Mentoring occurs when an older individual (mentor) engages in building a healthy, trusting relationship with a younger person (mentee). Mentors provide support, guidance, friendship, role modeling, assistance and an attentive ear.
Our mentoring program, designed for one-to-one mentoring, has a carefully conceived structure which includes clear and comprehensive program guidelines. We strive to match older volunteers with younger participants for the specific purpose of building a relationship of trust and respect.
Every mentoring relationship finds it own equilibrium and path. As time passes, the partners will get to know each other and stronger personal relationships will develop. As the relationship progresses, there are several things the mentor and meetee can do to make it work better. Effective communication and candid feedback are key. Both partners should try to ensure time is used as effectively and efficiently as possible. Both mentor and mentee should monitor the learning process and progress, to ensure that the mentee's learning goals are going to be reached.
We are recruiting caring and compassionate mentors to help motivate and encourage high risk youth in Central Florida. We provide role models who interact with troubled youth and assist them in making positive personal choices.
Each mentor invests three to four hours per month to help a young person imporve his or her life through telephone contact and staff-organized monthly meetings that integrate a variety of program themes such as conflict resolution, pregnancy prevention, goal setting, tutoring, career development, involvement in sports, computers, or another number of other areas.
Choosing to become a mentor, however, will do more than just impact a child. Mentors benefit immensely from the fullfilment and knowledge they have helped shape a young person's future.
The fundamental goal of increasing the number of mentor/mentee matches in Central Florida is to reduce recidivism, increase high school graduation rates, and improve overall social well-being of youth.
To become a mentor, individuals must be at least 21 years of age, commit to a 60-day trial period, volunteer a minimum of three to four hours each month, and attend a training session. After an application has been received, the agency checks references, completes a criminal background check, and schedules an orientation.
