Overview
Specialist Outreach Officer-Peer Mentor Jobs in Brownsville, Texas, USA at Cameron County
SPECIALIST OUTREACH OFFICER-PEER MENTOR
(Contract Grant-Funded)
MONTHLY:$2,100
The role of the VTC Veteran Mentor is to act as a battle buddy, coach, guide, role model, advocate, and a support person for the individual veteran participant (Mentee) with whom he/she is working. Mentors also understand the roles of other support team members and “fill the gap” to help keep the participant moving successfully toward completing the VTC program.
A Mentor IS NOT:
is not the mentee’s Counselor
is not the mentee’s Lawyer
is not the mentee’s Doctor
is not the mentee’s Banker
is not the mentee’s Intimate Partner
Additionally, the mentor will be a primary resource and referral provider to the Mentee by helping connect him/her with benefits, assistance and support services that are community-based. The mentor will be an “Information Resource” to the veteran. Access to these support services will help reduce the participant’s stress that can be caused by distractions like housing or family needs, VA benefits, educational assistance, civil legal services, Texas State Veterans Benefits and the like.
Every mentor will have a list of resources available to the mentees (contained in mentee Log Book). The mentorship relationship is intended to encourage, guide, and support the veteran as he/she progresses through the court supervised treatment program.
One of the most important skills the mentor will bring to the program is his/her ability to be a good
listener. A very important role is for the mentor to listen to the concerns of the veteran and help that person access their needs. Mentors should avoid lecturing the participants by imposing their own values/beliefs, but should work to understand the mentee’s own values/beliefs and encourage the mentee to solve their own problems before they become destructive to their treatment program or probation compliance.
Mentors must able berespectfulof Court Decorum. Silence must be adhered to when the Judge is speaking to the Mentee. This is critical. This is when we hear what issues and problems the mentees is experiencing.
The mentor must be ready to offer suggestions and general guidance to the participants for any concerns they may have as they progress through the program, but it is
NOTthe mentor’s job to solve the problem for the Mentee
nor ACT AS A COUNSELOR. Rather, the mentor can help the participant identify resources that might be helpful and encourage the participant to do the “footwork” to get the help they need to solve their own life’s challenges. The mentor will refer the Mentee
to professionalswho can help the mentee.
The mentor must be available and ready to support the veteran when he/she may feel alone, frustrated or anxious in a way that only another veteran can appreciate and understand. In doing this, the mentor should maintain close contact with the VTC Mentor Coordinator and their Team Leader, and keep them informed of significant issues the mentee may have that could derail his/her treatment program success.
Finally, the mentor should be protective of sensitive information given to him/her by the veteran or the VTC Mentor Coordinator or Team Leader, and not reveal any information, unless it is a situation where the safety of the participant or another human being may be  those critical situations, the mentor must inform the Mentor Coordinator or Team Leader to prevent harm.
This information will be…
Title: Specialist Outreach Officer-Peer Mentor
Company: Cameron County
Location: Brownsville, Texas, USA
Category: Social Work, Non-Profit & Social Impact
