GoodGuides®

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is one of 10 Goodwill agencies nationwide to introduce the GoodGuides Youth Mentoring Program for at-risk youth with disabilities or other disadvantages.

The purpose of this program is to help youth, ages 12-17, prepare for school completion, develop work skills, identify career paths, and transition to post-high school graduation including post-secondary training. These youth will receive guidance through trusted adult mentors.

Complete the Goodwill GoodGuides® Youth Referral Form.

Complete the Goodwill GoodGuides® Mentor Referral Form.

Today’s Youth. Tomorrow’s Leaders.

The GoodGuides Youth Mentoring program is dedicated to helping youth build career plans, skills, and prepare for school completion, post-secondary training, and productive work. The program provides structured and supportive relationships with trusted adult mentors. GoodGuides® serves youth ages 12-17 who are at risk of delinquency or who have already had contact with the juvenile justice system. By becoming part of the social network of adults and community members who care about the youth, the mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals. Services will be provided in a variety of community settings and times appropriate for the mentee and mentor.

GoodGuides focuses on positive youth development, emphasizing the aptitudes, skills, interests, and capabilities of youth versus deficits they may have when they are enrolled. The family strengthening approach focuses on the philosophy that youth are more likely to thrive when they are living in stable households, have healthy relationships with family members and caregivers, and have access to community resources.

Youth EligibilityPhoto of a group of teens

Priority youth enrollees will be middle and high school students, youth with disabilities and disadvantages, and youth with multiple risk factors. Risk factors may include low income, poor academic performance, truant, single parent household with lack of supervision, victim of family violence, homeless, teen pregnancy and substance abuse. Participants may be referred through parents or guardians, their local school system, court services, or social services agencies. To be enrolled in GoodGuides a youth must be:

  • Age 12-17 at the time of enrollment.
  • At risk for delinquency due to family, home, community or social environment or present or past involvement with the juvenile justice system.
  • Able to demonstrate a desire to participate in the program and a willingness to abide by all GoodGuides® Youth Mentoring Program policies and procedures.
  • Able to obtain parental/guardian permission and ongoing support for participation in the program.
  • Agreeable to a one-year commitment to the program.
  • Able to commit to a minimum of four hours a month with the mentor.
  • Willing to communicate with the mentor weekly.
  • Willing to participate in a minimum of two hours of career awareness activities per month.
  • Able to complete the program screening procedure.
  • Able to attend mentee trainings as required.
  • Willing to communicate regularly with the program staff.

Make a difference. Be a Mentor.

The GoodGuides Youth Mentoring program is dedicated to helping youth build career plans, skills, and prepare for school completion, post-secondary training, and productive work. The program provides structured and supportive relationships with trusted adult mentors. GoodGuides® serves youth ages 12-17 who are at risk of delinquency or who have already had contact with the juvenile justice system. The mentoring program uses adult volunteers committed to supporting, guiding, and being a friend to a young person for a period of at least one year. By becoming part of the social network of adults and community members who care about the youth, the mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.

Youth Mentor RequirementsPhoto of a teen boy with an adult mentor

  • At least 21 years of age (at least 16 years old for peer mentors).
  • Background Check including criminal, National Child Abuse Registry Sexual Offender Registry, and driving record.
  • Adhere to all GoodGuides policies and procedures.
  • Agree to a one-year commitment to the program.
  • Commit to spending a minimum of 4 hours a month with the mentee.
  • Willing to communicate with the mentee weekly.
  • Participate in additional career-focused activities with mentees, up to 2 hours per month.
  • Complete screening interview, orientation, initial training, and on-going mentor training as required.
  • Communicate regularly with the Mentor Coordinator and submit monthly meeting and activity information.
  • Access to reliable transportation to reach mentoring locations.
  • No excessive use of alcohol.
  • Not currently in treatment for substance abuse. If substance abuse has occurred in the past, the applicant must have completed a non-addictive period of at least five years.
  • Not currently under treatment for a mental disorder or have been hospitalized for a mental disorder in the past three years.

GoodGuides Mission

To empower youth to make positive choices that enable them to maximize their current and future potential.

GoodGuides is a grant funded program through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Delinquency Prevention.

For more information on GoodGuides Youth Mentoring, e-mail info@goodwillvalleys.com or call (540) 581.0620 option 6.