Youth Advocate/Mentor

Description

POSITION:                                       Youth Advocate/Mentor

JOB CLASS/GRADE:                        Specialist 1/ Grade 8

WAGE:                                               Starting at $21.63 per hour 

FLSA; EEO; WC:                                Non-Exempt; Professional; 8864

LOCATIONS:                                    May include work at IRCO Africa House, 709 NE 102nd Ave, Portland, OR                   97220, at other IRCO buildings, in the Juvenile Courts, or other locations.

FTE; FT/PT; STATUS:                       Hourly/On-Call without Benefits

NUMBER OF POSITIONS:              (1)

APPLY AT:                                        www.irco.org 

STATUS:                                            Oncall/ Casual without Benefits

PROGRAM(S):                                   Community Healing Initiative

SECTOR:                                             Youth Community Outreach 

REQUIREMENTS:                              Bilingual/bicultural sharing African Immigrant cultural and language   backgrounds from expected client based (e.g., Somali, Maay Maay, Swahili, Lingala, French, Kinyarwanda) required.  Must pass a criminal background check.  Valid Driver’s license, auto insurance and full use of vehicle during work hours maybe required.

This job announcement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. This is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Program Summary
The African Immigrant-Community Healing Initiative (AI-CHI) Intervention & Probation program is a unique, community centered collaboration designed to decrease youth violence by providing culturally specific and community support to youth and families while addressing root causes of violence. AI-CHI is an intensive, culturally specific case management program targeting a small number of carefully selected families of probation youth who are likely to be involved in violent activities, specifically gun violence. Culturally specific wraparound strategies around supervision/suppression, intervention, and prevention will be developed in tandem with enrolled participants and community partners to support the following goals: reduce future involvement in the juvenile justice system (youth and siblings); reduce/eliminate gang violence and harmful behaviors; reduce reoffending delinquency; reduce felonies and arrests of AI family members; increase academic/employment achievement; strengthen family resiliency; improve and inform systemic change to impact youth and families.

Position Summary
The Youth Advocate/Mentor‘s role is to serve as the mentor or support person for the youth. Exposing youth to pro-social activities and opportunities. Works closely with the Care Manager to facilitate strong social bonds and trust with enrolled youth. Youth enrolled in program are primarily via referrals from Juvenile Court System/Juvenile Court Counselor with a secondary source of referrals coming from community partners. Working closely with the Care Manager, the Youth Advocate/Mentor will support the youth to perform program intake/assessment as part of enrollment into IRCO’s AI-CHI program. After enrollment, Mentor will support youth to develop Individualized Plan of Action in tandem with Care Manager, and to provide pro-social opportunities youth may participate in as well as explore educational/vocational programs that youth can be enrolled in to complete secondary school or GED. Youth Advocate/Mentor is expected to maintain appropriate boundaries and client confidentiality, and to positively represent the agency at community meetings. Youth Advocate/Mentor will connect regularly with youth 1:1 or in small groups and build trust to deliver program services.  Youth Advocate/Mentor must be able to keep meticulous program records and complete all other work required for program documentation. This may include the submission of internal/external reports, maintaining case notes, tracking client assistance expenditures, and data entry of client records into online database systems. The position requires independent judgment, initiative and tact. Familiarity, and experience working with AI-youth who are at risk of gang involvement, using the following practices required: applying trauma informed, strengths-based practices in youth & family case management, Assertive Engagement, and Restorative Practices. 

Essential Functions

• Work with CHI funder, stakeholders and Care Manager to create a formally aligned case plan for all enrolled youth (referral system, case planning, youth & family activities, community resource navigation)
• Meet regularly (e.g., weekly) with Care Manager and Wraparound Care Team to discuss individual youth case plans, progress in meeting goals and to troubleshoot
• Attend all meetings, work groups and trainings as scheduled/assigned, including program orientations, database training to utilize program databases like ETO or ServicePoint
• Timely data entry into program database/s related to client contacts, case plan & case notes, and other program activities
• Timely attention and submission of required paperwork (timesheet, payment vouchers, client assistance logs) and other administrative work (progress notes, case file updates)
• Provide and connect youth to employment and training services, academic assistance, recreational activities, skill building activities, wellness activities, cultural exploration activities in individual and group settings
• Maintain appropriate boundaries when working with youth and families including compliance with case management practices, HIPAA and confidentiality agreements, collecting Releases of Information for data releases
• Support with program outreach work (e.g., providing program information to community partners to facilitate referrals into program)
• Support with joint development and hosting of youth & family activities across IRCO’s Prevention, Intervention, Outreach programs and/or through other activities targeting African Immigrant youth & families  

Secondary Functions

• Familiarity with Prevention, Intervention, Outreach (PIO) work as related to mentoring of  African Immigrant youth at risk of gun/gang violence
• Familiarity working with Juvenile Court system, Department of Community Justice probation and intervention programs to support at risk youth
• Experience with the following is recommended: applying Positive Youth Development when working with youth, social & emotional learning models, Assertive Engagement, Trauma-Informed Care, Growth Mindset, Restorative Justice, Eco-Maps & Family Systems Wraparound Care, Case Management practices
• Experience providing culturally specific case management services to youth and families from African Immigrant & Refugee communities
• Ability to submit program paperwork in timely manner (reports, data entry, updating case files, timesheets, etc.)
• Minimum two years of experience serving AI-youth in Youth Advocate or Mentor capacity
• Experience working in a fast paced and multicultural environment
• Must be able to pass an extensive background check. 

Requirements

Education & Experience

Some college course work

One to two years’ experience is required

Physical, Mental, & Environmental Requirements

Requires some physical efforts or manual labor such as lifting, carrying or constant movement.

An occasional need to assess risk as well as to make determination about tasks and deadlines.

There is a moderately low level of personal risk encountered.

The work schedule occasionally fluctuates based on organization or customer needs. This fluctuation may occur with or without prior notice.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Normally responsible for some supervisory responsibilities, including providing daily work direction, making recommendations to supervisors and HR regarding hiring, disciplining, terminating employees, or pay adjustments. 

What We Offer

IRCO is a very employee-friendly workplace and offers great benefit package to our staff:

• Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
• Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
• Work that helps your community 
• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year 
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting 
• 3% match for student loans or college savings 
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance 
• Flexible spending account

Required Engagement 

Engage fully in recommended professional development, as well as other assigned or required training activities.  This engagement can also include participation in optional activities that embrace IRCO’s mission, vision, and values-based initiatives. 

How To Apply

1. Complete the IRCO application in our Careers Portal: IRCO Application for Employment.  
2. Upload your resume and cover letter addressing your qualifications for this position IRCO Careers.  
3. For questions about this position, please email [email protected]

Please note that physical applications are accessible from IRCO’s main office, 10301 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97220. Due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to contact applicants or return calls regarding applications. Complete applications should include a cover letter, resume, and IRCO application. 

IRCO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any characteristics protected by law. We will make reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws.