APPLY TO BE A MENTOR
12 Week Youth Mentoring Program
Give back, connect and help shape the future of our planet. Our Youth are our future.
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.
2025 PROGRAMs coming soon
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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.
We will also be providing optional monthly Group Coaching for Mentors (ie. Mentor Q&A sessions).
All Mentors will need to complete a background check before being accepted into the program.
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The main commitment is 2 hours a month (ie. 2 x 1 hour sessions) with a Mentee.
All other community events and Mentor Q&A sessions are optional but they are there to support you.
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It’s simple. Just fill in the application form and tell us a bit about yourself.
Feel free to invite your friends to join in on the Mentoring Program.
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”
We are committed to creating a safe & trustworthy space for our Youth.
“our mentors have access to monthly group sessions with a COACH SPECIALIzING IN TRAUMA”
Mentor faq's
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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.
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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.
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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.
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We are here to support you in any way possible. There are 3 things you can do if you need help as a mentor:
Email hello@nurturedheartfoundation.org and let us know what’s going on.
Attend the monthly Mentoring Support Group meeting with the Mentoring Program Director.
If you can’t attend the monthly support group meeting, please email us your question and we will answer it on the group call and you will be able to access the recording within 48 hours of the event.
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You are important to us and we would love to see you on each Community Call but we understand that sometimes things happen.
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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.
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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!
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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 enjoyed the program, you are welcome to come back and join us again when we host the next program (note: you will be paired with a different mentee).
End-of-Year Retreat 2025
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.