Mentoring
Studies show that children who have at least one consistent, caring adult in their lives benefit from:
- Lower school drop out rate
- Less trouble with law enforcement
- Better prepared to build good relationships with their own families
You can become a powerful, positive force in the life of a child with emotional and behavioral problems. Become a mentor and you can do more than just befriend a child in Youth Villages’ care in Tennessee, Georgia, or Massachusetts – you might become the first positive role model that child has ever had.
Right now, hundreds of mentors are actively helping Youth Villages’ children through our programs but many more are needed.
PRE-QUALIFY CHECKLIST
- 21 years of age or older
- 4 personal references w/contact info
- Do you live in one of the 3 states where mentoring is offered?
- Pass background and fingerprint check
- Commit to spending 4-to-6 hours per month one-on-one with a mentee
- Attend an initial training session
MENTORING TIPS & IDEAS
Find Favorite Memories
Take a few moments to share a favorite story of growing up. Build a personal connection over time that can be the foundation of your mentoring relationship. Let it happen naturally. Find out what you both enjoy, what makes you laugh, what kind of movies and books you like and topics you can talk about.
Expand Borders
Find out what kinds of things are outside of your mentee's comfort zone and then set a plan to take them there. Maybe it’s a restaurant or a specific part of the city. Maybe it’s a different type of movie or visiting the opera or a play. Plan a time to take on those issues one at a time and break through the self-imposed borders that plague our youth.
Read Together
If you have been involved in a mentoring relationship with a child for over six months, try reading a book together. Probably no more than 150 pages on a subject you both enjoy. If your mentee struggles with reading, make it part of your meeting time and read together.
Learn Local History
Plan a short vacation in your own city. Many young people are unaware of the history of their city. Schedule a day to visit important local sites with your mentee. It could be a museum, a historical park, or even the old cemetery. You can talk about what life used to be like, how people lived, what kind of careers they might have had. Share stories of how you would like to be remembered.
Volunteer Together
Have you ever noticed that some of your problems are not so bad in comparison to others? Take time to seek out someone that you both can help. It could be an elderly neighbor or maybe volunteering at a homeless shelter. Teaching your mentee to serve others in spite of their own circumstances is a valuable service to them personally and to the community.
FAQ’s
Who can mentor?
To be a mentor, you must:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Pass a mandatory screening that includes: background and fingerprint check, as well as verification of references and work history
- Commit to spending 4-to-6 hours per month one-on-one with a mentee
- Attend an initial training session
You should also be:
- A willing listener
- Encouraging and supportive
- Patient and flexible
- Tolerant and respectful of individual difference
As a mentor, you will:
- Support a young person through an ongoing one-on-one relationship
- Serve as a positive role model and friend
- Plan and participate in activities together
- Build self-esteem and motivation in a young person
- Help your mentee set goals and work toward accomplishing them
- Know that you are making a difference
- Receive personal fulfillment
What kind of support do mentors receive?
Our mentors provide children with the kind of guidance, care and support that all young people need. In return, Youth Villages offers services to support mentors.
You will receive:
- Initial training
- Ongoing support and mentor/mentee group activities
- Complimentary tickets to community events when available
- Tax deductions for mileage and mentoring expenses
- Personal ongoing support and supervision to help the match succeed
Why mentor?
Here's what Youth Villages mentors say:
"Being a grown up, sometimes you forget to have fun. You get so busy with the things you have to do; you don't just go and have fun. That's what mentoring is, going out and having fun."
"The cute little girls and younger boys are easy to match. I want to mentor someone who really needs me."
"Seeing my mentee, I have really learned the meaning of hope."
Become a mentor. It may be the most rewarding thing you ever do.
The Application Process
To become a mentor, or to just learn more about our child mentoring program, please complete our online mentoring application and someone from our mentoring staff will contact you.
Social News
Erica is a 16-year-old who knows she wants to help children when she grows up. November is Adoption Awareness Month, and Youth Villages is working to find a home for every child. Learn more about Erica and other children who need a forever home at ow.ly/f0Jo30mEgXz
