MENTOR APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

12 Week Youth Mentoring Program

Give back, connect and help shape the future of our planet. Our Youth are our future.

START MENTOR APPLICATION

Connect with our Youth, they have so much to teach us!

mentoring is such an interesting relationship. You might show up thinking you are helping them, but somehow they are also teaching you…

There is something invigorating and meaningful about being a mentor to someone who’s transitioning into adulthood. You get to see life from a different perspective and learn about a new generation. You might be reminded about how you once were and how wonderful it would have been if you had more support in your life.

LISTEN, CONNECT & ROOT FOR THEIR SUCCESS

our mentoring approach

Our approach is simple. As a mentor you are there to hang out with, listen, and provide supportive encouragement and guidance. You don’t need to give instructions like a coach, and we definitely are not expecting you to be a therapist or counselor.

You are somewhere between a teacher, friend and best uncle / best aunt so they stop scrolling on their phone and have a connection to a human who cares for them and is cheering them on.

You let them lead the journey in terms of how much they want to share with you. And don’t worry, we’ll be providing you with training, support and guidance along the way. You are not alone.

YOuTH MENTORING PROGRAM STARTS MARCH 5TH!*

The program officially starts with an online “Welcome Ceremony” on March 5th for both Mentors and Mentees.

*Applications close Feb 12th however there are limited spaces in the beta program and we will close applications early if all the spaces are taken.

    • We would like every mentor to be familiar with the Nurtured Heart Approach but it is not necessary to be a trainer.

    • We will be providing Pre-Training for Mentors on the 27th Feb, 7pm EST (1.5 hours) with Eulanda Thorne who is a Trauma & Resilience Educator.

    • We will also be providing optional monthly Group Coaching for Mentors (ie. Mentor Q&A sessions).

    • The main commitment is 2 hours a month (ie. 2 x 1 hour sessions) with a Mentee.

    • It’s also essential you attend the Pre-Training on the 27th Feb, 7pm EST . A recording will also be available.

    • All other community events and Mentor Q&A sessions are optional but they are there to support you. you.

  • It’s simple. Just fill in the application form and tell us a bit about yourself.

    Spaces are limited. Please apply early if you wish to become a mentor.

    Feel free to invite your friends to join in on the Mentoring Program.

START MENTOR APPLICATION

building a trusted network of mentors

We are committed to creating a safe, trustworthy space for our Youth. With this in mind, all our volunteer Mentors are required to register with Sterling Volunteers and undergo a background check.

The background check can be done in 4 easy steps (less than 5 mins) and costs $39. The turn around time is 24 - 48 hours and we are happy to reimburse you at the end of the 12 week mentoring program.

“Sterling Volunteers is a screening platform designed specifically for Volunteers. It allows volunteers to own and control their own background checks. That means you can pay for your check once, and share it with other organizations in the Sterling Volunteers community”

Sterling Volunteers FAQ’s

We are committed to creating a safe & trustworthy space for our Youth.

what’s the process?

1. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Submit the application ASAP. Applications close Feb 12th.

2. COMPLETE YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK
Go to https://www.sterlingvolunteers.com/ and take 5 mins to complete the $39 Complete background check (don’t worry, we will reimburse you at the end of the program).

2. ACCEPT THE INVITATION ONCE APPROVED
Once approved you will receive an email from us. Follow the instructions in the email to accept and confirm your spot.

3. CONNECT & SCHEDULE
You will be connected to your Mentee and you we recommend you schedule ALL your sessions upfront.

4. ATTEND TRAINING FOR MENTORS
We have a 90 min Mentoring Training Session on Feb 27th. This training is essential as it covers our approach to Youth Mentoring and touches on The Nurtured Heart Approach (S.A.R.A.H.).

5. SPEAK TO YOUR MENTEE TWICE A MONTH
We recommend an hour each time but feel free to shorten it slightly or go for longer if you need to.

