The Buddy Program is thrilled to announce that we received a grant to host an AmeriCorps member at Basalt Elementary School. where they will be mentoring 10 individual youth and providing after school programming. This pilot program will bring additional capacity for mentoring in the 17-18 school year and, if successful, could be expanded to other schools in 18-19. Applicants do not need to be an AmeriCorps member to apply but can apply and upon acceptance apply with AmeriCorps.
School-Based Mentor - AmeriCorps Member
Reports to: Program Director at the Buddy Program and
School Site Supervisor at Basalt Elementary School
Benefits: Monthly Living Allowance ($1400/month stipend)
Health Care Benefits (available, should member opt-in)
Child Care Benefits (available, should member opt-in)
Loan Forbearance
Professional Development
$5,815 AmeriCorps Education Award that can be used for college loans or to
further your education
Location: Basalt, CO (BES)
Position: The AmeriCorps Member will join a community of school-based mentors in
Colorado that will use relationships and inspiring programming to support the
development of young people in elementary, middle or high schools. Members
will mentor and provide after-school programming in the schools Monday-
Thursday, with Fridays being reserved for administrative duties and ongoing
training opportunities that will support their professional development and
growth. For more information, go to www.comentoring.org/service .
Application: Send an email cover letter and resume to jobs@buddyprogram.org by 8/14/17
About the Buddy Program: For 44 years, the Buddy Program has been serving youth in the Roaring
Fork Valley community. We operate four programs, including one-to-one
mentoring and group/experiential mentoring. Mentor/mentee pairs in our
Community Program stay together for over 4 years, more than twice that of
national mentoring programs. Program evaluations demonstrate that the Buddy
Program has helped our Little Buddies in areas of self-esteem, decision making,
academics and relationships with friends and family. The Buddy Program worked
with over 575 youth and their families in 2016 and an additional 140 adult
volunteers, and continues to grow to meet the large need in the Roaring Fork
Valley. The Buddy Program is a registered 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Vision: We envision a thriving community in which all members are supported
and connected through meaningful relationships and experiences to achieve
success.
Mission: The Buddy Program empowers youth through mentoring experiences in
order to achieve their full potential.
General Function and Responsibilities
Mentoring Young People
In elementary, middle or high schools, AmeriCorps Members will work with counselors, teachers, or other
staff to identify a caseload of 10 target students to mentor who fit an “at-risk” criteria (i.e. low income,
behavior management issues, child of substance abuse, single parent household, low academic
POSITION DESCRIPTION
performance, etc.). Members will maintain a caseload of 10 students throughout the year. During the
course of the school year, Members mentoring will spend time with each of their target students for at
least 1 hour per week. Mentors will spend time with their students both in and out of the classroom to
build rapport, provide both socio-emotional and academic support, increase school engagement, and
encourage adult bonding.
Additionally, mentors will log hours and maintain case notes for their students in the database tracking
system. To guide their sessions, Mentors will work with their students to create specific goals they will
focus on throughout their time together through the creation Individualized Mentoring Plans (IMPs).
Mentors will maintain ongoing communication with school-staff and parents to share student progress,
address concerns, and streamline support.
After and In-School Programming
In addition to working with their 10 target students, Mentors will provide consistent in- and after-school
programs for students to attend and to document attendance according to program guidelines. In
addition, at times Mentors may assist with the implementation of additional school, city, or outside-
agency programming. These programs must be approved prior to service by the Program Manager (PM)
and service/time spent with outside programming is expected to be tracked and verified and reported to
PM.
Build Relationships in the Community
Members will collaborate with Mentor Colorado and mentoring agency staff in the development and
implementation of the program. Members will also form working relationships with school staff,
administration, teachers, and counselors at their school sites, where they will be spending the majority of
their time. Members will also communicate and form relationships with students’ families and other
AmeriCorps Members. These relationships with other AmeriCorps Members will be developed in
professional development opportunities, training sessions and in the planning and implementation of
Days of Service (Cesar Chavez Day and Martin Luther King Jr Day).
AMERICORPS SERVICE CONDITIONS
Service as School-Based Mentors will be primarily indoors, in the classroom or counseling center setting.
Mentors will be provided an office space by their host sites which may or may not be shared by other
school staff members. Mentors will collaborate effectively and professionally with co-mentors and staff to
plan programs and service learning opportunities.
Members may have up to 2 service sites, depending on their school placements. For members serving at
two host sites, they will be expected to divide their time evenly between sites. Small gas stipends may be
available for mentors whose school-site(s) are in rural locations. Members are expected to have
transportation to their host sites or participate in a carpool. In Colorado, inclement weather and heavy
snow are common in the winter months and members are expected to be at school sites should the
schools remain in session.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Minimum Age: 18
• Experience/interest serving at-risk youth in elementary, middle, and/or high school
• A desire to pursue a career in the field of education, counseling and/or nonprofit management
• Clean criminal record and driving background – all members must pass a background check
• Reliable vehicle & driver’s license strongly recommended
*Selection of applicants is contingent on Mentor Colorado’s Colorado Mentor Corps grant award
|