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322 people are interested
Mentor a Youth in Foster Care
ORGANIZATION: BEST Kids, Inc.
Please visit the new page to apply.
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322 people are interested
BEST Kids is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that provides one-on-one mentoring to foster care children in the District of Columbia. Foster care children are the most at-risk population of children in America, and there are about 1,000 in the District of Columbia's child welfare system. We are currently in need of mentors who live in the following places:
- Washington, DC
- Prince George’s County, Maryland
- Anne Arundel County, Maryland
- Charles County, Maryland
- Arlington County, Virginia
- Fairfax County, Virginia
Requirements to become a mentor:
- You must be 21 years old or older
- You must be in the DC area long enough to fulfill your 1 year commitment
- You must have access to a reliable vehicle; either you own a car or have a subscription to Zipcar, etc.
- You must have a clean driving record and clean criminal background record
Responsibilities of being a Mentor:
1) Be a positive adult role model and commit to your mentoring relationship for at least one year.
2) See your mentee for ten hours a month, with some form of weekly contact with your mentee. Weekly contact can consist of face-to-face meetings, phone calls, emails, or postcards. However, the majority of those hours must be face-to-face.
3) Attend BEST Kids Peer Groups every 2nd Saturday of the month with your mentee. These are fun, free and organized specifically for the mentors and mentees in our four age appropriate groups. Each group meets together for an educational and enrichment opportunity. It is a great support network for the mentors and the youth are able to build friendships with other youth in similar life situations. Some of our recent Peer Groups include: Arts/Improv Workshops, Sporting Events, Museum Scavenger Hunts, Career Workshops, Kayaking on the Anacostia, etc.
4) Complete the background check and clearance process within 8 weeks. Please review our website for specifics on the clearance process:
5) Attend a match meeting with your mentee and the closure meeting when your commitment ends.
6) Complete a simple online monthly report about your mentoring relationship.
BEST Kids Support:
1) Every mentor has a BEST Kids Mentor Support Specialist - a point person at BEST Kids to help guide and support your mentoring relationship.
2) In addition to our initial training process, BEST Kids also offers quarterly ongoing trainings from educational and health professionals. Additionally, BEST Kids maintains an internal mentoring program for veteran mentors to help new mentors grow.
3) BEST Kids sends out a weekly e-mail to mentors with free and cheap events taking place in the DMV! Mentors are often offered free tickets to events in the area to enjoy with their mentee. BEST Kids also provides resources in the community specifically for mentees.
As a Mentor, you may become the only consistent, caring adult between their foster care placements. You'd be surprised at what a little time can do for a child in foster care. Not to mention what it can do for you!
Please contact our Recruitment and Development Coordinator, Danny Silbert at daniel@bestkids.org with any questions or concerns!
More opportunities with BEST Kids, Inc.
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About BEST Kids, Inc.
Location:
1212 4th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, US
Mission Statement
BEST Kids Mentoring Program is guided by the belief that all children are talented. Through our one-on-one volunteer mentoring, extensive training, staff support, and experiential learning-based Peer Groups, we encourage our youth to discover and develop their unique skills and abilities. Beginning with children as young as six and continuing, as needed, until adulthood, BEST Kids works to enable youth to develop a positive sense of self, to acquire teamwork and group social skills, and to become productive members of society.
Description
The BEST Kids Mentoring Program seeks to promote better futures for youth in the District of Columbia's child welfare system by developing and supporting one-on-one mentoring relationships between the youth and caring, consistent adults. Through our one-on-one volunteer mentoring, our extensive training, staff support and our experiential-learning-based peer group, we encourage our youth to discover and develop their unique skills and abilities. Beginning with children as young as six and continuing, as needed, until adulthood, BEST Kids Mentoring Program works to enable youth to develop a positive sense of self, to acquire teamwork and group social skills, and to become productive members of society. The mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.
Mentor Role
Take the lead in supporting a young person through an ongoing, one-to-one relationship
Serve as a positive role model and friend
Build the relationship by planning and participating in activities together
Strive for mutual respect
Build self-esteem and motivation
Help set goals and work toward accomplishing them
Time Commitment
Make a one-year commitment
Spend a minimum of ten hours per month one-to-one with a mentee
Communicate with the mentee weekly
Attend a mandatory initial three-hour training session and additional ongoing training sessions as necessary
Attend monthly mentor/mentee peer group events
We also hope you'll join us for optional mentor support groups, mentor recognition events, and mentor community events (e.g. mentor happy hours)
Participation Requirements
Be at least 21 years old
Reside in the DC metro area
Be interested in working with young people
Be willing to adhere to all program policies and procedures
Be willing to complete the application and screening process
Be dependable and consistent in meeting the time commitments
Attend mentor training sessions as prescribed
Be willing to communicate regularly with program staff, submit activity information, and take constructive feedback regarding mentoring activities
Have access to an automobile, auto insurance, and a good driving record
Have a clean criminal history
Not use illicit drugs
Not use alcohol or controlled substances in an inappropriate manner
Not be currently in treatment for substance abuse and have a non-addictive period of at least five years
Not be currently in treatment for a mental disorder or hospitalized for such in the past three years
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
1212 4th St. SESuite 201Washington, DC 20003
DATE POSTED
November 7, 2018
SKILLS
- Coaching
- Mentoring
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
- Driver's License Needed
- Background Check
- Must be at least 21
- Orientation or Training
- At least 1 Year
- At least 10 hours of mentoring a month