Position Description

The Volunteer Parent/Grandparent/Loved one with Special Needs Mentor provides encouragement, guidance, and peer support to parents and caregivers seeking to strengthen their parenting skills, build positive relationships with their children, and support healthy family development. Through shared experiences, positive role modeling, and structured mentoring activities, the volunteer encourages effective parenting practices, positive communication, and family well-being.

Essential Functions

• Build supportive, respectful relationships with parents and caregivers participating in approved mentoring activities.
• Encourage positive parenting practices that promote children’s safety, development, and emotional well-being.
• Share practical strategies for communication, positive discipline, conflict resolution, and setting age-appropriate expectations.
• Support parents in identifying personal goals related to parenting, family relationships, and child development.
• Encourage positive parent-child interactions, consistent involvement, and healthy family routines.
• Assist with parenting workshops, support groups, family engagement activities, and educational events as requested.
• Share approved community resources that may support parenting, child development, family stability, and access to services.
• Promote respectful communication, problem-solving, and constructive approaches to parenting challenges.
• Provide nonjudgmental encouragement while recognizing that families have different needs, experiences, and circumstances.
• Communicate relevant concerns or resource needs to the designated supervisor in accordance with organizational procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriate boundaries when working with parents, caregivers, and families.
• Perform other related volunteer duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Interest in parenting education, family support, child development, or community service.
• Strong interpersonal skills, empathy, patience, and communication abilities.
• Ability to engage parents and caregivers respectfully and without judgment.
• Willingness to serve as a positive role model and share appropriate experiences when helpful.
• Ability to follow organizational policies, confidentiality requirements, and program guidelines.
• Previous parenting support, mentoring, or family services experience is helpful but not required.

Volunteer Expectations

• Complete required volunteer application, screening, orientation, and training.
• Follow all organizational policies, procedures, safety requirements, and applicable laws.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding participants, families, staff, and organizational information.
• Treat all participants with dignity and respect, regardless of background or circumstances.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and avoid conflicts of interest.
• Report safety concerns, incidents, suspected abuse or neglect, and other required disclosures in accordance with organizational policy and applicable law.
• Work within the assigned volunteer role and seek guidance from the designated supervisor when questions or concerns arise.
• Notify the supervisor of absences, scheduling changes, or inability to fulfill assigned responsibilities.

Volunteer Status

• This is an unpaid volunteer position. Volunteers do not have authority to make organizational commitments, provide services outside their assigned responsibilities, or represent themselves as licensed or credentialed professionals unless appropriately authorized.

Equal Opportunity

• The organization welcomes qualified volunteers and is committed to providing a respectful and inclusive environment consistent with applicable law and organizational policy.