Professional Mentor- He Sapa (Pine Ridge Indian Reservation)

Friends of the Children•Pine Ridge, SD

6h•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), regardless of circumstances. The organization is seeking dedicated professionals to become Friends at their Pine Ridge location. Friends of the Children prioritizes children and uses its values to transform how the world perceives and treats youth facing adversity. As a Friend, you will cultivate enduring relationships built on love, acceptance, and supportive practices. The role involves helping urban, rural, and Indigenous youth realize their potential by fostering their internal resilience and building community relationships to strengthen social networks and create new opportunities. This position focuses on serving children in the Childhood program (kindergarten to 5th Grade), acting as a positive adult role model for eight elementary school children, and developing loving, caring, and sustained relationships with each child. Key aspects of the role include setting positive expectations, nurturing strengths and talents, ensuring well-being, teaching life and academic skills, providing enrichment activities, and modeling responsible behavior. Friends are also responsible for documenting activities, participating in evaluations, working primarily one-on-one with children, and building trusting relationships with parents/caregivers. A Friend must understand, honor, and support 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 a 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 evaluation materials accurately and in a timely manner.
Attend and actively participate in team meetings and staff functions.
Maintain First Aid/CPR certification.
Transport children in a 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.