Youth Mentor

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Community Evening Resource Center (CERC) Youth Mentor is an integral member of the CERC team. He/she will provide monitoring and supervision to youth in the community intervention center (CERC) program. The Mentor will facilitate and/or co-facilitate daily recreational and educational activities such as sports, games, musical activities, or art events. The Mentor will also oversee youth in community service projects and encourage and ensure youth participation. He/she will interact with youth, maintaining close contact and develop a positive rapport during programming.

WORK SCHEDULE:

• This is a part-time hourly position.
• The CERC Youth Mentor position primarily operates during evening hours (5:30PM – 10:00PM) to support the Community Evening Resource Center program.
• Program needs may require the Youth Mentor to work on weekends.

EDUCATION/CREDENTIALS/EXPERIENCE:

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent, and a minimum of 2 years of experience working with at-risk youth and adolescents or related experience.
• Bachelor’s or associate degree in one (1) of the following disciplines: Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Education, Criminal Justice, or other Human Service field is preferred and will substitute for 1 year of experience.
• An annual physical form verifying that the employee is “free from contagion".
• Act 160 PA criminal, Child abuse and FBI Clearances within one year of hire.

SKILLS:

• Ability and willingness to adjust hours in accord with job responsibility.
• Ability to provide empathy and understanding to youth with complex needs.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and communicate with coworkers, administration, youth, vendors, and others in a courteous and professional manner.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Possess self-control and emotional regulation skills in a stressful environment, and when assisting youth in crisis.
• Ability to follow directions, procedures, and policies as required by Juvenile Justice Center.
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information in accordance with local, state and federal law.
• Ability to present a professional appearance and manner in adherence with department and agency Personal Appearance policy.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in the planning and facilitation of educational, life-skills, recreational, cultural and social activities that may benefit youth.
• Engage with youth during program hours by participating in activities.
• Conduct daily count of youth at the beginning and commencement of programming. Notify the Director and/or other appropriate staff when youth have not arrived or have departed early from the program to ensure parent/guardian is contacted.
• Assist with and/or prepare daily meals, snacks for youth attending program.
• Assist with the development, planning, coordinating and setup of age appropriate cultural and recreational activities.
• Assist with gathering information and completing new intakes for regular programming youth and curfew youth.
• Provide a safe and holistic environment for youth to develop themselves and their confidence, through engaging, supportive, and evidence-based programming.
• Participate and oversee field trips and community service projects.
• Assist with transporting youth home, ensuring that the mentor sits in the van where they can see the youth to ensure safety protocols are followed. 
• Follow all safety guidelines, policies and procedures of the program.
• Assist youth with homework and special assignments.
• Communicates with program director and site manager suspicions that the child is at risk of abuse in their home or any other issues that threaten their safety and well-being. 
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, training, community events and other related meetings, as assigned.
• Complete program reports, paperwork, and additional written documentation as required.
• Assist with the clean-up of programming rooms.
• Assist with other duties as needed and assigned. 
• Respond to emergencies in a calm and efficient manner. 
• Respond to youth behavior in a manner that is strength-based, and trauma informed. 
• Complete all mandatory training hours assigned to them in the timeframe allotted.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Ability and willingness to work non-traditional hours.
• Ability and willingness to work with a wide range of ages, cultural views, and experiences.
• Ability to walk, drive, see, bend, stand, and verbally communicate.
• Must be flexible, as there will be times when last-minute changes are needed to change programming for the evening.
• Ability to de-escalate youth behaviors using appropriate de-escalation techniques.

Contributing to the team

• Participates in meetings to ensure priorities are clear, coordination is good and communications are open.
• Cooperates and communicates as a multi-disciplined team member through formal meetings, informal discussion and other participation as necessary.
• Models traits of a responsible team member, executing job responsibilities, open communication, good follow-through; supports team members to do the same.
• Responds promptly to the concerns and interests of the clients, parents, guardians and funding entities and other JJC staff.

Administrative Responsibility

Ensures compliance with all JJC’s policies and procedures, including confidentiality and reporting suspected abuse in accordance with CPSL, 23 Pa.C.S. § § 6301—6385, and JJC policies and procedures.