Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

MIKE Program: Health Mentors needed for 9th graders in North Portland

Posted by hannah.cherry

Volunteer Mentor Position Description for projects at De La Salle North Catholic High School

As a volunteer mentor, you will act as a guide and positive role model for a group of 3-5 youth. You will join a teacher and MIKE staff to work with your youth in a health classroom along with a team of other mentors and their youth. Mentors facilitate small group discussions, assist with hands-on activities, participate in a field trip, and facilitate a final Health Leadership Project as each youth team creates a project to promote health within their own community. Mentors will take turns providing healthy snacks to the class (paid for by MIKE Program). Mentors meet once per week, only during weeks when school is in session, in a high school classroom for at least one academic semester or year-long project.

Training for projects at De La Salle North Catholic High School this spring is scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2018 with a make-up training TBD. Mentors assigned to De La Salle North Catholic High School will launch with their youth on Thursday, February 1, 2018. De La Salle North Catholic High School in North Portland just off the Yellow Max Line. Typically times are Thursday:

• 10:45 AM-12:10 PM (with youth 11:00-11:55 AM)
• 12:20-1:30 PM (with youth 12:35-1:30 PM)

Benefits to Mentoring:

• Fun
• Professional Development
• Experience working in teacher-managed classroom with adolescents (9-graders) from diverse backgrounds
• Free training and support in areas of adolescent health, youth development, and education
• Making a difference by guiding youth to learn about and embrace healthy behaviors
• Possible eligibility for academic credit, internship credit, or volunteer hour completion credits
• Professional recommendations for committed and dependable qualifying mentors

Qualifications:

• At least 20 years old
• Live in the Portland Metro Area
• Reliable transportation (includes public transportation)
• Interest in public health, education, youth development, social service, diverse communities
• Role model for health
• Good communication and listening skills
• Encouraging and supportive
• Patient and flexible
• Punctual and responsible
• Embraces individual differences
• Responsive to email communication
• Open to participate in training and give feedback on your experience

Application Process:

• Complete mentor application, resume, and provide at least 3 references
• Orientation and Interview with MIKE Program staff
• Fingerprint background check and reference check
• Commitment throughout entire project time every week school is in session. It is imperative that once placed as a MIKE Program mentor, you attend all mentoring sessions and complete your term of service so that as a MIKE mentor you do not join the ranks of adults who have disappointed a vulnerable teen.
• Attend a free full day MIKE Program Mentor Training at Providence St. Vincent Hospital (9155 SW Barnes Rd., Portland, Oregon 97225).

Contact Information

Cheryl Neal, Executive Director
cheryl@mikeprogram.org | 503-296-7705

About the Organization

MIKE Program is a community-based non-profit organization. Our Mission is to empower youth to be health leaders through education, mentorship and community outreach. We partner with schools and youth agencies serving economically disadvantaged, racially/ethnically diverse teenagers. MIKE Program brings information and activities which put overall health promotion in the center of teenagers’ educational and social experiences, preparing them to develop community strength through outreach to others and exposure to health care careers.

Our holistic programming guides us towards our goals:

• Empower youth to embrace and promote healthy behaviors
• Introduce youth to health career options
• Develop cultural and service skills of early career health professionals
• Advance health equity within communities at risk of poor health outcomes