What is a mentor?

A mentor is a friend and role model whose role is to provide additional guidance and support for a youth through spending consistent weekly time with them and sharing one's life with them.

Who are these kids? How do they become a part of Partners?

Partners is a prevention program working with some really great kids! We match youth who have a lot of potential but because of challenges they have faced or are facing, need some additional positive adult support to assist them in making positive decisions in life.  Some challenges that youth referred to our program may include: a single parent/low income household in which the parent or guardian is working very hard to provide for their child and don't have the extra time or resources they would like to have for their child.  Other kids may live in a  family that is experiencing a crisis (on-going medical situation, divorce) and need additional support.  Some of our youth may not be doing well in school due to a learning disability, behavioral or emotional challenges. Some of our kids may have experienced a situation of abuse or drug/alcohol abuse in their home life. Because of these situations and experiences, the youth are in need of an additional positive role model and a friend to provide support and guidance. The youth are referred by professionals in the community who work with youth and families. The youth are ages 8-17.

What is the time commitment?

It depends on how you'd like to volunteer. As a mentor (Senior Partner) we ask volunteers to commit to spending 3 hours a week with their Junior Partner for a year. This requirement is determined by research, best practices and the needs of the youth in our program. As an Activity Volunteer (working with the waiting youth in our Nexus program), we ask volunteers to commit to one activity every other month. As a special event volunteer, you can volunteer the day of the event or be on a planning committee for the event.

I'm not sure I have the time.

Many potential volunteers have this same problem. Current Senior Partners say that once they have a relationship, time is typically not a consideration or problem. Senior Partners look forward to the time they spend with their Junior Partner as a positive break from their adult busy lives. In considering the Senior Partner role, keep in mind that it is not about finding 3 extra hours a week to entertain a child, but really about including a child in what you allready do – share a hobby with them, have them over to help in your garden and have sandwiches on the porch, just spend some time being their friend. Junior Partners often express that those are their favorite activities with their Senior Partner. 

I'm not sure if I'm good with kids. What kind of training is provided?

Part of the screening process for Senior Partners is an initial 3-hour training. This training is designed to provide the basic tools to get the relationship started. Partners’ staff goes over common occurances in Partnerships, the role of a Senior Partner. Communication is also discussed, specifically the uniqueness of communication between and the youth and families we serve. We cover developmental stages for youth and how each stage affects communication. Boundary-setting tools, group discussion and  role plays all to help prepare the Senior Partners for their match. Once a Senior Partner is matched, they have a case manager whose role is to offer partnership support and ideas. Case Managers are in contact with the Senior Partners on their caseload very regularly.

What kind of support do we get?

The uniqueness of Partners is the support the staff gives to the Partnerships and other volunteers. If you decide to be a Senior Partner, when matched with a youth in our program, you will be assigned a Case Manager (a staff person who has a background in the human service field) who is there to support your growing relationship. They have regular contact with you, the family, Junior Partner and others who may be involved with the youth and family. Also, they are available to you 24/7 (you have their home phone number) in case there is a situation that comes up you don't know how to handle.  you also have  support for your partnership through activity and lifeskill opportunities.  These are a lot of fun and also provide great benefit to the partnerships.   As an Activity Volunteer, there is an Activity Coordinator who is in contact with you about various nexus activities anc communicate with you about your role in those activities. There is a staff person who will contact you about special events if you choose to volunteer in this way.

What about liability issues? I'm afraid of being falsely accused.

Being a youth-serving organization, Partners is very aware of liability issues. Partners carefully screens its potential volunteers to determine if the person is appropriate to volunteer as a Senior Partner or Activity volunteer. This not only includes a background check, but also in-depth interview and training. The benefit of being a screened volunteer is the coverage of liability insurance against things like false accusations. In the history of the Partners Mentoring Association (all 12 affiliates for over 35 years) there have been very few occasions in which this coverage has been utilized.

How do you do the matching process?

Partners considers many factors in the matching process. An important piece is common interests and personality. But there are many other factors. Part of the importance of the interview for the Senior Partner and Junior Partner is to find out other factors to determine a good fit. These factors can include: availability, past experiences, similar backgrounds (or not), desires of Senior Partner, Junior Partner and parent.

What kinds of activities do the Partnerships do together?

The activities are as varied as the relationships! As stated previously, our matching process includes making sure the Senior and Junior Partner have common interests. The Partnerships start with these and then discover other things they like to do together. Partners also offers monthly, group recreational activities (such as hiking, wall climbing, movie nights, ice skating) to provide other opportunities. In addition, Partners provides lifeskill education and community service opportunities to help with the social and lifeskill development of your Junior Partner.

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