Mentor, Supportive Services (54049)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Mentor will provide supportive services to individuals and/or families with children headed by young adults ages 18 to 25 years old.  The Mentor will serve as a Credible Messenger for residents and will encourage completion of service plan goals through role modeling. Specifically, the Mentor will:

• Perform Life Skill and Needs Assessments for all new tenants to evaluate basic needs that may interfere with maintaining stable housing and/or employment
• Conduct 1-on-1 sessions with tenants to ensure successful completion of service plan goals; empower tenants to utilize their strengths to meet any barriers to goal completion
• Work with other program staff to provide supportive services through a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and harm reduction approach
• Educate tenants about self-help techniques and processes
• Share effective coping strategies based on personal experience with tenants; develop and nurture existing coping strategies identified by tenants at initial intake meeting
• Maintain a strong supportive relationship with tenants through consistent communication via phone, text, email, and in-person meetings
• Participate in individual supervision, team meetings and case conferences to ensure holistic approach to service delivery
• Document all interactions with tenants in database and complete reports as required
• Help facilitate individualized services that meet the needs of tenant’s service plan and is future-oriented with a focus on independent living skills
• Collaborate with Education Coordinator to obtain and develop resource information for tenants that is relevant to every area of their service need
• Encourage tenant engagement in social services, recreational programming, group programming, and trips and gatherings
• Help instruct tenants in daily living skills, socialization skill enhancement, community building, and conflict resolution
• Refer tenants to community resources and other organizations; accompany tenants on visits to social services agencies, government offices, and/or other locations associated with completion of service plan goals, as need arises
• Coordinate the Tenant Advisory Group (TAG) and plan monthly meetings together with Director of Tenant Services; serve as program liaison during informal tenant gathering
•  Work with tenant to create support networks that can help when they move into nonprogrammatic housing
•  As part of the Tenant Services team, provide aftercare follow-up for tenants who move on from the program into more independent housing.
• Additional responsibilities may be added as position evolves

COMPETENCIES

• Previously homeless and/or housed within the NYC shelter system or foster care
• Strong understanding and practice of peer support, recovery wellness and related services
• Dynamic, able to multi-task, problem solve, and work independently
• Team player and willing to work with a diverse population
• Trained in child development, mandated reporting, and family dynamics
• Trained in harm reduction and housing first services approaches
• Experience with evidence-based practices and/or evidence-informed services including, but not limited to:
  • Positive Youth Development
  • Recovery-Oriented and Trauma-Informed Case Management
  • Critical Time Intervention
• Must be able to travel and work evening and weekend hours
• Commitment to RiseBoro’s mission of unleashing the potential of communities to thrive, no matter the odds

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of High School Diploma or equivalent; Associate degree preferred
• Some experience with community organizing and/or tenant organizing and planning preferred
• Experience or training in peer support

It is the policy of RiseBoro to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment. No individual will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, political or union affiliation, marital or partnership status, sex, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity, familial status, genetic information or predisposition or characteristic, disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a veteran or member of the U.S. military and related obligations, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, job placement, compensation, benefits, training and apprenticeship, employee development, promotion, demotion, discipline, transfer, lay-off and recall, and termination. RiseBoro makes reasonable accommodations based on religion and/or disability as required by law, and requests for accommodation are to be directed to the Human Resources Department.