Professional Mentor "Friend"- Eastern Oregon

Friends of the Children 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. We are currently seeking an extraordinary professional to embark on a new career journey as a Friend at our new Eastern Oregon location with a deep appreciation and understanding of the rural and Indigenous cultures in Eastern Oregon.  

At Friends of the Children, we put children first and use our values to change the way the world treats and views youth facing great barriers. As a Friend, you will nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally-informed practices that support positive identity. Do you want to help youth discover their limitless potential by fostering their internal resiliency? Are you ready to help build relationships within the communities of our youth and families to strengthen social networks and provide bridges to new opportunities? If so, the impactful role of a Friend might be for you.

Basic Function / Position Objective:

We are currently seeking a mentor to serve as a positive adult role model to eight elementary children and develop loving, caring, and sustained relationships with each child. For each child, a Friend will set positive expectations; nurture and promote each child’s strengths, 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.
• 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 and interventions in  programming.
• Provide enrichment resources and activities that include opportunities for identity development.
• Develop positive relationships with families, teachers, and others involved in each child’s life.
• Reinforce basic academic skills.
• Maintain a consistent 40-hour schedule with the flexibility to shape your week, including some evenings or weekends to best support our youth and families.
• Maintain youth activity spending within budgetary guidelines.
• Document daily activity journals, weekly schedules, youth activity expense details, and evaluation materials accurately and in a timely manner.
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings and staff functions.
• Maintain current driver's license, good driving record, and vehicle insurance.
• Transport children in a personal vehicle as required for mentoring activities.
• Provide information and support to the executive team on related activities.
• Fulfill other responsibilities as requested.

The ideal candidate will have the following: Education, Experience, and Abilities

• 4-year degree in education, psychology, social work, child development, child and family studies (or similar), OR at least three years of progressive experience working with children and families, will be considered in lieu of a college degree
• First Aid/CPR certification required; employer-provided training included.
• 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
• Demonstrated ability to develop trusting relationships with children, families, teachers, and others involved in each child’s life.
• Demonstrated understanding of Indigenous cultures and ways of knowing and interweaving this knowledge in all aspects of the work. 
• 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:

•  $22.00/hourly-$26.00/hourly (approximately $45k-$54k)  

Benefits:

• Three weeks paid vacation.
• 80 hours of sick time
• Eleven paid holidays
• Employer pays 100% of employee premiums for health, dental, vision, and basic life insurance; dependent premiums are partially covered.
• 401(k) with a 3% match.

Reports To: 

• Program Director 

Location:

• La Grande (Union County)

Cover Letter:  Applications without cover letters will not be considered; please use this as an opportunity to convey why you want to be the Professional Mentor for Eastern Oregon at Friends of the Children!

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 on the basis of 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: Friends of the Children Eastern Oregon