6. ATTEND COMMUNITY EVENTS
The Online Community Connection Events happen once a month and are open to both Mentors and Mentees so you will get to meet others on the program.

7. OPTIONAL SUPPORT Q&A SESSIONS FOR MENTORS
These sessions are optional but if you want support with the mentoring, we are here for you.

key dates

  • Mon February 27th: Training for Mentors

  • Sun March 5th: Community Event: “Opening Ceremony & Intentions”

  • Thur March 23rd: Mentor Support Q&A

  • Mon April 3rd: Community Event “Regulating our Nervous System”

  • Thur April 20th: Mentor Support Q&A

  • Mon May 1st: Community Event “Setting Boundaries and Saying No”

  • Thur May 18th: Mentor Support Q&A

  • Mon June 5th: Community Event “Closing Ceremony”

Eulanda Thorne, Trauma & Resilience Educator and Program Director

“all our mentors have access to monthly group coaching with a trauma & resilience educator”

We are excited to have Eulanda Thorne as our Mentoring Program Director. Eulanda will be providing Mentoring Training and Group Coaching for our volunteer Mentors. The group coaching sessions are optional but we want you to know you are supported on the mentoring journey. Read more about Eulanda.

Mentor faq's

  • Yes of course! Anyone who is age 16 - 24 can apply to be a Mentee. Please help us spread the word by sharing the program with everyone you know.

  • Applications are assessed based on supply / demand as well as what you share with us in your application. The more information you provide us the better.

  • We look at multiple factors when matching Mentors and Mentees such as timezone/location, any common interests and any specific requests. The more you share with us in your application, the better we can match you.

  • We are here to support you in any way possible. There are 3 things you can do if you need help as a mentor:

    1. Email hello@nurturedheartfoundation.org and let us know what’s going on.

    2. Attend the monthly Mentoring Support Group meeting with Eulanda who is the Mentoring Program Director.

    3. If you can’t attend the monthly support group meeting, please email us your question and Eulanda will answer it on the group call and you will be able to access the recording within 48 hours of the event.

  • You are important to us and we would love to see you on each Community Call but we understand that sometimes things happen.

    If you can’t make the Zoom call, please let us know by emailing hello@nurturedheartfoundation.org (and yes, it’s ok to email us last minute).

  • You don’t need to be a certified trainer to be a Mentor however we would like all our mentors to be familiar with the Nurtured Heart Approach and in particular, the S.A.R.A.H process. We will cover this in our Mentor Training and there will be a recording of it available.

  • All mentors will need to clear a background check prior to being accepted into the Youth Mentoring Program.

    What information is required for an accurate, thorough background check?
    Three things: 1) first name and last name, correctly spelled and exactly as it appears on your birth certificate or other legal documentation (i.e. no nicknames or shortened names); 2) date of birth; and 3) Social Security Number (SSN)*.

    More about Sterling Volunteers:
    “We are the only screening provider that allows volunteers to own and share their background check with multiple nonprofits in a safe, tamper-free environment. It’s the fastest, easiest and most affordable way to connect volunteers with the causes that inspire them most.”

  • We would love to make the Youth Mentoring Program international however, we are not yet able to screen international mentors. Currently, Sterling Volunteers can only do background checks for USA residents.

    If you would like to become an international partner who can do background checks in your country, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you!

  • We have a Closing Ceremony where we will review and celebrate your journey over the last 12 weeks.

    • If you and your mentee really get along and you both want to continue with mentoring, you can discuss and arrange this together (note: this is separate to the program).

    • If you liked the program, we will be hosting another round of mentoring in September and you are welcome to come back and join us again (note: you will be paired with a different mentee).

START MENTOR APPLICATION

Bonus End-of-Year Retreat

All Mentors & Mentees will be invited to a private weekend retreat hosted by the Foundation. It will be an opportunity for Mentors and Mentees to meet each other in person while also being friends with other members.