Program Description:
Students Run Philly Style is a 501(c)3 with a mission to transform lives through mentorship and long-distance running. Since 2004, Students Run Philly Style has supported youth in 6th - 12th grade as they train with mentors to meet an often unimaginable challenge: running a long-distance race. The courage and effort required to run a long-distance race, the unfailing support of a caring mentor, and the thrill of its ultimate achievement results in a student who knows anything is possible.
In 2020, SRPS launched MileUp in partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office (PDAO), the first Youth Diversion program of its kind that gives young people facing delinquency charges a chance to remain outside of the traditional court system, and holds youth accountable while giving them a chance to build a healthy future.
The goals of MileUp are to:
● Provide youth with a positive caring adult relationship to help them succeed
● Help youth build skills to overcome adversity and manage stress through exercise on the way to positive achievement across all aspects of their lives
● Provide a strengths-based option to increase positive outcomes in youth diverted away from juvenile system involvement
● Create innovative opportunities for diversion
● Build in restitution support to reduce potential debt and continued system involvement for youth and their families
● Provide youth with long-term sustainable support
Position Description:
The Part-Time Youth Advocate is essential to the success of the MileUp program and will work on a team of 3 youth advocates and 6-10 volunteer mentors with support from the SRPS Associate Director of Youth Diversion. The primary role of the Youth Advocate is to support youth enrolled in the program through mentoring in a group setting, leading training/running practices with youth up to 6 hours weekly in preparation for a milestone race, conducting family intakes and exit interviews over the phone, as well as checking in with parents/guardians every 2 weeks regarding students’ progress.
Position Type: Part-Time (6-12 hours weekly); Pay: $20/hr
Hours/Dates:
● Youth Advocate role will begin in late August
● The program season will run September - December
● Practices are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings 5:00-6:30pm and Saturday mornings 9:00-10:30am in North Philadelphia (exact location TBD)
Duties Include:
● Running alongside youth, aged 11-17, 3 times per week (up to 6 hours weekly);
● Establishing positive mentoring relationships with program youth;
● Following established training plan with youth during the week and on weekends;
● Conducting phone intakes, exit interviews, and bi-weekly check-ins with parents/guardians;
● Communicating with and identifying needs of program youth;
● Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with Students Run Philly Style staff, volunteer mentors, and staff from Philadelphia Office of District Attorney’s office;
● Working alongside Students Run Philly Style staff and Philadelphia Office of the District Attorney to ensure youth success and compliance with program;
● Meeting on a routine basis with Program Staff to discuss general or specific youth problems, assessing resources for referral, if necessary;
● Keeping track of daily mileage and weekly case notes for each student;
● Participating in the program milestone race with youth;
Position Requirements:
● Education: High school diploma or equivalent, Associates or Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Behavioral Science, Human Services preferred;
● Must be at least 21 years of age;
● Possess excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills;
● Must be professional, flexible, and have the ability to work independently;
● Experience working with at-risk youth and trauma-informed practices
● Completion of Students Run Philly Style and Philadelphia Office of District Attorney’s Program Trainings
● FBI Clearance;
● State Criminal Background Check;
● Child Line Abuse Clearance;
● Proficiency in computer applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail and database software in performing work assignments.
● Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate sufficiently to perform the essential duties of the position; good judgment; maturity; initiative; tact; courtesy;
● Physical condition commensurate with the duties of the position.
Response to COVID-19:
The safety of Students Run Philly Style students and running leaders is our main priority. We are closely monitoring the guidelines set by the City of Philadelphia, the School District, and the CDC, and our program will reflect these and change accordingly. We have planned for two milestone races during the season, and acknowledge that there is a possibility these may get cancelled beyond our control. In the event of this happening, SRPS will designate new milestone opportunities for MileUp students in adherence to social distancing and other group safety guidelines.
To Apply:
Please send a resume and cover letter to Mariana Folco at diversion@studentsrunphilly.org.