Lincoln Families is a workplace that is committed to strengths-based, culturally responsive, attachment-centered, and trauma-informed care.
POSITION: Youth Program Mentor
PROGRAM: Kinship
HOURLY RATE: $27.00 per hour (fully benefitted)
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT POSITION:
- Part Time: 20 hours per week; fully benefitted
- Required Days: Monday-Friday; occasional Saturdays
- Required Hours: 2:30pm-6:30pm
- Location: Fremont
Text 'KIN918' to (510) 901-5627
KINSHIP SUPPORT SERVICES: Children do best when they remain in safe, stable, and familiar environments that relatives can provide. Relative caregivers are the backbone of the child welfare system, stepping up to fill the gaps when challenges take parents away from raising their children. Many are grandparents with special needs liked to age, poverty, poor health, and lack of support and resources.
WHAT WE DO: Lincoln Families’ Kinship program provides supports to kin caregivers so they have the resources needed to raise their relative. Since 2001, our staff have addressed the unique needs of each caregiver and child, providing a variety of supports:
- Family Coaching - Providing advocacy and referral for financial assistance, legal supports, mental health, emergency, and education services
- Education and Skill Building - Offering programs including parenting and school advocacy to prepare and inform caregivers and youth
- Youth Engagement - Providing children and teen activity groups, social and recreational outings, tutoring, and workshop events
- Support Groups - Facilitating gatherings of caregivers to share joys and concerns, learn about resources, and support each other
OUR WHY: Children in foster care can face exposure to alcohol and other drugs, abuse, neglect and abandonment, violence in their homes and communities, trauma from separation from birth families, and frequent changes in foster care placement. These experiences place children at greater risk of developing physical, emotional, and behavioral problems that can lead to school failure, teen pregnancy, homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration. Research shows that living with relatives is better for children and benefits them in many ways. Of children who are not living with their biological parents, 75% of them are being raised by a relative outside of the formal foster care system. Such kin caregivers have little or no time to prepare for this new arrangement and face major barriers in accessing information, benefits, legal assistance, and services.
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. Genuine interest, and passion for working with youth ages 6-18. Knowledge of and skills in working with separation & loss, family systems, conflict resolution, reunification process, and the emotional issues of kinship families. Knowledge of trauma-informed care and practices. Proven ability to develop rapport and maintain professional relationships with youth clients and their families; must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels (clients, colleagues, supervisors, and community members). Must be reliable, personable, and organized. Can work independently and is comfortable working in small teams and with community based partners. Demonstrated awareness of, sensitivity to, and competence in dealing with cultural and socioeconomic diversity of client population. Proven problem-solving skills and knowledge of community resources. Must have flexibility to work some evenings and weekends.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
- Bilingual language skills preferred but not required (English/Spanish)
- Youth Program Mentor I requires high school diploma (or equivalent).
- Youth Program Mentor II requires completed Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably with a major in behavioral science subject (child development, psychology, counseling and guidance, early childhood education, human services, social science, social welfare, social work, sociology or recreation).
- Minimum one (1) year experience working with youth providing support to set and reach goals, engaging families and community resources in supporting individualized plans.
- Minimum one (1) year experience planning and/or leading indoor and outdoor recreation activities or leading after-school academic and enrichment activities.
- Familiarity with the needs of relative caregivers, kin youth, and kinship family dynamics preferred.
- Basic computer skills in Word, Excel and Internet searching.
WHY JOIN LINCOLN FAMILIES:
HOURLY RATE: $27.00
- Time Off 15 days of PTO and 5.5 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.
- Equity at Lincoln Families: we currently have an Employee Equity Council, a Management Equity Team and staff-run Affinity Groups. Lincoln Families also advocates regarding immigrant needs, housing stability & reimagining public safety.
- Wellness: Lincoln Families encourages and supports wellness 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 1-3 hours of paid time per week for wellness activities.
- 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 four years running... 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024!
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT POSITION:
- Part Time: 20 hours per week; fully benefitted
- Required Days: Monday-Friday; occasional Saturdays
- Required Hours: 2:30pm-6:30pm
- Location: Fremont
