Mentor Role Description
The Heartlink Mentoring Program of Heartland for Children helps to empower youth in the foster care system to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their potential. The mentoring program uses adult volunteers to commit to supporting, guiding, and being a friend to a young person for a period of at least twelve (12) months. By becoming part of the social network of adults and community members who care about the youth, 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 12-month commitment
- Spend a minimum of 4 hours per month one-on-one with a mentee
- Communicate with mentee weekly
- Attend an initial 2-hour training session and additional 2-hour training sessions twice during each year of participation in the program
- Attend mentor/mentee group events, mentor support groups and program recognition events
Participation Requirements
- Be at least 21 years old
- Reside in Polk, Highlands or Hardee counties
- Be interested in working with young people
- Be willing to adhere to all program guidelines
- 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 activites
- Have access to an automobile, auto insurance and a good driving record
- Have a clean criminal history
- No use of illicit drugs
- No use of alcohol or controlled substances in an inappropriate manner
- Not currently in treatment for substance abuse and have a non-addictive period of at least five years
- Not currently in treatment for a mental health disorder or hospitalized for such in the past three years
Desirable Qualities
- Willing listener
- Encouraging and supportive
- Patient and flexible
- Tolerant and respectful of individual differences
Benefits
- Personal fulfillment through contribution to the community and individuals
- Satisfaction in helping someone mature, progress and achieve goals
- Training sessions and group activities
- Participation in a mentor support group
- Mileage and expenses are tax deductible
- Personal ongoing support and supervision to help the match succeed
- Mentee/mentor group activities, complimentary tickets to community events, participant recognition events
Application and Screening Process
- Written application
- Driving record check
- Criminal history check: local, state and federal criminal history and sexual offender registry
- Personal interview
- Provide two personal references
- Attend mentor training
If you understand and want to continue with the application and screening process please sign and date below.