Reach & Rise 1:1 Director: Clinical Mentoring & Case Management

ABOUT US

The nonprofit YMCA of Western North Carolina strengthens local communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Founded in 1889, we engage more than 100,000 people – regardless of age, income, or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the regions health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support the community. We do this through seven YMCAs, dozens of program sites, and YMCA Camp Watia. As the states largest provider of licensed school-age childcare, we give more than 1,000 children a day the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. We are made up of people of all ages, from all backgrounds, working side by side to ensure that everyone can reach their full potential with dignity. Thus, we are For All. Our core values are caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, and they guide everything we do. We are committed to being an organization that exposes and addresses social constraints that limit and/or negatively affect all humans from all walks of life. We recruit staff who are passionate about giving back to the community, helping people, and upholding our core values. For more information, please visit ymcawnc.org .

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ABOUT THE ROLE

Under the supervision of the Community Teen Director and in close alignment with the YMCA Reach & Rise National Director, the Reach & Rise 1:1 Director is responsible for the overall execution, ongoing development, and clinical oversight of the YMCAs National Reach & Rise 1:1 Mentoring Program at the local association level.

Serving as the clinical lead for the program, the Reach & Rise 1:1 Director implements a therapeutic, trauma-informed, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-informed mentoring model. This position manages risk, delivers clinical case management, and establishes vital community linkages. The Director leads local volunteer recruitment, screening, match generation, parent/family engagement, and ongoing clinical match support while upholding uniformity in CBT curriculum delivery, research data collection, and OJJDP federal grant compliance.

PROGRAM MODEL OVERVIEW

Reach & Rise is an evidence-based, therapeutic youth mentoring program designed for youth (ages 6–17) facing mental health setbacks, trauma, low self-esteem, or family/peer conflict. The 1:1 model pairs a vulnerable youth with a trained adult volunteer mentor for 12 to 18 months.

The program integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles—such as cognitive reframing, emotional regulation, mood mapping, and positive coping mechanisms—into everyday mentor-mentee interactions to promote resilience, academic connectedness, and risk reduction.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Clinical Oversight & Cognitive Behavioral Support

- Serve as the resident mental health subject matter expert, integrating cognitive behavioral principles and trauma-informed practices into all mentor interactions and match activities.

- Conduct clinical assessments, evaluate mental health and developmental needs, and craft individualized Mentee Growth Plans utilizing evidence-based intervention techniques.

- Facilitate 18 hours of pre-match training modules for adult volunteer mentors, focusing on youth development, cultural humility, boundary setting, and practical CBT tools (e.g., reframing negative thinking, mindfulness, problem-solving).

- Deliver ongoing clinical match supervision, monthly check-ins, crisis intervention, and mandated reporting compliance to ensure safety and risk mitigation.

Volunteers, Families & Case Management

- Execute proactive recruitment, screening, interviewing, and background checks for adult volunteer mentors (ages 21+).

- Provide comprehensive case management and wrap-around support services to mentees and their families, connecting them to community resources, food security programs, and external mental health care as needed.

- Guide mentors, youth, and caregivers in tracking progress against growth plan goals during regular match check-ins

Community Partnerships & Network Building

- Build and sustain strong community relationships with schools, youth service bureaus, juvenile justice partners, pediatric clinics, and local community-based organizations to establish robust referral pipelines.

- Serve as an ambassador for Reach & Rise, promoting the programs therapeutic benefits and fostering cross-departmental collaboration across local YMCA branches and community events.

- Ensure program strategies and mentor recruitment reflect the cultural, socioeconomic, and generational diversity of the local community served.

Grant Management, Research & Administration

- Oversee full compliance with OJJDP federal grant guidelines, partnership agreements, contract deliverables, and budget tracking.

- Participate as a practitioner-researcher in ongoing research studies; collect, maintain, and submit accurate mentor/mentee assessment data and outcome metrics according to grant deadlines.

- Maintain accurate case records, contact logs, and database entries in the centralized platform.

ABOUT YOU

Qualifications

- Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW), Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related mental health field required. (LCSW, LMFT, or license-eligible preferred).

- Minimum of 2–3 years of clinical, youth development, or case management experience working with at-risk youth and diverse family systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Strong understanding of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, trauma-informed care, and youth mental health interventions.

- Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, demonstrate strong leadership, and make sound clinical decisions with minimal direct supervision.

- Demonstrated skill in volunteer recruitment, public presentation, community outreach, and cross-cultural communication.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE JOB

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- Must possess the visual, auditory, and physical capabilities to perform essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodations.

- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends for volunteer training and community events.

- Travel required to local program activity sites, schools, and community meetings.

- LiveScan fingerprinting and Department of Justice background clearance required prior to employment

FULL-TIME BENEFITS

Full-time employees receive medical, dental and vision insurance, group life insurance and long-term disability paid by the Y; short-term disability, term life insurance and dependent life insurance is available for purchase; generous paid time off, retirement plan with employer contribution of 12% of salary (subject to eligibility requirements), free YMCA membership, free afterschool childcare and summer day camp and program discounts.

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The YMCA of Western North Carolina is committed to equal opportunity in terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, faith, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies.