Professional Mentor - San Diego

Friends of the Children•San Diego, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Friends of the Children is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth through long-term relationships with professional mentors. They provide children facing significant obstacles with a paid, professional mentor, known as a “Friend,” from kindergarten through high school graduation (12+ years). The organization is seeking an exceptional professional to serve as a Friend at its new San Diego location. The role involves nurturing long-term relationships based on love, acceptance, and supportive practices, aiming to help urban, rural, and Indigenous youth discover their potential by fostering internal resiliency and building community relationships to strengthen social networks and create new opportunities. The Professional Mentor will act as a positive adult role model for eight elementary school children, developing caring and sustained relationships. Key aspects of the role include setting positive expectations, nurturing strengths and talents, ensuring physical and emotional well-being, teaching life and academic skills, providing enrichment activities, and modeling responsible behavior. The mentor will also document activities, participate in evaluations, and build trusting relationships with parents/caregivers, while upholding the organization's mission, vision, values, and principles.

Requirements

2 or 4-year degree, OR at least seven years’ progressive experience working with children and families.
Willingness to commit for a minimum of three years.
Advocate to secure additional resources, opportunities, and services for youth as appropriate.
Assist with systems navigation in schools to secure conditions for optimal academic success.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated ability to work with children in varied capacities and settings.
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 communications skills.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Maintain First Aid/CPR certification.
Transport children in personal vehicle as required for mentoring activities.

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.
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 connections for youth through incorporating specific cultural knowledge in 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 that includes afternoons, evenings, and weekends (normal working days are Tuesday through Saturday with Sundays and Mondays off).
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 First Aid/CPR certification.
Transport children in personal vehicle as required for mentoring activities.
Provide information and support to the development and executive team on related activities.
Fulfill other responsibilities as requested.