Professional Mentor

Eastern Washington•Spokane, WA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Friends of the Children - Eastern Washington is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating generational change by empowering youth through relationships with professional mentors. They provide children facing significant obstacles with a long-term, paid, professional mentor, known as a “Friend,” from kindergarten through high school graduation (12+ years). Many youth served in Eastern Washington navigate systemic barriers, and a large portion identify as Native or multi-ethnic from marginalized communities. The organization is committed to culturally sustaining practices and honoring the strengths, traditions, and identities of the communities they serve. Friends are expected to be open to learning, practicing cultural humility, and embracing the cultures of the youth and families. The role involves nurturing long-term relationships built on love, acceptance, and culturally sustaining practices. The primary objective is to serve as a positive role model for eight elementary children, fostering loving, caring, and sustained relationships. This includes setting positive expectations, nurturing each child’s strengths, ensuring physical and emotional well-being, teaching life and academic skills, providing enrichment activities, and modeling responsible behavior. Friends will document activities, participate in evaluations, work primarily one-on-one with children, and build trusting relationships with parents/caregivers. A Friend must understand and support the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles.

Requirements

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.
Maintain current driver’s license, good driving record, and vehicle insurance.
Maintain First Aid/CPR certification.
Applications without cover letters will not be considered.

Nice To Haves

A sense of humor is a plus.

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 expectation 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.
Reinforce basic academic skills.
Maintain a 40-hour work schedule typical to standard business hours with some flexibility allowed with supervisors 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 meeting 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.