Mentor

Position Summary

The Mentor position is full-time, 40 hours per week (non-exempt, benefits available) and will primarily take place at our Little Village or Humboldt Park locations. The Mentor will have a portfolio of participants 7-12th grade who have been directly or secondarily affected by street violence to provide mentoring, support and advocacy. Mentoring occurs in one-on-one, group settings, and in and after school hours. The Mentor is responsible for the facilitation of high-quality programming, planning and implementation of events/activities that may include sports, and connections to other social services with participants. May require some local travel (reimbursable). Pay commensurate with experience. This position is in-person. 

Job Responsibilities

• Assures youth participation in information sessions to explain expectations, roles, and responsibilities of participants. 
• Assures planning and implementation of outreach and recruiting of youth to program as needed. 
• Builds healthy, positive, supportive relationships with participants modeling positive behaviors and offering positive alternatives to violence. 
• Exposes participants to new experiences in education, art, sports, science, etc. 
• Creates impactful efforts toward goals and objectives. 
• Serves as a liaison and youth advocate with families, school administrators, and social and youth services agencies. 
• Assists in creation, implementation and monitoring of progress of case-plans, goals, and objectives set with youth and family/school. 
• Keeps a full, updated mentor caseload determined with Supervisor and Data team. 
• Engages youth in an individual goal plan and assists in building a safety net of services and opportunities for the participant including but not limited to job development, stipend programs, mental health services, GED services, housing, etc. 
• Produces documents, receipts, data reporting, and correspondence regarding activities and progress as necessary for consistent evaluation of program and timely report submittal, including participant paperwork. 
• Regularly assisting youth to address challenges, celebrate milestones, assists in identifying goals and problem solving. 
• Assures lessons provided or created are relevant and appropriate. 
• Participates in on-site visits, regular check-ins, and break-out planning meetings with team and Supervisor. 
• Performs home-visits as needed to communicate with mentee and/or mentee family. 
• Is aware of partner organizations and how to use “warm referral” network for linkages. 
• Assures documentation of all participant contacts and services provided and assists data team and development team with data collection and required reporting. 
• Documents detailed participant case-notes and other items as assigned. 
• May participate in social media, video, writings and promotions for programming. 
• Plans and organizes youth programming (in and/or out of school) and monitors youth enrollment, growth and completion. 
• Maintains accuracy of budget and spending plan and assures spending within target. 
• Participates in required evaluations and audits. 
• Demonstrates New Life Centers’ values. 
• Attends required meetings and trainings. 
• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor. 

Skills & Qualifications

• Must become a Certified Mandated Reporter. Training provided. 
• Must pass a background check, must not have any pending cases. 
• Must pass a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System background check. 
• Must pass a National Sex Offender Registry background check. 
• Must have a working phone and phone number. 
• One year experience working in the human services field in a capacity that involves direct services to at-risk youth. 
• Cross-cultural competency. 
• Ability to communicate effectively both written and verbally. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel. 
• Must be willing to be trained, and proficiently utilize database(s) and information tracking systems relevant to duties. 
• Must keep confidentiality of participant information. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. 
• Valid Illinois driver’s license, insurance, good driving record, access to a vehicle. Subject to driving background check. 
• General knowledge of sports. 
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred but not required. 

How to Apply

• Please submit the following materials 
• Cover letter indicating your experience and interest in the position 
• Resume 
• List of three references with contact information (minimum 2 professional references, email and phone number included) 
• Please mention the name of any New Life Centers staff who referred the position to you in your email if applicable. 

New Life Centers provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. New Life Centers complies with applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.