Lincoln Families is a workplace that is committed to strengths-based, culturally responsive, attachment-centered, and trauma-informed care.

Position: Youth Program Mentor - Hayward Location

Program: Kinship Support Services

Salary: $26.00 per hour; fully benefitted

Text 'KIN784' to (510) 901-5627

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT POSITION:

• Part Time: 20 hours per week with benefits
• Required Days: Monday-Friday; occasional Saturdays
• Required Hours: 2:30pm-6:30pm
• Location: Hayward

Keeping Families Together
Lincoln knows that children do best when they remain in the safe, stable, and familiar environment that relatives can provide. Relative caregivers are the backbone of our child welfare system, stepping up to fill the gap when challenges take parents from raising their children. Many are grandparents with special needs linked to age, poverty, poor health, and lack of supports and resources. Since 2001, the Lincoln Families Kinship Program has addressed the unique needs of each caregiver and child, providing a variety of supports, including:

• Family Coaching: Advocacy and referral for financial assistance, legal supports, mental health, emergency, and education services
• Education & Skill Building: Programs including parenting, school advocacy, and job and college readiness to prepare and inform caregivers and youth
• Youth Supports: Children and teen activity groups, social and recreational outings, tutoring, and workshop events
• Support Groups: Gathering of caregivers to share joys and concerns, learn about resources, and support each other.

Who Can Receive Kinship Services?
All kin caregivers and their children residing in our service areas of Hayward, Fremont, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Union City, Newark, Castro Valley, Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, Sunol, and the unincorporated areas of Southern Alameda County. Lincoln’s Kinship program provides a unique combination of crucial benefits, resources, group supports, and events to kinship families to ensure children thrive and become successful adults.

Family Events are open to kin caregivers and youth of all ages, free of charge, and designed around the needs of the participants.

• Adult Workshops & Family Coaching: Focus on topics such as financial resources, legal services, mental health supports, educational advocacy, and coping skills.
• Youth Activities: Focus on recreational enrichment activities, field trips, behavioral supports, and positive social interactions.
• Teen Groups: Focus on preparing for independent living and obtaining employment, creating a support network, exploring post-education opportunities, and building permanent connections.

POSITION SUMMARY: Reporting to the Youth Program Coordinator, the Youth Program Mentor is responsible for planning and implementing enrichment programs during after school hours and support groups. Program Assistant will lead academic, recreation, and enrichment activities for kinship children and youth.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assists Youth Program Coordinator in planning, development and implementation of the program educational, enrichment, and recreational activities; and family events designed to address program goals.
• Works with students in small groups on homework assignments and various enrichment activities.
• Helps youth develop and utilize their strengths, interests, and skills with check-ins and goal setting.
• Makes regular contact with youth clients at kinship locations, schools, client's home, or in the community. This requires reliable transportation and ability to transport clients.
• Completes youth intakes. Greets and invites participation of new kinships children and youth. Fosters introductions among young kinship clients, supervises and redirects as needed children and youth during all activities including afterschool, weekend, and support group enrichment activities, and family events.
• Researches and connects kinship youth with community resources to support youth's goals related to life skills, educational, social and recreational development.
• Safeguards the dignity and protects the rights and individuality of each kin family under their supervision.
• Maintains appropriate boundaries and remains in compliance with HIPAA privacy laws.
• Takes attendance, completes and maintains all service documentation and statistics as required.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: A positive, service-oriented team player who thrives in a fast-paced, busy environment. Must have strong organizational and time management skills to handle competing priorities. Excellent interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills with the ability to resolve conflict and build relationships with all stakeholders. Demonstrated awareness of, sensitivity to and competence in dealing with cultural and socioeconomic diversity of client population. Must be reliable, personable, and able to maintain professional boundaries as well as a high level of confidentiality. Can work independently, collaborate with others, and ask for help when necessary. Must have working knowledge of community resources, proven problem-solving skills and a commitment to working with youth and families.

EDUCATIONAL & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Public Administration, Education or related field preferred, but not required
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• At least 2 years of work experience in school-based services
• Non-profit and/or healthcare experience desirable
• Experience with trauma-informed care and practices preferred
• Bilingual language skills (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required
• Strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft programs and Google suite
• Completion of Triple P accreditation a strong plus

WHY JOIN LINCOLN FAMILIES:

• Salary: $26.00 per hour

  • Bilingual Skills: Up to an additional $2.50 per hour (contingent upon results of language proficiency test)

• Time Off: 15 days of PTO and 5 holidays

• Benefits: medical, dental and vision with 90-95% employer subsidy for employee premiums; we also offer 50% for dependents. Additional Benefits include flexible spending accounts (FSA), life insurance, disability insurance, commuter benefits, retirement & pension plans.

• Affinity Groups, Equity Teams and Advocacy: we currently have an Employee Equity Council, a Management Equity Team, staff-run Affinity Groups, and Advocacy Groups focusing on immigrant needs, housing stability & reimagining public safety.

• Self Care: Lincoln encourages and supports self-care for all employees so that staff are able to sustain themselves in this work and better serve our families. Staff create self-care plans and receive funding they can use each year towards those plans. Employees also have paid time away for self-care each week.

• Professional Development/Training: Each year, employees can be reimbursed for expenses related professional licensing and other fees, as well as for professional development opportunities. Employees who have been at Lincoln Families for one year are also eligible to participate in advanced training series.

• Student Loan Forgiveness: We are a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit approved site. By working with Lincoln Families, staff are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

• Top Bay Area Workplace 2021, 2022 and 2023