Think back to when you were growing up. Recall an adult who made a difference in your life. Partners provides you with the opportunity to be that person for your Junior partner.

You will build a meaningful relationship - you will meet a friend, make a difference, and change two lives.

Partners is also a great way to gain more experience working with youth, learn a lot about yourself, meet and socialize with other community members, have fun and more!

Senior Partner Job Description

General:

A Senior Partner is a motivator, advisor, and supporter to a young person between the ages of 7-17 years. The adult spends an average of three hours a week with their "Junior Partner" for a calendar year, pursing various activities with their youth. Senior Partners are expected to help teach key life skills by example (healthy eating, exercising, conflict resolution, setting and attaining goals, etc.). The role of a Senior Partner requires a great deal of relationship building, which includes: trust, honesty, communication, responsibility, consistency, dependability, fun and relaxation.

Specific

• Make a firm commitment to your Junior Partner and keep it!
• Spend a minimum average of 3 hours per week with your Junior Partner for one year
• Protect your Junior Partner's confidentiality
• Don't be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol or tobacco when you are with your Junior Partner
• Do not take your Junior Partner out of state. Out-of-town travel is permitted after the partnership is 3 months old and the guardian of the JP must be aware of the itinerary and have appropriate telephone numbers (cell phone, lodging, etc.)
• Overnight stays are only permitted after the partnership is 6 months old
• Exercise safety precautions. Seats belts should always be worn while driving. You should be aware of any medical conditions your JP may have and know how to handle these. Have access to emergency phone numbers. Do not participate in risky activities with your Junior Partner
• Be judicious in giving gifts. We recommend that you do not give gifts until the partnership is 3 months old and only then for special occasions
• Adhere to the Junior Partner's household rules and curfews
• Spend time in your Junior Partners home and invite him/her into your home
• Attend a function at his/her school and/or meet his/her teachers or others involved in his/her life
• Participate in two Group Recreational Activities (GRAs) and one Lifeskills Activity (LSA) per year
• Attend mandatory Senior Partner Trainings
• Attend one Senior Partner Only Workshops (topic-specific discussions) per year
• Participate in one community service project per year
• Return the Case Mangers phone calls and emails, and RSVP for all events!
• Complete and return any and all surveys and/or evaluations that you receive
• Call the Case Manger to report any concerns

How Do I Become a Senior Partner?

Here at Partners, we try to make becoming a Senior Partner as simple as possible. However, to ensure the safety of our Junior Partners, we must receive the appropriate paperwork and thoroughly screen, as well as, train each volunteer. We realize that not everyone enjoys such administrative tasks, but this is a necessary process that demonstrates your commitment to becoming a Partner.

We have outlined the steps that must be taken for you to become a Senior Partner. We hope you find it helpful.

1. Orientation
The first step is an informal conversation with Partner's Case Manager. This conversation can be over the telephone or in person. Please call us to arrange.

2. Application and Release Forms.
Please complete:

A. Senior Partner Application: (Note: we require a complete mailing address for your references - two friends, one blood relative and one past or present employer, also one from a therapist if you are currently seeing one)

B. Permission for Release of Individual Records, Colorado Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicles Business Group. The fee for processing this inquiry is $2.20

C. FBI/SafetyNET Criminal Background Check. The fee for processing this inquiry is $18.00 and the applicant must also complete fingerprinting at police station which is a $5.00 charge

D. Premier Colorado Court Records Check. The for processing this inquiry is $6.50

E. Authorization to Release Information. This document must be notarized. For your convenience, the Case Manager at Partners can notarize this document for no charge

F. SP Release of Liability

G. SP Driver's License and Insurance Agreement. Please include a copy of your current driver's license and insurance

G. Grievance Procedure

H. SP Statement of Confidentiality

I. Diversity resolution

I. Read and understand the Mandatory Reporting Policy

3. Interview

4. Senior Partner Training(SPT) and Senior Partner Only Workshops (SPOs)
With other new Senior Partners, we ask that you attend the Senior Partner training. SPO Workshops are topic-specific workshops and group roundtable offered every other month.

5. Pre-match Meeting
Together with the Case Manager, you will have the opportunity to meet an unmatched Junior Partner(s) over a milkshake. This meeting is very informal but is sometimes carried out differently to ensure all parties are comfortable. The details will be discussed with you before the pre-match meeting. The Case Manager will have a private conversation with you and the Junior Partner (separately) to determine if both parties are content and interested in going forth with the match paperwork.

6. Official Match Meeting
If you and the Junior Partner you were introduced to both agree to the idea of partnering, we will invite you, the Junior Partner, and the Junior Partner's guardian into our office to sign the Partnership Contract and complete match paperwork. Please refer to "Senior Partner Training Program and Checklist" for the details of what information is presented at this match meeting.

