Professional Mentor "Friend Denver

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.

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.

• 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 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 team meetings and staff functions.
• Maintain First Aid/CPR certification.
• Transport children in personal vehicle as required for mentoring activities.
• Provide information and support to the development and executive team on related activities. Fulfill other responsibilities as requested.

• 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 communication skills
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills
• A sense of humor is a plus

This is a full‑time, non‑exempt position (40 hours/week). Due to the nature of a Friend’s role, the work hours are somewhat non‑traditional, and may include late afternoon, evening, and weekend work.

• We recognize that each Friend’s daily work schedule will vary due to the unusual nature of the role and the needs of the individual children being served.
• The program requires that you see each of your assigned children both in and outside of school and/or daycare, for an average of four hours each week, although how you accomplish that is at your discretion within established program guidelines.
• Friends must be comfortable actively engaging in activities with youth in…