Help Impact the Lives of Children and Youth - Become a Mentor

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ORGANIZATION: GATEWAY REGION YMCA

• 34 people are interested

The Reach & Rise mentoring program trains adult volunteers to provide mentoring services to youth ages 8-15. We aim to help youth develop tools to improve self-esteem, decision-making skills, school performance, and interpersonal relationships.

Time Commitment:

• 15 hours of training
• 8 weeks in Summer or 16 weeks in Spring or Fall
• 2 hours each week
• Weekly in person or phone check-in with Program Director

Principal Activities: Developing supportive, consistent mentoring relationship with a group of youth through paraprofessional therapeutic techniques and group activities. Help youth explore and cope with social and/or emotional issues.

Position Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years old when mentoring group begins
• Desire to work with youth
• Must receive fingerprint screening/background clearance
• Commitment to co-facilitate a mentoring group with mentees one time a week for 2 hours for 8 or 16 weeks.

Training and Support:
Mentors attend 15+ hours of training over the course of approximately 4-5 weeks. The training prepares volunteers for the mentoring relationship, providing information about the program, expectations, basic therapeutic concepts, relationship building, understanding risk factors, mental health issues, how to handle safety issues, and group dynamics. If accepted into the program, mentors are then matched with a co-mentor and up to 6 mentees. Ongoing support will be provided by the Program Director.