7. Congratulations!
Go have fun with your Junior Partner! You are on your way to making a real difference in the lives of our youth!

The above screening, training, and matching process can take 1-3 months, depending on how quickly and thoroughly the applicant completes the above steps. Please be patient and remember that the screening and training process is for the kids' safety. This process also allows us to get to know a potential Senior Partner; this knowledge is crucuial in determining compatible partnerships.

Download the Senior Partner Application (doc)

The Bridges Program

A collaborative program of Partners in Routt County and Integrated Community.

Mission statement: To support and provide the skills necessary for immigrant children to succeed in school and adjust to changes in their social and cultural environment through mentoring and language tutoring, while increasing the cultural competency of their mentors.

This program came about after a direct request from Steamboat Springs' immigrant parents and guardians who wanted more resources to help their children succeed in school, and to adjust to their new lives in the United States.

This program combines the benefits of mentoring with language and cultural learning for immigrant youth in our community. Mentors, also known as "Senior Partners", serve as friends, role models and tutors to youth, or "Junior Partners". The program is very similar to the standard One-to-One Mentoring Program. The Partnership Contract and time commitment are the same, however, we ask that Senior Partners spend an average of 3 hours a week with their Junior Partner and that half of this time to devoted to language and academic assistance, while the remaining time can be devoted to pursuing sports, arts and crafts, or other fun endeavors.

To provide the best experience for both the mentor and mentee, Senior Partners are trained in mentoring skills, as well as, cultural competency and language tutoring. Trainings are interactive and fun.

Through this program, Senior Partners gain just as much as their Junior Partners. Having one-on-one interaction with a person from another country allows mentors to learn about immigrants as individuals as well as more about a youth's origin county and culture.

Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about participating in the Bridges Program.

Please note: mentors need not be fluent in a foreign language to mentor an immigrant youth. 
 

You Are Never Alone

The following monitoring, support and community resources are available to our Senior Partners:

Contact Calls:
Partner's Case Manager will call or email you weekly for the first 3 months of your partnership. We don't make such calls because we underestimate your ability to be a good mentor, but rather, this is our way to offer you support, monitor progress, answer any of your questions, offer advice and troubleshoot, help you to identify goals that you can help your Junior Partner achieve, and lastly, sometimes we just like to hear a happy story to brighten our day.

After 3 months, the Case Manger will call twice a month until the partnership reached their one year anniversary. If you and your partner wish to continue the partnership after one year, we will call monthly to check in.

Access to Case Manager:
If any situation should arise between our check-ins, please call us as soon as possible at any time. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, a Partners staff member may decide to contact and seek the help of local, professional child and family resources.

Trainings and Workshops:
As already mentioned, Partners requires Senior Partners to participate in a training known as Senior Partner Training. Every other month you will be invited to a Senior Partner Only (SPO) workshop. These are topic-specific events lead by local experts. Topics may include: child development, self-esteem, etc. SPOs are a great way to meet other Senior Partners, share concerns and problem-solve, learn news skills, to relax, network, have fun, and eat snacks!

Liability & Expenses

What if my Junior Partners hurts herself?

Partners carries limited insurance on Junior Partners for medical expenses if there is an accident. The policy only covers Junior Partners when they are participating in a Partner's activity, or when in the Junior Partner is in your care. This coverage is secondary to whatever medical insurance the Junior Partner may already have.

Partners also carries liability insurance that protects Partners as an organization from lawsuits and for loss or destruction of property (unless as a result of an air-related activity such as sledding, or water skiing). Senior Partners are not covered if the Senior Partner has committed a wrongful or negligent act, such as poor supervision of youth, or allowing youth to commit an illegal act (like driving your car without a license). Since our insurance may not cover judgments against you or damages to or by your vehicle, and even though the state statute protects volunteers working with youth from liability as long as they have not acted with "willful negligence", we strongly recommend that you carry your own auto and personal liability insurance.

Are my expenses tax deductible?

Out-of-pocket expenditures incurred by volunteers in performing free services for a qualified charity (such as Partners) are considered tax deductible contributions by the IRS. Allowable deductions include amounts paid for transportation to perform the volunteer work. If you use your car in rendering free, volunteer services, you may deduct a standard mileage rate. Contact the IRS at (800) 829-1040 for more information. Depreciation, insurance, and repair to the car are not deductible.

Actual cash outlays for tickets, meals, sports equipment rental for the youth are deductible, cost for you are not.

In order to deduct such expenses, you must have receipts and documentations to show that you actually bought the movie ticket, lift ticket, or whatever you purchased for your Junior Partner. You should record your odometer readings and mileage. If you need more information, contact the IRS (800) 829-1040.