JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Group Facilitator & Mentor for Adopted Teen Support Group. Part time position average 8 - 10 hours per month.
Reporting To: Regional Site Coordinator and ATEAM Program Specialist
Job Statement: This position involves assisting the Regional Site Coordinator in facilitating and implementing monthly post adoption support programs for the ATEAM Project: Adopted Teen Empowerment & Mentoring Program. The target audience for this project is adopted teens in grades 6th-12th who reside within the specific project service area designated by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Attend all scheduled staff trainings, monthly ATEAM meetings and retreats. Assist with program implementation, which involves leading adopted teens in experiential learning activities focusing on adoption issues and supporting their social and emotional development. Also facilitating recreational and academic enrichment activities with adopted teens to build trust and promote positive group interactions with their peers.
- Be able to demonstrate strong organizational abilities with a flexible attitude, including comfort with change in order to deal with issues that may be brought up and allow youth participants’ opportunities to be involved with program planning.
- Facilitate structured events and model good social skills, including responding effectively in a wide range of settings and providing participants with an opportunity for mutual support and self- expression through group interactions, which address adoption issues.
- Demonstrate a good expressive vocabulary of feelings and strong listening skills in order to promote emotional disclosure among youth group members. Must project a sense of comfort with emotional issues, a willingness to disclose feelings, a genuine caring nature and a rapport with diverse groups of youth.
- Lead activities for youth which may include any of the following: field trips, camping, cultural and social events, creative and visual art, sports events, life skill training, team building, conflict resolution training, academic and career planning.
- Must be able to work on a team and communicate effectively with youth, program staff, host facility, and adoptive parents.
- Complete program evaluation reports based upon program observations and communication and provide input to improve program effectiveness.
- Will be required to drive program vehicles and transport youth and staff on program trips.
- Assist with producing articles and information for regional newsletters and publications by deadline date.
- Complete all staff training assignments prior to each monthly meeting and be prepared to discuss with coworkers during staff meetings and debriefings.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Is responsible for supervising, escorting, guiding and observing adolescents in order to maintain safety and well being of all participants. QUALIFICATIONSTo perform this job successfully, and individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education and/or Experience
: Must have a previous experience working with adolescents and demonstrate a willingness to learn and practice the skill requirements and responsibilities of a group facilitator. A bachelor’s degree in some type of human services field is required (i.e. youth development, psychology, family and community services, social work, counseling and mental health, education, recreational therapy, behavioral health, public health, or community development, etc.) Must have related experience and/or training working directly with adolescents and families. Prefer applicants with formal training in any of the following: adolescent development, adoption issues, suitable guidance and counseling techniques, conflict management, programming for youth, family systems theory, or family support practice.
General Skills:
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret documents.
- Write effectively for program correspondence, articles for publication, and program evaluations.
- Communicate effectively with groups of youth, parents and staff members and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills (i.e., reflective listening, “I messages,” negotiating skills, etc.)
- Present information and ensure a non-judgmental attitude in responding to questions from youth and parents.
- Be able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
- Ability to deal with problems involving several variables, offers solutions/opinions, and demonstrates initiative.
- Possess good learning skills and willingness to improve performance through additional training and resources.
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essentials functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the staff member is regularly required to work both indoors and outdoors and must be prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally to perform a variety of tasks and sustain the high energy level necessary for working with adolescents. This program is sponsored by: The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services and
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour
Schedule:
COVID-19 considerations:
All CDC guidelines for COVID-19 precautions will be followed.
Application Question(s):
- Are you willing to work on weekends?
- What type of professional experience do you have working directly with adolescents?
- Do you have a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in some type of Human Services field such as: Social Work, Youth Development, Psychology, Education, Counseling, Mental Health, Family Service & Support, Behavioral Health, etc.? If so, MUST describe exact degree you have obtained, the date received and school it was issued from.
- What was your GPA in your field of study?
Education:
Experience:
- working with adolescents: 2 years (Required)
Work Location: One location