Professional Mentor 'Friend' - Colorado Springs, CO

Friends of the Children • Colorado Springs, CO

68d

About The Position

Friends of the Children - Colorado is looking for a passionate, committed, Friend (professional mentor). Our mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with highly trained, full-time professional mentors-12+ years-no matter what.

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. Each Friend documents activities and participates in an ongoing evaluation process. Friends 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, and policies, and be able to clearly articulate the organization's function.

Requirements

• Ability to develop and maintain trusting supportive relationships with children, families, teachers, and others involved in each child's life
• Demonstrated ability to work with children in varied capacities and settings to help them learn and grow
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and communicate appropriately within the workplace
• Ability to use creativity and initiative in planning activities to continually develop children
• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively, exercising appropriate discretion and judgment, and under varying levels of stress
• Ability to set goals and develop plans to meet those goals to ensure the development of each child
• Ability to complete administrative tasks accurately and on time
• Willingness to work collaboratively, but with the capacity to work independently
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to have empathy and a learning posture toward different backgrounds including, but not limited to, culture, race, gender, and religion
• Ability to handle high mobility and driving demands safely and with good judgment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational and time management skills, professional demeanor, and sound judgment
• Basic computer and keyboarding skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
• A Bachelor's degree is preferred, plus 2-4 years of experience working/volunteering with youth in a social service setting or with families impacted by systemic injustice and chronic trauma.
• Alternatively, an associate degree would be required, plus 4-6 years of experience working/volunteering with youth in a social service setting or with families impacted by systemic injustice and chronic trauma.
• Friends are required to maintain a current driver's license, good driving record, and vehicle insurance.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual Spanish language skills are preferred
• Mentoring experience with children and families impacted by the child welfare system would be valued.

Responsibilities

• 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 and maintain 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, and links to appropriate community resources
• Teach life skills and healthy habits to contribute both to basic development and learning using the 9 Core Assets: growth mindset, positive relationship building, find your spark, problem solving, self-determination, self-management, perseverance/grit, hope, belonging
• Develop realistic expectations and goals based on each child's strengths, talents, abilities and needs connected to the 5 Intermediate Outcomes: school success, pro-social development, making good choices, improved health, and plans and skills for the future
• Provide enrichment resources and activities which include opportunities for cultural awareness, diversity and community service
• Reinforce basic academic skills and learning
• Model and promote good problem solving and decision-making skills to children and families
• Participate in the programming and resources available through the organization, effectively utilizing program resources to meet the needs of each child and their families
• Maintain spending within allocated activity budget
• 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, staff functions, and trainings
• Provide information and support to development team and related activities as needed
• Fulfill other responsibilities as required

Benefits

• Friends of the Children - Colorado cares about the health and well-being of our employees We offer generous vacation and sick leave paid time off, paid holidays, a comprehensive medical benefits package, a 401(k) retirement plan, and ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Employees can add optional plans, at employee expense, which include medical coverage for dependents, a Flexible Spending Account, and supplemental life insurance.
• Children's car seats and mileage reimbursements are provided.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Social Assistance
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees