Family Mentor

Goal of the Position:

This assignment provides one-to-one support for parents/caregivers, children, and youth through engagement in various activities that wrap a circle of support around a family. Each assignment will have unique tasks and will be tailored to family's needs based on conversations with the family, worker and volunteer.

Family Mentors will support the safety and well-being of children and youth by providing support, friendship, and encouragement to the parents or guardians. They will role model positive parenting to enhance the parent/caregiver’s parenting skills and will help reduce isolation by providing support to the family in everyday life activities.

Some examples of activities that the assignment could include:

• creating a weekly menu then grocery shopping and cooking a meal together.
• researching groups/activities together.
• interacting with a child while the parent focuses on daily household tasks.

helping with home organization or creating a plan for that together.

Preferred Qualifications:

Volunteers are carefully screened for involvement as a Family Mentor. The following is a list of skills considered in the selection and matching process for this position.

• Demonstration of personable skills such as honesty, warmth, sensitivity, support, consistency, patience, endurance, empathy, understanding, encouragement, as well as react non-judgmentally, respectfully, and objectively.
• Experience working with children and ability to build on their knowledge of child development.
• Ability to maintain boundaries, professional relationships and understand that you are a representative of the Agency.
• Ability to provide companionship/friendship to reduce individual and family isolation and to engage in the development of a trusting relationship.
• Patient, flexible with strong problem-solving skills and experience working with families with complex needs or in crisis.
• Ability to communicate effectively and able to build relationships with diverse groups of people.
• Understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion and its impact on working with children, youth and families.
• Ability to provide own transportation to the assignment; and if possible, access to reliable vehicle to transport the children, youth and parents/caregivers as needed while on assignment (while having access to a vehicle is not mandatory, it does make it easier to find an assignment match. It is also easier to access community locations with family members).
• Previous experience in mentoring or working one-on-one with children/youth/families is very helpful in this role.

General awareness of the Child Welfare system is helpful

Responsibilities:
 

• Support parent/caregiver with social or life skills by providing positive role modeling in a variety of activities that can build on existing skills and reduce isolation.
• Support could involve connecting with the parent/caregiver over a cup of coffee to reduce social isolation and provide emotional support and encouragement.
• Assist parent/caregiver by engaging with them in community-based or in-home activities that support positive-parenting, self-care, mental and physical well-being and other activities that wrap supports around the family.
• Role model and provide support with problem solving, time-management and organizational skills to assist with managing daily homelife activities such as housecleaning, menu planning, and de-cluttering spaces.
• Provide support by participating in early learning and play activities with children, to provide the parent/caregiver time to focus on household activities or other specific tasks.
• Support could include menu planning, shopping for grocery items and then cooking a meal together to support a parent in making healthier eating choices or learning to cook for their family.
• Initiate contact with the worker when needed, provide ongoing feedback on goals and activities and participate in family meetings as requested.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully with staff and family members who are supporting child/youth and maintain consistent communication with worker and Volunteer Services by submitting monthly reports, mileage and expense forms and other communications as required.
• Use an equity lens with a respectful and inclusive approach.
• Be sensitive to all unique needs of the children, youth, parents and caregivers in the family.
• Use judgement to determine when or if any additional support from the worker is needed.
• Maintain and role model boundaries in the volunteer and client relationship – if in doubt connect with worker or Volunteer services.
• Be punctual, reliable and understanding of last-minute changes.
• Be respectful of the child, youth and family’s privacy at all times.
• Each assignment will be unique and specific to the needs of each family, the focus will be to help improve the home environment to support the safety and well-being of children and youth.
• Reflect the Agency’s Core Values, which are Open, Respectful, Caring, Honest, Collaborative.

Time Frame: 2-4 hours per week

Commitment: 6 months to 1 year

This role would be of interest to you if you:

• Have good active listening skills and the ability to show empathy.
• Understand the impact of social isolation and poverty on individuals.
• Are patient, can show empathy for others and have a non-judgmental approach.
• Have knowledge of community resources and an ability to access them.
• Are accepting of different lifestyles, values, and cultures.
• Understand that last-minute changes or cancelations can occur for various reasons.
• Have good problem-solving skills.
• Are welcoming and passionate about supporting family wellbeing in our community.

Benefits:

• Knowledge that you are working to help keep or reconnect children with their parents, fulfilling a relevant need for our community members, and are making a difference in someone’s life
• Satisfaction in providing a child/youth with positive adult role modeling.
• Positively impact someone’s self-esteem, build their social skills/ life skills and reduce social isolation for families.
• Understanding of Child Welfare and its practices
• Practice recording/reporting skills
• Reimbursement for Expenses
  Appreciation for your work to support families in our community.
• Build your network and gain future references.
• Orientation, Training, and support from staff.

To start the process, please complete the Volunteer Application form. We will then contact you to schedule your interview. After completing onboarding, mandatory background checks and volunteer training, you’re ready to roll.