Mentor

Responsibilities:

• Support children and youth with social or life skills by providing positive role modeling in a variety of activities that boost self-esteem and build on existing skills.
• Take the children and youth to community locations and participate in age-appropriate activities based on their interests.
• Provide meaningful opportunities for the children and youth to discuss topics of importance to them.
• Create awareness about community resources and recreational opportunities.
• Be respectful of the child, youth and family’s privacy at all times.
• Meet with the caseworker and child/youth to set mentoring goals and plan for the placement activities.
• Maintain consistent communication with caseworker and Volunteer Services by submitting monthly reports, mileage and expense forms and other communications as required.
• Share with caregiver any situations that may have occurred during your mentor/mentee outing.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully with staff and family members who are supporting child/youth.
• Use an equity lens with a respectful and inclusive approach.
• Be sensitive to all unique needs of caregivers, children/youth and the family.
• Use your sense of judgement to determine when or if any additional support from the caseworker is needed.
• Reflect the Agency’s Core Values, which are Open, Respectful, Caring, Honest, Collaborative.
• Maintain and role model boundaries in the volunteer and client relationship – if in doubt connect with caseworker or Volunteer services.

Time Frame: 2-4 hours per week

Length of Commitment: 6 months to 1 year

Preferred Qualifications:

• Maturity, sensitivity and ability to relate to children/families/caseworkers.
• Good active listening skills and the ability to show empathy.
• Previous experience in mentoring or working one-on-one with children/youth is very helpful in this role.
• Patient, flexible with strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to provide a consistent commitment of two hours per week for the duration of the volunteer assignment (6 months- 1 year)
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to build relationships with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to communicate effectively and positively interact with people across different cultures.
• Access to reliable transportation (while having access to a vehicle is not mandatory, it does make it easier to find an assignment match. It is also easier to access community locations with mentee).
• If a volunteer is able to provide transportation to their mentee, the following are required: G license, access to a safe and reliable vehicle, 1 million dollars liability automobile insurance, driver’s abstract (3-year uncertified driver record).
• General awareness of the Child Welfare system.
• Understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion and its impact on working with children, youth and families.

Benefits:

• Satisfaction in providing a child/youth with positive adult role modeling.
• Positively impact a child’s/youth’s self-esteem, social skills/ life skills
• Developing engagement skills with children/youth
• Opportunity to explore resources and recreational opportunities in the community
• Satisfaction in facilitating a child/youth’s progression in achieving their goals
• Understanding of Child Welfare and its practices
• Practice recording/reporting skills
• Making a positive and lasting impact in the life of a child/youth
• Expenses reimbursed