Growth Opportunities Mentor

Founded in 2006 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Ambassadors For Christ, Inc. is committed to providing multi-faceted mentoring and counseling programs to at-risk children and youth, and their families. AFC has touched the lives of more than 5,500 youth through its programs, giving them hope, encouragement, and better equipping them for success in life. AFC’s mission is to inspire excellence and promote leadership to youth through mentoring, music, and the performing arts in order to provoke positive change and enrichment in our community. Because of our continued success and stability, AFC has become an employer of choice, offering our employees competitive salaries and a full array of benefits to include medical, dental, and life insurance, paid time-off, holiday pay, and a collaborative work environment.

Job Description
The AFC Mentoring Program helps to empower youth in our community to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their potential. The mentoring program uses adult volunteers to commit to supporting, guiding, and being a friend to an at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system, ages 15 through 18, for a period of at least one year. By becoming part of the social network of adults and community members who care about the youth, the mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.

The Mentor’s Responsibility to Mentee
Every volunteer mentor must:

• Communicate with their mentee weekly, by telephone, email, or in person, to keep in touch about what is going on in their lives.
• Be respectful of the mentee’s time, opinions, and decision-making and strive for mutual respect.
• Serve as a positive role model by modeling desirable behaviors, i.e., patience, tolerance, and reflective listening.
• Be comfortable and able to establish appropriate boundaries with the mentee and his or her family.
• Be encouraging and supportive of the mentee.
• Build self-esteem and motivation.
• Build the relationship by planning and participating in activities together.
• Help the mentee develop a milestone plan for completing high school and going on to college or work.

The Mentor’s Responsibility to Ambassador for Christ

Every Volunteer Mentor must:

• Check-in with the program staff once a month.
• Complete evaluation surveys as requested by staff.
• Recognize role as a mandated reporter and report any problematic issues.
• Be patient and understand that the mentoring relationship is a process that takes work and time.

Time Commitment

● Make a one-year commitment.
● Spend a minimum of four hours per month with the mentee.
● Communicate with the mentee on a weekly basis.
● Complete initial training session and additional training sessions as prescribed.
● Attend mentor/mentee group events, and program recognition events.
Participation Requirements
● Be at least 18 years old.
● Reside in the Jefferson County area.
● Be interested in working with at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system.
● Be willing to adhere to all program policies and procedures.
● Be willing to complete the application and screening process.
● Be dependable and consistent in meeting the time commitments.
● Attend mentor training sessions as prescribed.
● Be willing to communicate regularly with program staff, submit activity information, and take constructive feedback regarding mentoring activities.
● Have access to an automobile; have auto insurance and a good driving record.
● Have a clean criminal history.
● No use of illicit drugs.
● No use of alcohol or controlled substances.

● Not be currently in treatment for substance abuse and have a nonaddictive period of at least five years.
● Not be currently in treatment for a mental disorder or hospitalized for such in the past three years.

Desirable Qualities
● Willing listener
● Encouraging and supportive
● Patient and flexible
● Tolerant and respectful of individual differences
● Have lived and relevant life experience as the mentee.

Benefits
● Personal fulfillment through contribution to community and individual.
● Satisfaction in helping at-risk youth mature, progress, and achieve goals.
● Training sessions and group activities.
● Personal ongoing support and supervision to help the match succeed.
● Mentee/mentor group activities and participant recognition events.
Application and Screening Process
● Written application
● Criminal history check: SSN trace, sex offender registry, global watchlist, national, county
● Complete initial mentor training session.