Beloit Youth Mentor
Youth mentors develop healthy, trusting relationships with a young person, modeling healthy boundaries and reliability. They provide fun outlets at the campus (or off campus, with special permission) to engage youth in positive activities that empower them as they go through treatment and counseling.
The Beloit Residential Treatment Center is located at 1323 Northwestern Ave. In Ames, IA 50010
Responsibilities:
- Schedule regular meeting times with young person through their case worker
- Attend each meeting on time and let the caseworker know IMMEDIATELY if your schedule changes
- Model healthy relationships via appropriate boundaries, trust, active listening, being supportive and caring, and being CONSISTENT
- Obtain youth’s input in planning each activity, then coordinate with case worker or staff accordingly
- Maintain responsible contact with caseworker about availability and follow through on commitments
- Commit to mentor youth during duration of their stay at the treatment center (average 6-9 months)
- Work as part of the team to help create a safe and stable environment for the young person
- Be a friend!
- Report all hours and activities via online form regularly
Qualifications:
- Experience working with youth, especially traumatized youth
- Some knowledge of trauma informed care preferred
- Patience, ability to build trust and maintain a healthy relationship
- Good communication skills and active listener
- Pass State of Iowa background checks as well as Sexual Offender Registry check
- Compassion for hurting youth
- Ability to commit 6-9 months
- Access to reliable communication such as phone or email to accurately communicate with mentee via case worker about meeting times
Time Commitment: 4 hours a month (often mentors meet with mentees every other week for a couple hours)
Training provided: HIPPAA, Universal Precautions, LSI Orientation, Trauma-Informed Youth Mentor Training
Because of the nature of the Treatment center, all youth will have come from traumatic and abusive backgrounds. They are at the treatment center to engage in counseling and other services that help them cope with the past and develop healthy futures. Mentors can expect youth to struggle with a variety of behavioral and emotional issues and should be patient, compassionate, and prepared. Training on trauma-informed care in terms of youth mentoring will be provided.
Benefits: experience working in a social services setting, experience working with traumatized youth, trauma-informed care trainings, the knowledge that you are empowering a young person in their journey of healing
