Mentor Coordinator

Mentoring For Youth Affected By The Opioid Crisis And Drug Addiction

Best practice research emphasizes that training is strongly associated with successful and long-lasting mentoring relationships. Mentoring for youth affected by the opioid crisis and drug addiction program supports the delivery of mentoring services to youth who are currently abusing or addicted to drugs (including opioids and methamphetamine), youth at risk for abusing drugs, and youth with family members who are currently abusing or addicted to drugs.

The program goal is to improve outcomes (such as improved academic performance and reduced school dropout rates) for youth impacted by opioids and drug addiction through mentoring. The program will provide potential mentors with an initial Overview of program guidelines, benefits, responsibilities and expectations, and acceptable behavior boundaries. Individuals who agree to become mentors after participating in the orientation must complete 15 hours of core pre-match training focused on effective mentoring of youth who have been impacted by the opioid crisis, including:

• Mentors as role models of healthy relationships;
• Motivational Interviewing and principles of other evidence-based practices;
• Substance abuse, mental health, and physical health treatment and referral;
• Use of Activity Logs and other data collection/tracking / reporting functions for program monitoring and evaluation;
• Interpersonal communication skills to enhance mentor effectiveness;
• Knowledge of trauma-informed approaches to services;
• Awareness of available services and referral procedures;
• Ethical standards and the nature of the mentor/mentee relationship
• Safety

Duties and responsibilities include actively recruiting and training mentor volunteers in a program that assists human trafficking survivors in their reintegration into society, providing oversight and support to mentors and staff in the areas of life skill development, victim support, job skills development, mental health advocacy and substance abuse support, assisting Program Manager in daily operations of the program including providing insight, support, and problem solving to challenges that mentor volunteers may encounter working with participants, coordinating with Case Managers and Peer Support specialist the use of Evidence Based Practices, including trauma informed care, Positive Youth Development, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Seeking Safety and Harm Reduction, and participating and assisting with community awareness events, including providing survivor awareness and identification training to law enforcement, FBOs and CBOs.

Essential duties include recruiting and screening volunteers, developing initial training and ongoing Mentor training, supervising Volunteer Mentors, providing oversight and support, coordinating with Case Management staff, supporting best practices, ensuring appropriate records of services provided, goals achieved, advising Program Manager on needs and accomplishments of Volunteer Mentors as they support participants, supporting Case Management Staff in providing Intensive Case Management Services, participating in community outreach events, and other duties as required to support the mission and goals of the program.

As service providers to the underprivileged and vulnerable in our community, all employees are considered Mandated Reporters, and must report any instance of physical or sexual abuse to proper authorities.

Requirements include passing a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications, ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflicts dealing with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients, Bachelor's Degree in social work, psychology or counseling from fully-accredited college or university, or Four years of relevant mentoring or counselling experience, and 3 years of experience working with homeless youth population, including substance abuse prevention.