Youth Mentoring

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Franklin County Youth Mentoring

The Franklin County Youth Mentoring program provides youth ages 7 to 21 in Franklin County, VA the opportunity to develop the skills needed to live a successful life. Mentored youth experience greater confidence, decision making abilities, and skills needed to achieve goals and their fullest potential. Through placements with adult mentors, youth receive guidance, support, and encouragement needed for character development through activities, which are educational, recreational, and relationship building.

Youth are referred to the Youth Mentoring program by community agencies or the local school systems. The program is funded through the Comprehensive Services Act for At Risk Youth and Families (CSA).

Franklin County Youth Mentoring is offered to individuals living in Franklin County. Both basic mentoring and therapeutic mentoring programs are available.

Mentor Role for Franklin County Youth Mentoring Program

Mentors will undergo extensive screening to include interviews, criminal background, reference, and DMV checks. The mentor will:

  • Be a responsible, caring adult who, in partnership with the parent and legal guardians, provides support, counseling, friendship, reinforcement, and a constructive example
  • 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

Youth Mentoring Benefits Everyone

Mentoring programs are designed to help youth learn to lead successful, responsible lives. Mentors help them learn to resolve conflicts and accept responsibility, while the youth is gaining this experience there are also positive outcomes for the mentor and community.

  • Benefits for youth: improved academic performance, higher graduation rates, increased communication skills, improved peer/family relationships, and improved self esteem
  • Benefits for mentors: sense of accomplishment, appreciation of youth from diverse backgrounds, greater pride in their community, and increased self-respect for having affected a child’s life.
  • Benefits for employers: improved image in the community, increased community awareness of mission, prepared workforce, and advanced diversity goals.
  • Benefits for communities: decreased rate of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, school dropout, and juvenile crime.

Become a Youth Mentor

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.

Photo 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 or 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

Complete the Mentor Referral Form

Therapeutic Youth Mentoring

For individuals who need greater mentor support, Therapeutic Youth Mentoring is now available. Mentors hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in the human services field and participate in weekly sessions with the youth and a licensed clinical social worker. The basic mentoring program offers this service on a monthly basis. Therapeutic Youth Mentoring is designed to assist youth who have been identified as needing more support to reach their goals. Clinical support will assist in developing a curriculum and activities to be included in their mentoring sessions.

Additional Youth Mentoring opportunities are also available through the Youth to Work and GoodGuides Science Camp programs.

For more information on Goodwill’s Youth Mentoring Program, e-mail info@goodwillvalleys.com or call (540) 483.0296 ext. 107.