Get Involved
Becoming a Mentor
What kind of adventure do mentor pairs share?
Read Maribeth and Gracie’s story to find out more!
Maribeth & Gracie: A Mentoring Win-Win
Do you enjoy spending time with young people? Do you want to help provide support, guidance, and opportunities to help youth succeed in life and meet their goals? Do you have at least one to two hours each week that you are willing to share? If the answers are yes, you have what it takes to be a mentor! When you share your time and your interests with a young person, you can help them look to the future with hope.
As a mentor, you’ll devote one to two hours a week to a young person. You’ll be there to listen, to serve as a positive role model, to offer new experiences, and to share fun activities. You’ll encourage positive choices, provide supportive feedback, and promote higher self-esteem.
Mentors are not meant to replace parents, guardians, or teachers. A mentor is part of a team of caring adults in a young person’s life. And to a young person who needs support, a mentor provides an important positive force.
Maribeth & Gracie:
A Mentoring Win-Win
Two Ways To Apply
Apply Online
Note: The Application times out after 75 minutes.
Please be ready with the following information.
• Addresses of prior residences within the last 5 years.
• Employment information (start & end dates) for previous jobs within the last 5 years.
• Name, email, phone # of 3-5 references, preferably including one professional reference. References should not be spouses or other family members.
Request a Printed Application
If you need a printed application, just email or mail a request.
Email: director@youthfirstmentoring.org
Postal Mail:
Youth First Mentoring
73 Main St #29, Montpelier, VT 06560
Background Screening and Orientation
We carefully screen all mentor applicants. After applicants have successfully completed an application, background and reference checks, applicants will be interviewed by the program director to help create the perfect match!
Youth First Mentoring provides ongoing training and mentor development opportunities. We work with our larger parent organization, Mentor Vermont, and other community organizations to provide high quality, relevant and timely development and training throughout the year. Throughout your mentoring experience there is support when you need it.
Not quite ready to apply but want to learn more? Just email us or give us a call. We’d be glad to answer any questions and talk to you about the many benefits of mentoring.
Email: director@youthfirstmentoring.org
Phone: (802) 552-0249
The Mentor Commitment
Mentors commit to an initial period of twelve months to meet with a young person once a week for a minimum of one to two hours. You’ll be provided with training and support over the course of your mentorship and have the opportunity to join our seasonal community gatherings featuring recreational, art-based, and educational activities.
For more information about our program, call Sally at (802) 552-0249.
Finding a Mentor for My Child
We love matching young people with great mentors!
If you are a parent or caregiver, school contact, or from an agency that serves children you can request a mentor for a young person. However, all mentoring matches need approval by the legal guardian of the child.
Youth First Mentoring is ideal for a child who:
- Enjoys and could benefit from more one-on-one time with an attentive adult
- May be experiencing instability or stress in school or at home
- Feels disconnected from peers or may be socially isolated
- Wants to have fun and try new things outside of home and school
A mentor is a caring, adult friend who devotes one to two hours a week to a young person. Mentors are not meant to replace parents, guardians, or teachers. Each mentor is part of a team of caring adults in a young person’s life. A mentor is a friend who’s there to provide new experiences, listen when needed, and give positive encouragement.
As a mentee, your child will have a chance to share time and interesting activities with a kind, supportive adult. Studies show that having a mentor has many positive effects, from better school attendance, better grades, and lower chance of drug and alcohol use to being more likely participation in extracurricular activities.
As they build a new relationship with a mentor, young people learn interpersonal skills that can positively impact their relationships with family members, teachers, and peers. Mentoring can also lead to better lifestyle choices, including improved behavior, higher educational aspirations, and higher educational attainment.
My mentor makes me feel like I’m important, he loves and accepts me for me. He understanding and listens to me.
How Do I Find a Mentor for My Child?
It’s easy! If you are a parent, caregiver, or school contact, you can refer a child. If you aren’t sure you are ready to apply, email the director to set up a call to answer your questions. If you are ready, fill out the mentee application to provide us with some information about your child.
After receiving your initial application, the program director will reach out and set up an interview with the child and caregiver to learn more about the child’s interests and personality. We take all this information and match it against the interests and personalities of our dedicated, carefully screened mentors. All of our mentors go through a thorough orientation, and are supported by ongoing training. They also go through a background check that includes state and federal criminal and abuse databases, driving record, and personal references. We also check to make sure that they love to have fun!
We do our best to match your child with the mentor that best suits their needs and interests.
What Happens Next?
After we match your child with a potential mentor, we’ll set up a first meeting with their family, the potential mentor, and the program director. If things click, mentoring begins. Many mentor matches spend their first session brainstorming all the activities they’d like to try together.
As the child grows, activities naturally evolve to include career explorations, skill building, and future planning. When it comes to what mentor pairs can do, the options are limitless!
