Pathways Coach

Save to Favorites

POSITION: Pathways Coach

REPORTS TO: Director of Community Engagement, United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley

LOCATION: 411 N. Cameron St. Suite 210 Winchester, VA 22601

PURPOSE: The purpose of Pathway Coach to assist local families in achieving economic self-sufficiency. Using the Mobility Mentoring(r) framework, developed by Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath), volunteers will work 1-on-1 with clients to help them set and achieve goals in areas related to housing, financial literacy, education, employment, and family stability.

FACT: Poverty causes chronic stress. Stress acts as a roadblock, which prevents people from setting, and achieving, their long-term goals. It heightens impulsivity, and hampers our ability to think about the future.

POSITION SUMMARY: Mobility Mentoring(r) is the professional practice of partnering with people so that over time they may acquire the resources, skills, and sustained behavioral changes to attain and preserve economic independence. It’s more than a safety net. Using the framework as a guide, Pathways mentors will participants to overcome the stresses of poverty by setting priorities, developing action plans, connecting to resources, and achieving goals.

Pathways Coaches will walk alongside families who are committed to making changes to improve their lives. This involves linking them to health and human service agencies, advocating for clients, researching new and creative solutions, and providing support and encouragement on their journey to self-sufficiency. Each case will be unique so please bring your problem-solving skills, compassion and perseverance. An orientation is required and training will be provided.

DUTIES:

• Work with clients to develop goals and steps to achieve those goals
• Provide direction and guidance to identify and remove barriers
• Advocate for clients to obtain appropriate housing, employment, education, counseling, health care, transportation, treatment, medication and other needed services
• Provide crisis management, encouragement and support to focus on long-term goals
• Empower families in the achievement of economic mobility
• Identify workshops, classes, and other educational opportunities participants might need
• Keep documentation on interactions with participants and maintain confidentiality

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS REQUIRED

• Education, life and/or work experience
• The ability to relate and empathize with clients in crisis
• Possess an understanding of the dynamics poverty, as well as an understanding of, and sensitivity to, serving diverse populations
• Conflict resolution skills
• Commitment to serve as a mentor
• Experience navigating the education, housing, or social service system is a plus
• Reliable transportation and willingness to travel to meet with client

TIME COMMITMENT: Volunteering is flexible and you set the schedule. Coaches must make a minimum of a six-month commitment. Meetings will be more intense at the beginning and taper off as the mentee grows. Estimated plan: 2 hours/week for first month, 90 minutes/week for next three months, 1 hour/week for next three months and 1 hour/month for following five months.

CONTACT: Please contact Jennifer Hall at (540) 773-3178 or jhall@unitedwaynsv.org for more information