Services, Non-Profit Management, or related field experience required.
Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Maintain respectful and appropriate relationships with program participants, all levels of agency staff and the various publics of the agency, demonstrating sensitivity to all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds.
Highly organized with excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Proficiency with technology integration into daily program operations and evaluation systems.
Must be willing to travel daily.
Must be passionate about youth development work.
Must pass extensive background check and screening.

Responsibilities

Exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the agency.
Identify and recruit participants for caseload.
Conduct intakes, assessments, and treatment planning for each participant.
Work in partnership with assigned therapist.
Deliver mentor curriculum on a consistent basis.
Work within the target schools/sites to mediate disputes among youth and de-escalate situations as needed.
Attend IEP meetings, school meetings, disciplinary hearings, and teacher conferences.
Assist participants in re-enrolling in school after detention, if applicable.
Identify and connect participants to employment if applicable.
Conduct home visits on participants when necessary.
Collaborate with other programs within the agency and community.
Identify the needs of youth and provide referrals, as needed, both internally and externally.
Operate professionally in the field on a flexible time schedule, which includes late evenings and weekends.
Perform other job-related duties as requested, required, and/or assigned.
Collect baseline and year-end data on academic, interpersonal, and pro-social behaviors.
Submit data reports to manager monthly for ongoing reporting.
Maintain documentation compliance as required with CIS database.
Represent the agency to various publics to broaden community awareness and support, interpreting the agency’s programs and services.
Provide public relations and promotional activities related to the agency in coordination with appropriate administrative staff.
Attend departmental and agency-wide staff meetings, as scheduled and agency-wide events, as required.
Maintain current knowledge in the field, including but not limited to participation in coursework, seminars, and workshops.
Maintain current knowledge of the agency’s theories, methodologies, and best practices.
Participate in agency-wide fundraising events
Encourage participant/community participation in agency wide fundraising events