Almost every single young person in our program, no matter their age, says that they have a lot of fun with their mentor! They tell us that their mentor is their best friend and they've had a lot of cool times together. Some share most about the great times just talking with their mentor and really feeling heard.

What do you want to do? We make sure your mentor will have some common interests and that he/she is willing to even try new things. Is there something you love doing or would love to try out? Well, together you two will decide on the activities and adventures.

We learn everything we can about you during your interview, so that we can find a person that we think you'll love to hang out with. When we choose the adult we think fits you great, we'll call you to see what you think. If it sounds good, we'll match you. If not, we'll find another person that you're more confident in!

Mentors are adult friends. Their job isn't to be a teacher or parent. They are there to hang out with, share life, and enjoy learning together. Because they are older, they've probably experienced a lot more things. Make sure to ask for their opinions once in a while. Watch how they do things and then try to figure out why!

We have a ton of confidence that together we’ll pick a perfect mentor for you, but things aren’t always perfect, right? You’ll have a Match Support Coach who will be checking in with you regularly and if things just aren’t going good, we can always get you another mentor.

All of us benefit from having a mentor. They teach us things we couldn’t learn on our own. They also help us avoid poor choices that bring negative consequences. Our mentors focus on supporting your child and encouraging them to become a strong and resilient young adult.

No. Mentors are safe adult friends for young people. They are not a parent and do not assume any roles of the parent. They hope to support you by modeling proper communication skills and attitudes to your child in order to help your parent-child relationship.

Mentor matches meet weekly for at least one hour, for a minimum of one year.

The mentor and mentee choose their activities and gain approval from the parent/guardian. Activities can be things like: sporting events, hobbies and crafts, seeing animals at the humane society, visiting museums, service projects, hanging out, and much more.

Mentors go through a comprehensive application and screening process. They attend information classes, complete a written application, secure 4 references, participate in an interview, complete an exhaustive national background check, sign a behavior and guidelines contract, and if all results are positive, they are approved by a team of screeners. In addition, once they are matched with your child, you will receive regular contact from the Match Support Coach to seek your perspective on the health of the mentor match and to address any concerns you may have. Mentors are expected to fully adhere to Mentoring Standards at all times – with no exceptions.

We seek safe, caring, committed and patient adults who demonstrate a: Genuine interest in spending time with a young person; Positive and hopeful attitude; Humble heart that’s ready to encourage and support; Respect and empathy towards others; Desire to find helpful solutions and growing opportunities; Flexibility to sometimes adapt “on the fly”. We have found that partnering with the local faith community has been incredibly helpful in not only finding mentors, but also in assuring that they follow through with their commitment.