Professional Mentor

Friends of the Children - Eastern Washington; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k with match

Job summary

Friends of the Children - Eastern Washington is a nonprofit organization providing long-term, paid mentors to elementary children through high school graduation, building trust and culturally sustaining relationships. Mentors work primarily one-on-one, in classrooms and community settings, with ongoing documentation and collaboration with families and schools.

The role emphasizes consistency, trauma-informed support, and the ability to foster positive academic and life-skills development, while

Qualifications

• Ability to engage with children facing high barriers and trauma.
• Experience working directly with children and families.
• Strong communication and collaboration with schools and caregivers.

Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain long-term, caring relationships with each child.
• Work one-on-one and in groups in school/classroom and community settings.
• Partner with parents/caregivers to provide supports.
• Set realistic goals based on each child’s strengths and needs.
• Teach life skills and help develop interests for each child.
• Maintain documentation and participate in evaluation processes.
• Maintain driver’s license and vehicle insurance; transport children as needed.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Advocacy in schools

Independent + team player

Time management

Strong written and verbalCommunication

Humor is a plus

Education

Bachelor degree or equivalent work experience

4–7 years experience with children/families in lieu of degree

Job description

Friends of the Children - Eastern Washington is a nonprofit that is impacting generational change by empowering youth through relationships with professional mentors. We do this by providing children facing the most obstacles with a long-term, paid, professional mentor, who we call a “Friend,” from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12+ years - no matter what.

In Eastern Washington, many of the youth we serve are navigating significant systemic barriers, and a large portion of the youth in our program identify as Native or multi-ethnic from marginalized communities. Friends of the Children - Eastern Washington, is committed to culturally sustaining practices and honoring the strengths, traditions, and identities of the communities we serve. Friends must be open to learning, practicing cultural humility, and embracing the cultures of the youth and families we serve. As a Friend you will nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally sustaining practices.

Basic Function/Position Objective:

Friends serve as a positive role model to eight elementary children developing loving, caring, and sustained relationships with each child. For each child, a Friend will set positive expectations; nurture and promote each child’s strength, talents, and abilities; help ensure physical and emotional well-being; teach life and academic skills; provide enrichment activities; and model responsible behavior. A Friend will fully document activities and participate in the ongoing evaluation process. Friends will work primarily one-on-one with the children they serve, while also building trusting supportive relationships with parents/caregivers. A Friend must know, understand, honor, and support the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles, and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function.

Essential Functions and 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 skillsMaintain 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.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:

• 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.
• A sense of humor is a plus.

Salary Range:

• $24.50/hourly-$26.00/hourly

Benefits:

• 3 weeks paid vacation. Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and long‑term disability. 401k with 3% match.

Reports To:

• Program Director

Location:

• Spokane Washington

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely based on their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what. #ThePowerOfOne

To learn more about Friends of the Children go to: https://friendsofthechildren.org/