Youth Mentor

Title: Missionary Youth Mentor - Live-In

Hours: 32-36 hrs. per week

Monthly Stipend: A stipend of $1400 per month

Room and Board provided

Position Narrative: Being a Youth Mentor is a calling. We are looking for a nurturing soul with a servant’s heart who is missionary minded. They must have an innate concern for the wellbeing of our youth. We don’t choose the youth placed in our care, so a good understanding and acceptance of cultural and lifestyle differences is important. An effective Youth Mentor has a strong sense of responsibility, is organized, has good boundaries, is able to work in close proximity to others, and be in good health and physical condition. A Youth Mentor provides support, guidance, and encouragement. A Youth Mentor demonstrates the gospel with their life. If you join us in this endeavor you will join a team that holds strength in unity, supports each other’s needs for self-care, and knows what it means to love unconditionally.

What this job looks like day to day?

Youth Mentors are advocates who work directly with youth in the shelter, providing care that address the needs of each youth. This includes advocacy and mentoring, age-appropriate activities, a safe and clean physical space, healthy meals, coordinating school transportation, and facilitating communication with parents or caregivers. While Youth Mentors are not counselors or mental health professionals, they are guided by therapeutic best practices including, confidentiality, individualized care planning, appropriate behavioral interventions, positive youth development practices and clear documentation of youth’s progress towards their goals.

Bottom Line

This job isn’t about Place – though the place is Fairbanks, Alaska. This job isn’t about money, though room and board are provided along with a $1400 a month stipend. This job is about restoring hope to teens who feel the world has left them behind. It’s about living and being the gospel to youth who feel rejected by everyone – including Christians.

Looking for an unconventional way to minister to unconventional youth? Join us. We are Fairbanks Youth Advocates, and we are on a journey to be a father to the fatherless. This will be the cause that changes your life forever.

We are a team that holds strength in unity and strives to love unconditionally.

Qualities you should have:

• be a missionary-minded person
• a sense of humor
• an innate concern for the well-being of others
• the ability to take on the role of mentor, coach, big brother, big sister,
• an interest in assisting with street outreach
• an interest in helping to maintain the building and grounds
• the ability to commit to a minimum of 1 year.
• a personality that is responsible, organized, and works well with a variety of people.

Qualifications:

• Adult[s] with a desire to serve Christ by serving others
• Member/regular attender of a local Christian Church
• Must be in agreement with “Guiding Principles” and “We Believe”, of Fairbanks Youth Advocates - see website https://www.fairbanksyouthadvocates.org/about-us/
• 60 hours of college credit or an associate degree in a human services (or a related) field and two years experience in a child welfare agency, or other setting that serves children, adolescents, or both children and adolescents; preferred
• 21 or older
• Exercises good judgment at all times,
• Takes initiative in addressing shelter needs and tasks,
• Spiritually and emotionally mature, Ability to self manage and take initiative,
• Able to model healthy communication, and desire to work through conflicts and problems that arise in living in close community,
• A willingness to learn, grow, and change personally and collectively as part of a team,
• CPR and First Aid Certifications or the ability to obtain them,
• Must have the physical ability to climb stairs and carry up to 25 pounds up or down a flight of stairs.
• Ability to keep confidentiality,
• Able to pass State and Federal Background checks according to agency policies,

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Acts as role model (mentor, coach, big brother, big sister) & upholds standards of the agency,
• Facilitates building community with staff, relationships with kids, and sharing the love of Christ
• Assist with preparation of meals, household cleaning, laundry, etc.
• Facilitate building cleaning, yard maintenance, & snow removal,
• Assists staff in handling emergencies and difficult situations,
• Assists Program Director with maintaining a safe physical environment including routine building checks of items needing attention, repair, replaced, etc.
• Assist staff in the care, supervision and support of youth,
• Participate in TEAM meetings, including case planning/review,
• Assist with outreach and connecting with other community resources,
• Flexible in schedule to fill in as needed,
• Must live on the property

Benefits

• Housing and utilities,
• Meals available,
• Bus pass if needed,
• $1400 stipend per month,
• 12 days/year vacation
• Can help with moving expenses

This position is in Fairbanks, Alaska, a vibrant community with a unique arctic culture that celebrates the seasons, and the outdoors. Applicants should familiarize themselves with arctic culture and weather. If you are up for the adventure of a lifetime or this sounds like someone you know, please visit our website to find out more:

www.fairbanksyouthadvocates.org