Re-Entry Action Youth Mentor

Job Description

Job Description

The Reentry Action for Youth (RAY) Program is a fundamental component of the Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development’s (DYD) commitment to equitable prevention, early intervention, and reentry through youth development. The program is delivered by mentors with lived experience of justice system involvement who are an important resource for young people who experience barriers to accessing services, especially young people of color who have historically been disproportionately excluded by traditional systems and services.

Mentors are trained in trauma-responsive approaches for building trust, providing care coordination and system navigation, and facilitating conflict resolution and crisis intervention with youth. Through mentorship, young people will receive authentic guidance and support from individuals who share common life experiences.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Mentor, motivate, and empower youth participants to become positive members of their communities by establishing trusting and open relationships.
• Maintain consistent contact with youth participants at least two times a week, with a minimum of one in-person meeting.
• Maintain and manage a caseload of approximately 10-12 youth participants, providing individualized support and mentorship. 
• Conduct intake and exit assessments, and assess participants at enrollment to develop individualized care plans.
• Document all participant interactions, maintaining accurate and timely case notes and care plans in required internal and external data systems. 
• Provide appropriate linkages and referrals to needed services through individualized care planning.
• Develop relationships with service providers to create referral pathways and link youth participants to supportive services not offered in-house.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with attorneys, probation officers, and other justice system partners to support participant success.
• Exit youth participants who have successfully completed services and/or are no longer actively engaged.
• Conduct outreach and engagement of eligible youth for program enrollment.
• Provide mentorship support through assistance with appointment scheduling & accompaniment, transportation support, court advocacy, and coaching in self-sufficiency.
• Provide court advocacy support through court accompaniment, preparing letters of enrollment and progress letters relevant to the youth’s programming in RAY.
• Attend all required training, meetings, and professional development opportunities, including those required by the County, funders, and ACE, to foster learning and community.
• Participate in cultural and community-building activities/events.
• Be available to work outside of regular scheduled hours, which may include early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends (Saturday and Sunday) to support youth needs, program and agency activities. 
• Perform other duties as assigned to support program goals and participant success.

  KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Prior experience working with individuals with system involvement, mental illness, substance use disorder, or experiencing homelessness; experience assisting community members in navigating health and social service systems.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with participants and their families while maintaining professional standards and ethical practices.
• Sensitivity to the community, culture, and personal dignity of participants; able to engage, assess, and plan services effectively for the target population.
• Ability to work in assigned locations and during situations of high emotional distress.
• Demonstrated period of stability and success in the community following system-involvement and/or incarceration, if applicable; deeply connected and rooted in the community.
• Demonstrated ability to translate lived experience into trust-building with youth.
• Ability to communicate and build rapport with high-barrier youth.
• Ability to follow program protocols and instructions.
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize duties, and complete time-sensitive tasks.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• General proficiency in navigating and using technology.
• Some experience with case note documentation and/or case note database systems.
• Understanding of participant documentation practices, including timely documentation, documentation standards and confidentiality requirements.
• Knowledge of programs, regulations, and procedures regarding human services, social services, justice, and workforce development.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking throughout facilities.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to bend, lift, stretch, climb, and crawl to provide services.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma and community intervention experience
• Individuals with prior history of justice-system involvement, and/or have been directly impacted by the justice involvement and/or incarceration of a family member(s) is a plus
• Spanish language skills, verbal and written preferred
• Possess a current California Driver’s License, clean DMV record & adequate auto insurance on a reliable vehicle available to use for work purposes.
• Must submit to a Department of Justice Criminal background check. 
• Initial TB employment clearance required.

Benefits:

• Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance at no cost to you (starting after 60-90 days, dependent on start date- effective date is the next 1st of the month post 60 days of employment ).
• Retirement Plan with employer contributions at 2% of your annual salary.
• $100,000 life insurance (at no cost to you).
• Short and Long-Term Disability insurance (at no cost to you).

• Vacation Leave Accrual: Employees accrue vacation based on length of service at ACE.

  • First 2 years, employees accrue approximately 10 days (80 hours) annually.
  • 2-4 years, accrual increases to approximately 15 days (120 hours) annually.
  • At 5+ years, employees accrue approximately 20 days (160 hours) annually.
• Up to 6 sick days a year (eligible to use after 60 days).
• 15 paid holidays (selected by ACE).

The anticipated pay range for candidates who will work in California is $28.85 - $30.45 hourly. The offered pay to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to years of experience within the job, years of experience within the required industry, education, etc.

Alliance for Community Empowerment provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Please ensure you submit a cover letter answering the following questions when you apply along with your resume.

• What motivates you to work with youth who may be impacted by the justice system, gang involvement, or community violence? Please share any personal, family, or community experiences that have shaped your interest in this work.
• Many employees use their life experiences to connect with young people. If you feel comfortable sharing, describe how your life experiences have prepared you to guide youth who may be facing difficult circumstances.

Only applications with both the cover letter and resume will be considered. Thank you!