"When an adolescent feels safe and accepted in the presence of a mentor, a fuller
range of feelings and thoughts, and different ways of relating and relating to, can grow."
                                                                                                                                                           Jean E. Rhodes
                                                                                                                                                           Stand by Me: The Risks and Rewards of Mentoring Today's Youth
 

Mentoring and Hope

To bring hope of a better future, Youth Wise Mentoring has built a strong program that recruits fun and positive adults, placing them with kids who need helpful and encouraging role models, in a one-on-one mentoring friendship.

Mentors meet with their Mentees once a week, walking through life together, growing through both ups and downs. They enjoy activities of their choice, on their own schedule, and have fun experiencing new adventures and opportunities to show kids a new world.
 
                                    

Definition of Mentoring

Mentor:  men·tor /ˈmenËŒtôr/ – a trusted counselor or guide

What is Mentoring?
  • Offering a child or youth a safe and positive adult role model
  • A one-on-one friendship of trust and support
  • Being a good listener and encourager, not a quick advice giver
  • Setting a long-term goal in your mind to build a strong adult
  • Click here for a brief history of mentoring.
   
                                    

Mentoring Model


 1.  Mentee - the Mentee is matched with a Mentor (Matches meet once a week)
 2.  Mentor - each Mentor has a Coach (Mentors have Mentors: Mentors meet with their Coaches once a month)
 3.  Coach - each Coach oversees three or more Matches, which is a Team (Teams do a monthly Service project together)
 4.  Senior Coach - each Senior Coach oversees three or more Coaches. 
 5.  Coordinator - a Coordinator oversees Youth Wise Mentoring in a Youth Wise area or in an Alliance church or organization

 Click here to learn about Youth Wise Mentoring's Support Network for its Mentors.


     Click here to see a video that describes the Youth Wise Mentoring Structure.

Mentoring Questions

Click here for answers to these issues about Youth Wise Mentoring:
  • What is a Youth Wise Mentor committing to?
  • Will I be alone in this?
  • What do Mentors need to know?
  • What are the criteria for being a Youth Wise Mentor?
  • Youth Wise Mentoring does not train its Mentors to proselytize.

Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring, 4th EditionYouth Wise Mentoring fully adheres to the guidelines and standards found within this national gold standard. We strive to follow the best practices of evidence based mentoring. We are also a member of several national mentoring associations.

Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring holds the key to success in establishing a high-quality mentoring program that produces, in turn, high-quality relationships. As a strategy for helping young people succeed in school, work, and life, mentoring works. It helps give young people the confidence, resources, and support they need to achieve their potential.

4 Mentoring Essentials

Four essentials to being a good Youth Wise Mentor:

  1.   Relationship - always work on building a bond of trust and friendship
  2.   Consistent - meet regularly with your mentee, be in contact, and be reliable
  3.   Intentional - discern and prepare for your times together, and serve together
  4.   Training - come to the Training meetings and meet with your Coach each month

As a Mentor, when you experience times when it seems like your Mentee's behavior or attitudes are not improving, remember to focus on the 4 Essentials of Youth Wise Mentoring. As long as you are doing the essentials you are being a good Mentor. Often, when a seed is planted its sprouts are not seen until a different season is reached. Keep planting the seeds of goodness and keep watering them with love and kindness and in time a harvest of new life will be seen.

Research

Research shows that mentoring affects youth through three interrelated processes:
(1) by enhancing youth’s social relationships and emotional well-being,
(2) by improving their cognitive skills through instruction and conversation, and
(3) by promoting positive identity development through serving as role models and advocates.
These processes are likely to act in concert with one another over time. (Rhodes, 2002, 2005)

"…those who reported having had a mentoring relationship during adolescence exhibited significantly better outcomes within the domains of education and work (high-school completion, college attendance, employment), mental health (self-esteem, life satisfaction), problem behavior (gang membership, fighting, risk taking), and health (exercise, birth control use)." --Mentoring Relationships and Programs for Youth, Rhodes & DuBois

Learn More About How Mentoring Affects Youth
Holistic Impact
Self Worth
Morals & Values
Education
Drugs & Alcohol
Generational Poverty
Family Relationships & Respect
Bullying
Gang & Criminal Activity
Civic Betterment