Volunteer Mentor

Connections mentees are resilient young people (10-25 years old) full of potential with current, past, or peripheral contact with the child welfare system in NYC and Westchester County.

Where We Reach

A trusted adult carefully placed in a young person’s life to:

* Build a long lasting relationship

* Provide a consistent committed relationship

* Help youth develop skills to become:

* Educationally proficient

* Economically productive

* Socially responsible

What can you expect as a mentor?

A carefully curated 1-1 relationship with a young person

* Thorough training throughout the whole relationship:

* Introduction workshop: help the mentor understand how to begin the relationship.

* Refresher workshops: help the mentor throughout the different stages of their relationship.

* Ongoing 24/7 support from Connections

Expectations of a Connections Mentor

Mentors are asked to commit to the relationship for one year which includes:

* Weekly contact (in person or text/e-mail)

* At least 2 in person meetings per month

Mentors are NOT asked to:

* Spend a lot of money

* Have experience

* Have a college degree

* Have a car if in Westchester

It’s a 1-on-1 relationship

The relationship between mentor and mentee is a genuine and consistent relationship between two

people - an adult volunteer and a young adult in need of some extra support

* The mentor and mentee voluntarily choose to be in the each other's life

* The mentor is the only person on the mentee’s team who is not paid to be in their life

* They overcome obstacles together, learn from one another, and create new experiences with

each other to form a long-lasting relationship

They are society’s most vulnerable people

Our youth have entered the child welfare system due to:

* Neglect

* Abuse

* Voluntary placement

* Criminal/Juvenile Justice System