YMCA International Services is a unique branch of the Y of Greater Houston and seeks to meet the needs of Houstons significant refugee and immigrant communities. The YMCA provides comprehensive programs that focus on building human assets and fostering self-sufficiency. The goal of the Youth Mentoring Program (RYM) is to match youth (15 24 years old) with volunteer mentors who will support their successful integration. Youth participate in group experiential learning activities and mentoring ses... more details
The YMCA of Greater Houston has outstanding benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, long-term disability, life insurance, paid time off, and 12% retirement paid by our Association upon meeting eligibility requirements.
Description
YMCA International Services is a unique branch of the Y of Greater Houston and seeks to meet the needs of Houstons significant refugee and immigrant communities. The YMCA provides comprehensive programs that focus on building human assets and fostering self-sufficiency. The goal of the Youth Mentoring Program (RYM) is to match youth (15 24 years old) with volunteer mentors who will support their successful integration. Youth participate in group experiential learning activities and mentoring sessions. The Community Outreach Specialist (COS) will be? responsible for fostering community partnerships to provide experiential learning activities and mentors to our clients. The COS will recruit, screen, and train volunteer mentors and design, plan, and manage the experiential learning program services. This consists of coordinating and exposing clients to a variety of virtual and in person opportunities such as college campus tours, student panels, speaker series, college, career, and life-skills workshops, and other acculturation events as well as designing and overseeing a client work-study or alumni program. It is essential that the COS ensures constructive and satisfying relationships between clients and mentors, and that mentors develop a strong sense of affiliation with YMCA Internationals RYM program. As a newly developing program, the opportunities for innovation are abundant and creativity, innovation, and outside of the box thinking is encouraged! The majority of clients served in the program are eligible Afghan newcomers who are arriving with immediate and long-term socio-emotional and educational needs and it is critical to ensure they have positive role models and access to support networks.
Duties /Responsibilities:
- Continually assess the match relationship focusing on: child safety, match relationship development, positive youth development, and volunteer satisfaction.
- Assess and provide individual training, information and support to ensure a positive youth development experience for the client, and successful and satisfying experience for the volunteer.
- Respond to crisis and emergencies regarding mentee-mentor outings and relationships.
- For matches that request termination, properly investigate request to ensure child safety and mentor support.
- Meet with clients to assess interests, needs, and feedback regarding mentoring experience and program activities.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships in key communities, agencies, legal services providers and organizations serving youth to ensure widespread knowledge of available services and resources.
- Design, coordinate, and facilitate ? activities that promote educational and vocational
- advancement and civic engagement.
- Work with community partners to ?provide activities with a strong focus on visual and performing arts, training, site-based mentorship (drop in center), and workshops.
- Attend all RYM activities and events as lead planner/organizer.
- Work with program specialist to oversee client orientation/kick-off event planning.
- Collaborate with YMCA of Greater Houston to organize and tailor weekend retreats at Camp Cullen.
- Create outreach materials and conduct program specific outreach efforts.
- Oversee inventory and organization and purchase of program supplies.
- Work closely with admin team to identify volunteers and in-kind donations for activities.
- Ensure case managers track participation of participants.
- Maintain alumni communication and design engagement strategies.
- Oversee client/mentor ticket purchase process.
- Responsible for tracking volunteer mentor hours.
- Publish monthly mentor newsletter.
- Actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings with the case management team and program specialist.
- Support and facilitate the day- to- day operations of the Youth Mentoring Grant.
- Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
- Follow mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
- Meet timelines and deadlines related to supporting systems and employee compliance. Example includes but are not limited to Kronos Workforce Ready for review and approval of time sheets.
- Other duties as assigned including airport pick-ups of newly arriving refugees.
Outcomes & Indicators:
- Recruit or retain minimum number of mentors required to serve each youth cohort by youth enrollment.
- Plans at least one mentor appreciation event per cohort.
- Plans at least one activity related to college, one career, and one life skills, per client cohort.
- Facilitates client drop-in hours (CONNECT) on a regular basis.
- Aim for increased participation in activities.
- Informs activity planning based on youth voice and choice, program outcomes, and mentor feedback.
- Designs alumni or work-study program to pilot in FY2025.
- Mentor newsletter published monthly.
- Identifies additional program delivery partners and maintains relationship with PAIR, YA GROW ON, Young Audiences of Houston, and Battery Dance.
Requirements:
- Bachelors Degree in Recreation, Communication, History, Education, or Social Sciences (or related field).
- 2-3 years of experience working with refugee and immigrant populations.
- Culturally aware, sensitive, and continuously works towards practicing cultural humility as a life goal.
- Assessment and relationship development experience with child and young adult populations; understanding of child development? ?and family dynamics.
- Experience working with volunteers, community members, and community partners.
- Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
- Experience supporting youth and or mentors with college and career readiness highly desired.
- Must thrive speaking in public and travel to local communities and neighborhoods.
- Must be able to provide flexible hours to meet volunteer and client needs.
- Ability to effectively assess and execute the following relational support skills: guiding, supporting, confronting, coaching, advising and/or negotiating.
- Works well under pressure and thrives under limited guidance.
- Computer skills with Microsoft Suite, databases, and office equipment.
- Fluency in Spanish highly desirable.
- Texas Drivers License; clean driving record; own vehicle; and applicable auto insurance.
Additional Requirements:
Flexibility and adaptability to program needs and schedule are key. As the medium of programming and youth interests needs shift, the Mentor Support Specialist will need to work creatively to adjust to new content, platforms, and approaches.
The YMCA of Greater Houston provides the following for full-time staff:
- Highly competitive compensation
- Generous and flexible PTO
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Long term disability, basic life insurance and other voluntary benefits
- 403(B) retirement plan
- Free YMCA membership
Note: All positions are filled in response to current refugee arrivals and their language needs; as language needs change, this will necessitate flexibility in our staffing. This is a grant funded position.
The YMCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer Females/ Minorities/ Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.