Anyone can refer a child to the program, but we do require parent permission for the application to be submitted.

We often get referrals from teachers, school social workers, and other adults that are close with the child and know their situation.

Our program is designed for children from age 6 to 17 who are in need of a caring, consistent, and supportive adult in their lives.

The children in our program often are experiencing the following:

• At least one ACE (see next section)

• Immigrant or child of immigrants

• LGBTQ+ or gender non-conforming

• Experiencing homelessness

• Single-parent household

• Foster care

Mentor Me™ is not a substitute therapy or respite care. Children with multiple supports already in place may not be accepted into the program.

If you still aren’t sure if this program is right for your child, please reach out using the form on the right.

ACE stands for “Adverse Childhood Experiences.” These experiences can include things like physical and emotional abuse, neglect, caregiver mental illness, household violence, and homelessness.

The more ACEs a child experiences, the more likely they are to suffer from things like heart disease and diabetes, poor academic achievement, and substance abuse later in life.

The best strategy to mitigate ACEs is to prevent them.

However, fostering strong, responsive relationships between children and their caregivers, teaching healthy coping mechanisms and core life skills can help to buffer a child from the effects of toxic stress. That is our main goal at Mentor Me.

Click here to read more about ACEs from Harvard University.

A nationwide survey commissioned by the non-profit organization MENTOR has shown that youth facing risks who were part of a structured mentoring program were more confident, more likely to steer clear of drugs and alcohol, did better in school, got along better with their family and friends, and experienced lessened depressive symptoms.

You can read more about The Mentor Effect here.

The safety of our Mentees is our highest priority.

Before we begin the matching process, we start by thoroughly screening potential Mentors. Mentor Me™ has rigorous standards and requires each volunteer to complete an extensive screening process that includes:

• Completion of a formal application

• Criminal background check

• Reference checks

• An in-person interview and professional assessment of the volunteer’s suitability to work with a child.

• An orientation and training process that outlines the individualized needs of your child and provides information and resources on how to encourage your child’s development.

• Training in youth safety and how to recognize and report abuse.

• Professional matching recommendation.

• You will also receive Mentor Me’s™ safety policies and well as information on how to recognize and prevent abuse.
  

At Mentor Me, we are dedicated to ensuring the best possible mentoring experience for every child in our program. We do not match children and Mentors on a first-come first-served bases, but instead prioritize the careful matching of each child with a Mentor who shares common interests, values, and goals. This personalized approach is designed to foster meaningful connections and promote positive outcomes for both Mentors and Mentees.

While waiting for the ideal Mentor match, enrolled children are invited to participate in all Mentor Me sponsored activities, including YMCA playtime on Sundays.

When it comes to the future of our children and the well-being of our communities, we’re all in this together. So it should come as no surprise that we need the parents and caregivers of our Mentees to be involved every step of the way, starting with the initial match.

Not only will you provide information about your child’s strengths and needs, but you’ll also approve the selection of your child’s match. Once the match is made, you remain closely involved in many ways, including:

• Approving activities and outings for your child and their Mentor.

• Asking your child questions about those outings, and sharing what you learn with your program coordinator.

• Reporting your child’s progress and milestones to your program coordinator on a regular basis (we will contact you, but we welcome your feedback any time).

• Participating in training on child safety offered by Mentor Me™.

Our participants come to us with a wide range of personal characteristics.

It is our goal to create a society where every young person has a web of supportive adults available to them as they form their identities, achieve their dreams, and reach their goals. Mentor Me™ values diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and racial justice, with the hope that we can tackle injustices and ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for all of our children.

Participant eligibility shall be determined without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or disability.