Pump up potential with AMPLIFY at the AIC
Valley Youth House
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A group opportunity. Invite your friends.
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10 people are interested
This opportunity is available only to Philadelphia-area residents and residents of the surrounding suburbs.
Become a mentor with AMPLIFY at the Achieving Independence Center!
Youth in foster care need to feel care and support now more than ever. Find out how to support youth virtually while building a relationship meant to last beyond these uncommon times.
Why Become an AMPLIFY Mentor?
- Join a city full of youth advocates working together to end youth homelessness, and increase equity and opportunity for young people growing up in systems like foster care
- Improve your mental health--mentoring can heal symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Gain insight into the young people in your own life
- Strengthen your resume with new skills and connections gained through this experience
- Become a part of the Valley Youth House Community
We provide youth (age 14-20) in Philadelphia’s foster care system with invaluable services that enable them to build healthy relationships, develop life skills and self-sufficiency, as they transition into adulthood. Each year in the United States, there are over 400,00 children placed in the foster care system. These adolescents need to develop a healthy, trusting relationship with an adult that helps them learn skills and prepare for their future. That is the role of a mentor!
Our mentoring program aims to match our youth with a mentor that builds a positive permanent connection as they journey to adulthood and independence. A positive connection is especially beneficial for our youth as many of them have lost their natural supports through the transitionof their lives. As a mentor, you are paired with a young person that you will commit to meeting face-to-face with twice per month for one calendar year.
We offer orientation, trainings, fun events and ongoing mentor support that will assist you in forming a connection and sustaining a relationship with your youth match.
Before we go any further in your mentoring journey, please review the checklist below.
- Complete the Mentor Interest Survey and Volunteer Application and await contact from AMPLIFY staff
- Attend Mentoring 101 Training
- Set up an interview with AMPLIFY staff
- Upon acceptance into the program as a mentor, begin process of completing clearances
- Complete Free Mandated Reporter Training
- Attend AMPLIFY orientation
- Get Ready to Be Matched!
If you wish to continue through the process of applying to become a mentor, the first step is to fill out our Mentor Interest Survey which can be found at bit.ly/mentorsforall .
If you are a group, business, or organization who wishes to be a community partner with AMPLIFY, please fill out our Hot Spot Survey at bit.ly/amplifyhotspot .
After this first step, a staff will be in touch with information upcoming trainings, orientations, and interview dates.
Please be patient in this process. Our young people are involved in the child welfare system, which means our screening process must be taken very seriously to insure safety and quality of matches.
If you have any other questions, concerns, or need further assistance, please contact our team at amplify at aicenter dot us and visit https://www.valleyyouthhouse.org/get-involved/mentoring for more info
About Valley Youth House
Location:
1500 Sansom Street, Suite 300A, Philadelphia, PA 19102, US
Mission Statement
Valley Youth House empowers and strengthens the lives of children, youth, and families through inclusive programming that builds resilience and fosters growth and independence.
Description
We began in 1973 as a single shelter in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. Valley Youth House was open day and night, ensuring that vulnerable, abused and homeless young people in the community had access to shelter and counseling. Even then, we represented more than just a roof and beds; we were an organization committed to building a solid foundation for every individual who came through our doors.
That same dedication still drives us today, as we have grown from that first house in the Valley to over 100 residential sites throughout Pennsylvania. Though our reach and programming has vastly expanded, our mission remains the same. We educate, empower and strengthen the lives of children, youth and families, and build skills that foster growth and independence.
For over forty years, we have been proud to be there for two generations. We stand ready to be there for the next generation as well. Our doors remain open - we just have more of them now.