Youth Mentoring

GoodGuides® Youth Mentoring at YouthHQ@GoodwillClick Here to print information on GoodGuides® Youth Mentoring @ YouthHQ

Goodwill Youth Mentoring programs place youth with adult mentors. The mentors give guidance, support, and encouragement a young person needs for character development. Mentors also provide youth the chance to develop the skills they need to live a successful life.

The GoodGuides Youth Mentoring at YouthHQ matches youth with mentors to help them:

  • Gain confidence
  • Improve decision making abilities
  • Gain skills to achieve goals and reach their fullest potential

Local schools and agencies refer youth to the GoodGuides Youth Mentoring at YouthHQ. Youth and/or parents may also complete an interest form. The program is primarily self-funded by Goodwill.

Roanoke Valley middle and high school students ages 11 to 21 are eligible for the mentoring program.

Adult mentors in the GoodGuides® Youth Mentoring Program in Roanoke must be 21 years old.

Franklin County & Danville City Youth MentoringClick Here to print information on Franklin County Youth Mentoring

The Franklin County and Danville City Youth Mentoring program uses the Big Brothers Big Sisters model. The goals of this evidence-based model are to:

  • Encourage and guide youth to develop positive relationships and achieve success in school
  • Help youth avoid risky behaviors like getting into fights and trying drugs and alcohol

The program aims to help youth who have been (or are on track to be) involved with the criminal justice system. Volunteer adult mentors provide guidance, support, and encouragement to help youth improve their self-confidence, increase on-time graduation rates, and reduce their risk of future involvement with gangs, law enforcement, or other criminal activity.

Educational, recreational, and relationship building activities help them achieve greater confidence, education success, and better relationships with teachers, parents, and guardians.

Youth in the program will benefit from a 12 month mentor relationship. The youth will complete assignments and will meet with their mentor at least 4 hours a month.

The Franklin County and Danville City Court Services Units, community agencies, and the local school systems can refer youth to the program. Funding for the program comes from a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Youth who are 12 to 17 and living in Franklin County or Danville City, Virginia are eligible for the program. Applicants should contact Ernesto Muse, Goodwill’s Program Manager, at (540) 483.0296 ext. 4118 or emuse@goodwillvalleys.com to ask questions about the referral process or to make a referral.

Adult volunteer mentors in the Franklin County and Danville City Youth Mentoring Program must be 25 years old.

Youth Mentoring Benefits Everyone

Mentoring programs are a positive experience for all involved. Youth learn to lead successful, responsible lives. Mentors feel good knowing they help youth to learn to resolve conflicts and accept responsibility. The experiences creates positive outcomes for the youth, the mentors, and the community.

Benefits for Youth include:African American man talking to African American Youth sitting side by side

  • Better school performance
  • Higher graduation rates
  • Stronger communication skills
  • Greater self esteem

Benefits for Mentors include:

  • Sense of accomplishment
  • Appreciation of youth from diverse backgrounds
  • Greater pride in their community
  • Increased self-respect for having affected a child’s life

Employers in the community will enjoy:

  • An improved image in the community
  • Increased community awareness of mission
  • A prepared workforce
  • Advanced diversity goals

Benefits to the community include:

  • Decreased rate of substance abuse
  • Reduction in teen pregnancy
  • Lower school dropout rate
  • Reduction in juvenile crime.

Become a Youth Mentor

Be a Youth Mentor button

Youth mentors volunteer to support, guide, and be a friend to a young person for at least one year. Mentors can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.

Youth Mentors will:

  • Be a responsible, caring adult.
  • Work with parents and guardians to provide support, guidance, and friendship.
  • Be a constructive example to the youth.
  • Be a good listener with a desire to bring out the strengths of the youth.
  • Provide an in-depth assessment of the individual youth’s needs.
  • Become involved through one-on-one interaction with the youth.

To become a Youth Mentor you must:

  • Pass a Background Check. This includes criminal, National Child Abuse Registry Sexual Offender Registry, and driving record.
  • Adhere to all Goodwill policies and procedures.
  • Agree to a one-year commitment to the program.
  • Commit to spending at least 4 hours a month with the mentee.
  • Communicate with the mentee weekly.
  • Take part in other 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 with the Goodwill coordinator and submit monthly meeting and activity information.
  • Have access to reliable transportation to reach mentoring locations.
  • Not use alcohol in excess.
  • Not in be treatment for substance abuse. Or if substance abuse has occurred in the past, be non-addictive for at least five years.
  • Lastly, not currently be in treatment for a mental disorder. And have not been hospitalized for a mental disorder in the past three years.

Complete the Mentor Interest Form

For more information e-mail info@goodwillvalleys.com or call (540) 581.0620 option 2.