Professional Mentor "Friend" – Denver, CO

Friends of the Children – Colorado is looking for a passionate, committed, Friend (professional mentor). Our mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with highly trained, full-time professional mentors—12+ years—no matter what. **Basic Function** **:** 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. - 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 40-hour work schedule that can include afternoons, evenings, and weekends (normal working days are Tuesday through Saturday with Sundays and Mondays off). Your 40-hour/week schedule has flexability dependant on personal needs and the needs of the caregivers/youth. - Maintain spending within budgetary guidelines. Current spending budget includes $50/month to be spent on youth activites/needs. - 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 First Aid/CPR certification. - Transport children in personal vehicle as required for mentoring activities (mileage reembursement). - Provide information and support to the development and executive team on related activities. Fulfill other responsibilities as requested. **The ideal candidate will have the following Education, Experience, and Abilities:** - 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 - Willingness to commit for a minimum of three years. - Bilingual Spanish language skills are preferred - 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 - A sense of humor is a plus **Working Hours and Conditions:** This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Due to the nature of a *Friend’s* role, the work hours are somewh…