Orange County Mentor

A Mentor with the StandUp For Kids program is a caring, responsible, adult volunteer who serves as a trusted guide to a youth/young adult. S/he helps to ensure that the youth develops important life skills, is exposed to new opportunities and a wide array of resources, makes positive life choices, stays in school if applicable, and graduates our program with a plan for the future.

Essential Function/Responsibilities

The Mentor’s Responsibility to Mentee

Every volunteer mentor must:

Be able to commit to spending at least one year in a relationship with a youth. (excludes interns)

Spend at least 2 hours a week engaged in an activity with their mentees.

Prepare case progress notes on mentee and submit to online file cabinet weekly.

Communicate with their mentee weekly-by telephone or email-to keep in touch about what is going on in their lives.

Honor, all commitments made to the mentee and StandUp For Kids

Be respectful of the mentees time, opinions, and decision-making.

Serve as a positive role model by modeling desirable behaviors-e.g. patience,

tolerance, and reflective listening.

Be comfortable and able to establish appropriate boundaries with the mentee

Be encouraging and supportive of the mentee.

Help the mentee develop a milestone plan for completing short and long term goals

Responsibility to StandUp For Kids Program

Every Volunteer Mentor must:

Submit hours once a month.

Attend on-going trainings when needed or requested to do so by program staff.

Complete evaluation surveys as requested by staff.

Be patient and understand the mentoring relationship is a process that takes work

and time.

Qualifications

All volunteers must:

Be 18 years of age.

Submit an application, 3 forms of reference, a copy of a photo ID and an auto insurance card.

Pass a criminal background check

Take and pass mandated reporting training online and provide certificate to supervisor.

Successfully complete an interview for a mentor position with staff member.

Exhibit a genuine concern for homeless and at risk youth

Make a 6 month commitment (excludes interns)

Additional Information: Interns will be assigned a semester project and will provide supervisor with weekly updates. Examples are: planning career speakers; collecting, entering and tracking grades; updating resource guide, research; and other community outreach as needed.