The Court Services Unit (CSU) of the Arlington Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is hiring a Mentor Coordinator for its RISE (Respect, Integrity, Self-Esteem and Empowerment) Mentoring Program. This employee will lead the expansion of this program which matches high-needs adolescents with volunteer mentors from the community that will foster and support group and one-on-one activities in the Arlington community. Mentors will serve as “Askable Adults” which are individuals that youth identify as willing and able to listen, provide support and understanding, and answer questions without judgment.

Specific duties include:

• Training mentors and mentees during initial phase of new relationships, assessing mentors, providing ongoing feedback and making decisions about their suitability for the program.
• Working with parents and other family members to identify youth’s needs, problem-solve logistical issues, and seek resources to respond to family needs, which may be outside the mentoring program’s scope;
• Leading outreach efforts for CSU’s early diversion programs through networking, social media outlets and other forms of communication to recruit, interview, and place interns and volunteers for the CSU.
• Developing a referral network among parents, school officials, counselors, teachers, DHS, faith leaders and non-profit organizations to ensure the right intervention for high needs youth;
• Participating in collaborative community groups whose work focuses on youth wellbeing such as Arlington Family Engagement Network and the Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families;
• Planning and leading bi-weekly group outings to strengthen mentor-mentee relationships;
• Managing the mentoring program budget and supplementing it with sponsorships by establishing relationships with interested community members and by seeking out grant opportunities;
• Developing protocols for interviews, needs assessments, confidentiality, and transportation; establishing and enforcing rules; screening, training, matching, coaching, and overseeing onboarding and mentors-mentees relationships in RISE;
• Collecting appropriate, timely and accurate data, preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports on activities, participant demographics, and attainment of performance goals; and
• Researching and applying for grant funding opportunities for group activities, supplies and equipment, travel, and food.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs.Minimums:

Education: Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration or field directly related to program area.

Experience: Some experience in public administration and general research in public policy, or experience directly related to project or program area.

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience can be substituted for the educational requirement. A Master's degree or higher may be substituted for some of the experience requirement.

Desirables: Preference may be given to applicants that possess experience:

• Working with diverse youth, families, and volunteers in community settings;
• Developing innovative activities for high-needs youth that support wellness, positive social connections, and access to community resources; and/or
• Building and/or leading teams.

Candidates must undergo a pre-employment background checks that include: criminal record, child protective services history, FBI background check, and driving record. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicants driving record.Work hours: This is full-time position, working Monday-Friday, with evening and weekend work to meet the needs of clients and mentors. Additionally, work beyond the scheduled hours to provide support in an unexpected crisis or to help participants with transportation needs will be required. The opportunities for flexibility in the daily schedule, limited remote work, and requirements for off-site, independent work will be established with the supervisor.

The official title of this position is Management Specialist.