Professional Mentor (Friend) - Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children is a nonprofit that is breaking the cycle of generational poverty. We do this by selecting children who face multiple systemic obstacles and amplify their voices as they write their own story of hope and resilience. Each child is paired with a paid professional mentor we call a Friend. We commit to each child for the long-term.12+ years, no matter what. We are currently seeking an extraordinary professional to embark on a new career journey as a Friend at our Chiloquin site. 

At Friends of the Children, we put children first and use our values to change the way the world views (and treats!) youth facing great barriers. As a Friend you will nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally-informed practices. Do you want to help rural 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?  Do you have experience supporting culturally specific work in the community of Chiloquin? If so, the impactful role of a Friend might be for you.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

We are currently seeking a mentor (Friend) to serve as a positive adult role model to - and develop loving, caring, and sustained relationships with - eight female children - ranging in age from kindergarten to 12th grade youth in the Klamath Basin. 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 ongoing evaluation processes. Friends will work primarily one-on-one with their children, while also building trusting supportive relationships with parents/caregivers and the community. 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 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 cultural and regional connections for youth by incorporating Indigenous practices 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 staff and team meetings as well as staff functions
• Maintain First Aid/CPR certification
• Provide information and support to the development and executive team on related activities
• Fulfill other responsibilities as requested

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two-years of experience working with children
• Willingness to commit for a minimum of three years
• Advocate to secure additional resources, opportunities, and services for youth as appropriate
• Basic knowledge of historical trauma, institutionalized barriers, and trauma/ healing informed practices
• Ability to assist with systems navigation in schools to secure conditions for optimal academic success
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work respectfully with sovereign tribal nations, tribal departments, and tribal communities
• 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
• A sense of humor is a plus

SALARY RANGE:

$42,000-$45,000 annually

BENEFITS:

3 weeks paid vacation. Comprehensive health, dental, vision. 401k with 3% match. Potential relocation assistance.

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL:

Professional

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED:

2 or 4-year degree

Alternatively, at least seven years progressive experience working with children and families will be considered in lieu of a college degree

REPORTS TO:

Program Director

LOCATION:

Klamath Basin, OR. with frequent travel to surrounding areas.

Applications without cover letters will not be considered; please use this as an opportunity to convey why you want to be the Professional mentor.

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 know more about Friends of the Children go to: friendsklamath.org