Social Mentor Intern

SOCIAL MENTORING INTERNSHIP

The College Internship Program (CIP) is a private, young adult transition program for individuals 18-26 years old with autism, ADHD, and other learning differences. It offers comprehensive and specialized services. CIP’s programs uniquely address the needs of young adults with learning differences by focusing on generalizing skills while living within a community of peers in a supported apartment living environment. Each student’s unique needs are met individually as they transition to independent living, college, and employment.

CIP is one of the most comprehensive programs in the world, empowering young adults with learning differences to succeed in college, employment, and independent living. We strive to challenge the norms of what people with learning differences can achieve.

A Day in the Life:

Research shows that modeling behavior by peer mentors in real-life situations carries the highest degree of learning success. CIP’s Social Mentoring Program aims to provide CIP students with opportunities to experience social communication skills modeled by peers outside the CIP community. CIP students are matched with a carefully selected social mentor who serves as a peer and a generational (social) translator. Mentors also help students access, explore, and engage in the community.

All the Responsibilities We’ll Trust You With:

• Establishing Trust and Rapport

  • Build a trusting and open relationship with the mentee.

  • Foster a comfortable and non-judgmental environment for communication.

• Goal Setting and Planning

  • Share personal methods for pursuing goals. 

  • Collaborate with the mentee to identify social goals.

• Modeling Friendship

  • Provide emotional support and empathy during challenging times.

  • Help the mentee navigate and cope with social and personal issues.

  • Provide peer feedback as necessary.

• Communication Skills

  • Model effective communication skills, including active listening and expressing oneself.

  • Help the mentee develop social confidence by modeling greetings, initiating and ending conversations, making small talk, and reciprocating conversations. 

• Social Skills Development

  • Assist in building and improving social skills, such as networking, relationship-building, and teamwork through naturalistic and typical peer interactions.

  • Offer guidance on navigating social situations and understanding social cues.

• Self-Reflection

  • Encourage self-reflection and self-awareness.

  • Help the mentee identify strengths.

• Resource Identification

  • Guide the mentee in identifying and utilizing relevant resources in their social environment.

  • Connect them with community organizations, support groups, or other helpful networks.

• Personal Development

  • Support personal development by modeling self-improvement and lifelong learning.

  • Encourage the exploration of hobbies, interests, and passions.

• Cultural Competence

  • Promote cultural competence and awareness.

  • Help the mentee navigate diverse social environments and appreciate different perspectives.

• Confidentiality

  • Maintain confidentiality and ensure a safe space for the mentee to share personal information.

• Role Modeling

  • Demonstrate positive behaviors and attitudes through personal example.

  • Serve as a role model for effective social interactions and ethical decision-making.

• Documentation

  • Learn essential skills for objective and thoughtful documentation of interactions with mentees.

*Other Duties as Assigned

Qualities You Possess:

• The Intern will possess exceptional communication skills, precise attention to detail, superior organization and prioritization skills, and self-motivation in managing tasks to completion. They will have genuine empathy and awareness of the needs and sensitivities of prospective families, students, and staff.

Training and Certification:

This is a paid internship opportunity. Individuals in CIP’s Social Mentoring Internship are provided initial onboarding training coupled with weekly small group training sessions to support their ability to become effective mentors. One-on-one training can be added to enhance learning in areas of interest. Specific training schedules may vary, but training is generally provided in the areas of:

• PEERs (University of California Los Angeles curriculum)

• Strength-based support

• Cognitive psychology

• Positive psychology

• Disability justice

• Active learning

• Dialectical pedagogy

• Executive functioning

• ASD and ADHD

• Social awareness

Social Mentor Certification requirements: 

• Complete a minimum of 10 hours of peer mentoring per mentee

• Complete a minimum of 10 hours of CIP Social Mentor Training 

• Receiving passing marks on a mock Social Support Plan

Mentors who complete certification may be eligible to apply for a paid Social Mentor part-time position at CIP in future semesters. Certified social mentors, such as summer camp counselors or social skills coaches, will also receive priority consideration on future CIP applications.

Your Areas of Knowledge and Expertise:

• High school degree or equivalent; must be enrolled in an accredited university/college program to receive credit.

• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)

• Must be between 18-30 years of age

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Self-directed and able to work without constant supervision

• Energetic and eager to engage with neurodivergent young adults

Accommodations Disabilities Act Statement

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job position.

Affirmative Action Plan (AAP)/Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

College Internship Program (CIP) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications associated with this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required. Team members may be assigned additional responsibilities as necessary.