What does a youth mentor do?
Youth mentors are adult individuals who are responsible for creating programs to improve the well-being of young people by providing role models that can support them academically and socially. These mentors must educate the community on issues related to mental health while making regular home visits to youth and young adults. They should provide direct care and assistance to adolescents who are with substance abuse issues by creating an educational curriculum on the said topic. Youth mentors are also required to collaborate with mental health professionals and social workers to coordinate counseling efforts.
Youth mentor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real youth mentor resumes:
- Lead youth in discussions about HIV prevention & awareness
- Assist in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent compliance.
- Maintain cleanliness of the establishment at all times.
- Administer first aid and CPR as required, and medication as directed.
- Conduct tutorial sessions in all areas of mathematics; therefore, a strong math background is mandatory.
- Train in CPR, PCS (positive control systems), and dispensing and administration of oral medication.
- Tutor elementary and middle school students in subjects such as mathematics, geometry, reading comprehension, science.
- Develop and maintain relationships with international students and language exchanging partners throughout the study abroad process.
- Facilitate leadership development sessions, along with cultivating and maintaining relationships between the school and the community.
- Arrange fundraisers and leadership opportunities for high school students to increase community service participation in local church community.
- Support students in developing effective study habits, time management skills, academic motivation, and organization skills.
- Educate youth on violence and HIV/AIDS, and obtaining housing and schooling.
- Establish a social media presence through facebook and twitter, while adding/refreshing content to the existing website.
- Prepare teaching material and PowerPoint presentations.
- Teach positive social skills, weight training, assistance with homework and studying the bible to promote spiritual growth.
Youth mentor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Youth Mentors are proficient in Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Eating Disorders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Compassion, Time-management skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Youth Mentors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Mental Health, 16%
Provide assistance to psychologist and mental health professionals withing the organization.
- Substance Abuse, 14%
Worked to educate youth on the dangers of substance abuse, drugs, and unprotected sexual activity.
- Eating Disorders, 11%
Worked with teenagers in a residential setting who were battling sexual issues, behavioral disorders, eating disorders, etc.
- Academic Support, 11%
Coordinated off-site learning activities academic support and; tutoring in math and science.
- Social Work, 7%
Worked closely with the children's foster parents and Social Workers to best assist in the child's development.
- Role Model, 6%
Assisted first generation English learners to complete their assignments Facilitated educational activities for students Supportive role model for the younger students
Most youth mentors use their skills in "mental health," "substance abuse," and "eating disorders" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential youth mentor responsibilities here:
Compassion. The most essential soft skill for a youth mentor to carry out their responsibilities is compassion. This skill is important for the role because "social and human service assistants often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations." Additionally, a youth mentor resume shows how their duties depend on compassion: "showed compassion, provided homework help/ tutoring in mathematics. "
Time-management skills. Many youth mentor duties rely on time-management skills. "social and human service assistants often work with many clients," so a youth mentor will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways youth mentor responsibilities rely on time-management skills: "managed a diverse workload, arranged local youth programs, prioritizing and meeting deadlines. "
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for youth mentors to perform their duties. For an example of how youth mentor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "social and human service assistants must make their clients feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a youth mentor: "developed leadership and interpersonal communication skills while practicing patience".
Organizational skills. A big part of what youth mentors do relies on "organizational skills." You can see how essential it is to youth mentor responsibilities because "social and human service assistants must often complete lots of paperwork and work with many different clients." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical youth mentor tasks: "served as a positive role model for a seventh grade student by demonstrating effective study and organizational habits. "
Communication skills. Another common skill required for youth mentor responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of youth mentors all the time, as "social and human service assistants talk with clients about the challenges in their lives and assist them in getting help." An excerpt from a real youth mentor resume shows how this skill is central to what a youth mentor does: "guide college-aged students in developing communication, leadership, and coaching skills to become role models to members"
Problem-solving skills. Lastly, "problem-solving skills" is an important element of what a youth mentor does. Youth mentor responsibilities require this skill because "social and human service assistants help clients find solutions to their problems." This resume example highlights how youth mentor duties rely on this skill: "ascertained causes of behavioral problems of the students and devised means for a resolution. "
The three companies that hire the most youth mentors are:
- Diamond Ranch Academy
8 youth mentors jobs
- Lutheran Services Florida7 youth mentors jobs
- Americorps5 youth mentors jobs
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Compare different youth mentors
Youth mentor vs. Social services assistant
A social services assistant is responsible for supporting the social needs of citizens within society. Social services assistants work within the community office or health institutions to assist patients and their families in processing their needs and obtaining medical information. They also coordinate with other organizations to gather additional resources and financial assistance to plan community programs that will be beneficial for society. A social services assistant provides counseling to the families to identify the services and referrals they needed.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a youth mentor are more likely to require skills like "eating disorders," "academic support," "role model," and "youth development." On the other hand, a job as a social services assistant requires skills like "patients," "rehabilitation," "discharge planning," and "term care." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Social services assistants earn the highest salaries when working in the government industry, with an average yearly salary of $38,533. On the other hand, youth mentors are paid more in the professional industry with an average salary of $32,145.The education levels that social services assistants earn slightly differ from youth mentors. In particular, social services assistants are 4.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a youth mentor. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Youth mentor vs. Treatment specialist
The duties of a treatment specialist depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In the medical industry, a treatment specialist is primarily responsible for developing treatments according to the needs and conditions of a patient. They gather and analyze a patient's medical history and records, conduct extensive tests and examinations, coordinate with other medical experts, and discuss the extent of treatments to patients. Furthermore, a treatment specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that youth mentor responsibilities requires skills like "eating disorders," "academic support," "youth development," and "self esteem." But a treatment specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "rehabilitation," "criminal justice," "mental illness," and "social histories."
Treatment specialists may earn a higher salary than youth mentors, but treatment specialists earn the most pay in the non profits industry with an average salary of $44,419. On the other hand, youth mentors receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,145.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Treatment specialists tend to reach higher levels of education than youth mentors. In fact, they're 8.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Youth mentor vs. Intensive in-home counselor
An Intensive In-Home Counselor conducts individual counseling sessions for parents and deals with delicate issues like sexual addiction. They also prepare progress reports for clients.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from youth mentor resumes include skills like "substance abuse," "eating disorders," "academic support," and "social work," whereas an intensive in-home counselor is more likely to list skills in "family therapy," "mental health issues," "intensive in-home," and "therapeutic interventions. "
Intensives in-home counselor earn the best pay in the utilities industry, where they command an average salary of $56,398. Youth mentors earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $32,145.Most intensives in-home counselor achieve a higher degree level compared to youth mentors. For example, they're 17.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Youth mentor vs. Mental health associate
As a mental health associate, you will assist the medical team members in diagnosing and treating individuals with mental, developmental, and behavioral conditions. You may be tasked to facilitate individual and group therapy sessions, help patients with their day-to-day activities such as self-care and hygiene, and assist in administering medications prescribed by physicians. Other duties include planning and leading program activities, attending treatment rounds, and assisting with the physical care of patients. The qualifications and skills required for this role include a bachelor's degree in social science or psychology, previous work experience, and certification on basic life support.
Types of youth mentor
Updated January 8, 2025
