Family Mentor

People Places is actively recruiting a part-time Family Mentor for our community based, family services unit. This position will work with clients in the Harrisonburg, Staunton and surrounding areas. Our ideal candidate is a dedicated and compassionate individual who is eager to have a positive impact on their community and in the lives of the families. A Family Mentor is entrusted with the task of providing hands-on support and guidance to families in an effort to prevent placement disruptions (kinship care, foster care, residential treatment, etc), or to help facilitate the creation of a safe and stable environment in which a displaced youth may return home to.

If you have a passion for helping others achieve goals to keep their child safe and secure while working with an interprofessional team then this may be the opportunity you are looking for.

What People Places can offer:

• The opportunity to work within an agency with a long track record of providing quality services to our community.
• A supportive work environment where your strengths are valued and the opportunity to develop new skills is provided.
• Flexible, part-time hours that meet client’s needs and your own schedule.
• Competitive pay, negotiable based on qualifications and experience. Starting at $18/hour.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Family mentors establish healthy, therapeutic relationships with clients, based on trust and acceptance, all while maintaining good boundaries.
• Family Mentors provide parent education and support to promote positive, lasting impacts within family systems.
• Provide weekly face to face contact and consistent communication with the client, which can occur in the client’s home or within the community (most cases have 25 hours per month of service delivery hours).
• Maintain excellent records and documentation.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with other service providers and community resources.
• Assist families in understanding and navigating complex child welfare, mental health, juvenile justice, housing, benefit, and educational systems or accessing community resources.
• Provide direct advocacy for families, including participation in team meetings, court hearings, and educational planning.
• Family mentors participate in bi-weekly or monthly supervision as a method to help support the work with clients and staff development.

Qualifications and skills:

• Associates degree or high school diploma or equivalent plus appropriate training and experience.
• Experience working in the community with families from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Experience working with individuals and families who are in crisis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to objectively track and report data.
• Strong interpersonal and time management skills.
• The ability to function well within interdisciplinary treatment teams.
• Dedication to the principles of service, social justice, integrity, and the inherent dignity and worth of every person.
• Reliable form of transportation to visit and transport clients within the surrounding area
• The availability to spend several hours each week with each family.
• Background Check Required

Please submit the following with your application:

• A cover letter to summarize why you are interested and relevant experience.
• A resume

EEO: People Places provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.