Youth Mentor (One-to-One) — Volunteer

One consistent adult can change the direction of a young person's life. TBOY Youth Mentors are screened, trained volunteers matched one-to-one with Cleveland youth ages 17 and younger who have been impacted by opioids and other substance use — including youth carrying the weight of a family member's use. You show up, you listen, you follow through. TBOY trains you, matches you, and backs you the whole way.

About Taking Back Our Youth (TBOY): Taking Back Our Youth (TBOY), a Cleveland 501(c)(3), delivers structured mentoring to youth ages 17 and younger who are impacted by opioids and other substance use — including youth affected by a family member's use. Youth move through a 12-week group mentoring cohort, then choose an individual mentor at the Week 12 Mentor Match for one-to-one continuity. TBOY recruits, screens, trains, and supervises every mentor and monitors every match. All positions are based at TBOY's single site, 9707 Lorain Ave, Cleveland, OH 44102. TBOY has delivered structured mentoring since 2023. Every volunteer who works with youth or participant records completes a BCI background check (TBOY arranges it; no cost to the volunteer), and every Youth Mentor completes TBOY mentor training before being matched.

Responsibilities:

- Complete TBOY's mentor screening and pre-match training before any contact with youth.

- Meet with your matched mentee on the program's schedule and complete documented check-ins of 30-60 minutes every two weeks.

- Support your mentee's goals in their program plan.

- Alert TBOY staff promptly to any safety concern or unmet need you see.

- Follow TBOY's confidentiality and safeguarding rules — no unsupervised off-program contact outside program policy; communicate through your program coordinator.

- Close the match formally with your mentee and coordinator at the end of the term — no disappearing on a young person.

Qualifications:

- Age 18 or older.

- BCI background check required (TBOY arranges the screening; no cost to the volunteer).

- Reliability above all: show up when promised, for the full match term.

- Experience with, or roots in, the communities TBOY serves; coaching, teaching, faith-based, or reentry experience welcome.

Time commitment: 6-month match commitment, renewable. Check-ins 30-60 minutes every two weeks, plus mentor training completed before matching.

What you receive:

- TBOY mentor training — including training to recognize the signs and symptoms of substance use — at no cost.

- Supervision and support from TBOY's Program Coordinator & Lead Trainer for the full match.

- Verified service hours for university service-learning requirements and your own records.

How to apply: Email takingbackouryouthtboy@gmail.com or call 216-799-9944 (TBOY Direct: 216-237-1069) and ask about the Youth Mentor position.