• THE BESTIE PROJECT

  • Mentor Application & Volunteer Screening

    Helping girls grow in confidence, character, friendship, and purpose.

    Thank you for your interest in becoming a mentor with The Bestie Project! Our mission is to create a safe, encouraging, and empowering environment where girls ages 5–17 can develop confidence, build healthy relationships, discover their strengths, and grow into their best selves.

    Mentoring is a privilege and a responsibility. Because our program serves minors, all prospective mentors must complete the application and screening process, submit to required background checks, provide references, and agree to our child protection policies before participating.

    Completing this application does not guarantee acceptance.

  • SECTION 1: APPLICANT INFORMATION

  • Date of Birth
     - -
    2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year
  • Are you at least 18 years old?
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • SECTION 2: EMPLOYMENT & EXPERIENCE

  • Have you previously volunteered with or worked for a youth-serving organization?
  • Do you have any relevant certifications or training? (Select all that apply)
  • Have you ever been dismissed, asked to resign, suspended, or prohibited from working or volunteering with children because of concerns about your conduct or the safety of a child?
  • Are you willing to complete required mentor orientation, child safety training, and ongoing training?

  • SECTION 3: YOUR INTEREST IN MENTORING

  • Are you comfortable working with girls from backgrounds, family structures, cultures, and experiences different from your own?

  • SECTION 4: AVAILABILITY & COMMITMENT

  • How often are you available to volunteer? (Select all that apply)
  • Which days are you generally available? (Select all that apply)
  • Are you available for field trips and offsite activities
  • Are you willing to follow all supervision, transportation, communication, and child protection policies?

  • SECTION 5: REFERENCES

    Provide three references, preferably including professional, volunteer, or community references who can speak to your character, reliability, judgment, and suitability to work with children.

  • Provide the following for all 3 references

    Full name:
    Relationship to applicant:
    Organization or employer:
    Phone:
    Email:
    How long have you known this person?

  • SECTION 6: CHILD SAFETY & SUITABILITY SCREENING

    Please answer the following questions honestly. Information will be reviewed confidentially and in accordance with applicable law and The Bestie Project's child safety policies.
  • Have you ever been convicted of, pleaded guilty or no contest to, or been subject to a deferred adjudication or similar disposition for an offense involving child abuse, neglect, sexual misconduct, exploitation, domestic violence, or another offense that could affect your suitability to work with children?
  • Do you currently have any pending criminal charges or proceedings involving allegations of abuse, neglect, sexual misconduct, exploitation, violence, or other conduct that could affect a child's safety?
  • Have you ever been the subject of a substantiated finding of child abuse or neglect, or been placed on a child abuse or sex offender registry?
  • Have you ever had a court order, professional license restriction, or formal organizational restriction placed on you because of conduct involving the safety or well-being of a child?
  • Have you ever been asked to leave a youth-serving organization because of inappropriate boundaries, misconduct, or a child safety concern?
  • Is there any other information relevant to your ability to safely and appropriately mentor minors that The Bestie Project should consider?

  • Important: A disclosure does not automatically determine eligibility. The organization will evaluate relevant information consistently, fairly, and in accordance with applicable law and its written screening criteria. Certain offenses or substantiated findings may disqualify an applicant.

  • SECTION 7: PHYSICAL & MENTAL WELL-BEING

    The Bestie Project is committed to protecting children while treating prospective mentors fairly and respectfully. Rather than requesting a diagnosis or detailed medical history, we focus on the ability to fulfill the essential responsibilities of the mentoring role safely.
  • Mentoring may involve supervising children in group settings, participating in age-appropriate activities, responding calmly to stressful situations, and following established safety procedures. Are you able to perform these responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation?
  • Are there any accommodations, activity modifications, or support arrangements you would like us to consider to help you participate safely and effectively?
  • Are you willing to notify the designated program leader if a temporary circumstance affects your ability to safely supervise or interact with children?

  • You are not required to disclose a diagnosis or provide detailed medical information on this application. Any additional information will be requested only when appropriate and handled confidentially.

  • SECTION 8: ALCOHOL, DRUGS & IMPAIRMENT

    The safety of our girls requires mentors to exercise sound judgment and remain unimpaired whenever they are responsible for participants.
  • Do you agree never to report for or continue a mentoring assignment while impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, or any substance that prevents you from safely performing your responsibilities?
  • Do you agree not to consume alcohol, use illegal drugs, or misuse prescription or over-the-counter medication while supervising, transporting, or participating in activities with minors?
  • Do you agree to notify the designated program leader if you believe you are unable to safely perform your responsibilities because of impairment, illness, or another temporary circumstance?
  • Are you willing to comply with any lawful, consistently applied substance-use screening requirements established by The Bestie Project?

  • Applicants will not be asked to disclose a diagnosis, lawful prescription information, or treatment history through this section. Any screening requirements will be communicated separately and administered in accordance with applicable law.

  • SECTION 9: BACKGROUND CHECK AUTHORIZATION

    Because The Bestie Project serves children, completion of the required background screening process is a condition of mentor approval. Please confirm:
  • I understand that The Bestie Project will require background screening before I am permitted to mentor or have access to program participants.
  • I agree to provide the information and identification required through the organization's approved background screening process.
  • I understand that the screening may include criminal history searches, sex offender registry searches, applicable child abuse or neglect registry checks, and verification of relevant information, as legally available and permitted.
  • I understand that I must disclose relevant changes in my eligibility or circumstances during my service, as required by program policy.

  • Note: The separate background check disclosure and authorization must be completed before a third-party consumer reporting agency is engaged, when required by law. This application section is not a substitute for that authorization.

  • SECTION 10: APPLICANT CERTIFICATION

  • I certify that the information I have provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that omissions, misrepresentations, or failure to disclose information required by the application may result in denial of my application or removal from the program.

    I understand that submission of this application does not guarantee acceptance or authorize me to work with children. I may begin mentoring only after completing all required screening, training, and approval procedures.

  • Application Submission Date
     - -
    2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year
  • Should be Empty: