Youth Mentor

This position requires identification as a person in long-term recovery, current NCCPSS and, or Recovery Coach certification or other peer support credentials, as well as evening and weekend availability, a minimum commitment of at least 5 hours per week availability and the ability to perform job duties within our service area.

• Person age 21+
• Willing and able to self-identify as:
• A person who has lived recovery experience or allyship (2year +) pertaining to substance use, mental health challenges and, or justice system involvement
• At least 1 year experience working with youth/emerging adults AND/OR
• Youth MHFA certification and/or Recovery Coach and/or PSS credentials
• Resides in Durham, Orange, or Chatham County, North Carolina
• High school diploma/GED
• Strong communication and organization skills
• Possess basic computer proficiency skills
• Access to and ability to utilize transportation in order to perform job activities
• Complete a background check

We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) applicants; people with lived experience of substance use, mental health, or justice involvement, homelessness, or poverty; LGBTQIA+ applicants; and people with disabilities.

In collaboration with the RSN Director of Programs, the Mentor Program Consultant and the Youth Wellness Skill Building Program Program Manager; the RSN Mentor acts as a support and resource for underestimated youth and emerging adults who are experiencing challenges related to substance use, mental health, and/or justice involvement. The Mentor acts as a key member of the RSN support team to provide participants with a sense of belonging and the skills and capacities for self-advocacy, healthy relationships and positive engagement in the community.

The Mentor engages in promoting trust and self-acceptance by advocating for and with 1 participants, coordinating with existing service providers, and linking participants with community resources, thereby increasing a participant’s overall wellbeing. The Mentor works with participants one on one, supporting them in setting and achieving goals through shared activities, goal setting, support and encouragement.

• Complete onboarding and training requirements and attend all continuing education offerings to enhance skills.
• Attend monthly mentor meetings and monthly supervision meetings.
• Attend scheduled community outreach and participant enrichment activities.
• Follow all program guidelines.
• Build and foster relationships with the participant and others working with the participant.
• Actively engage as part of the RSN support team to meet participant goals
  • Complete all required documentation and paperwork.
  • Identify and facilitate engagement with community resources
  • Develop a post-mentoring plan together with the participant.
• Prepare the participant to fully participate in their own wellbeing process.
• Teach self-advocacy, problem solving and independent wellness skills.
• Promote a stance of acceptance while reducing stigma about substance use, mental health issues and or justice system involvement.
• Empower the participant to develop natural supports to eliminate barriers to overall well being.
• Serve as a role model and support participants in meeting their goals.

• Strong commitment to the Mission of RSN
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to RSN reporting requirements and documentation, policies and procedures and confidentiality agreement
• Ability to communicate and model a sense of hope and expectancy for participants.
• Ability and willingness to self-disclose and share experience with others
• Knowledge of RSN community network resources and partnerships and how to access these resources as well as others within the community
• Ability to maintain and role model strong boundaries
• Competence in working as a team member within youth serving systems