You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great. – Les Brown
Mentees are court and non-court adolescents in grades 4-12. Mentees receive support as long as the match is successful or until the end of the grade 12 academic year.
After being matched, Mentees have consistent meetings with their Mentor. Mentors and Mentees share engaging activities while creating options for positive choices, building self-esteem, and minimizing harmful behaviors.
Mentors and Mentees are invited to monthly large group sessions offered once a month all throughout the year. Large group sessions provide Mentees with a time to have fun while learning about new life skills, create another social circle, and experience to new activities.
T.E.A.M. Mentoring Program Components
The T.E.A.M. Program matches adolescents with Mentors based on personality, background, and family desire.
Once matched, the Mentor will:
- Provide support to both the family dynamic, Mentee, and Mentor
- Visit, video conference, or call Mentee consistently
- Attend monthly large group meetings, as able
- Work with their Mentee for at least one academic year (preferably longer)
- Assist with school work or adhering to educational supportive needs
- Support life circumstances
- Encourage new approaches or thought processes to daily situations
- Empower reasoning with day-to-day choices and acts of kindness
- Educate their Mentee on minimizing risky behavior and the consequences of negative choices (including use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances)
T.E.A.M. Mentor Requirements
All potential mentors must be at least 18 years of age and go through a screening process; including two Juvenile Court lead interviews, Delaware County’s application process, criminal background check, driving record check, and drug screen.
T.E.A.M. requires at least a one academic year commitment.
Potential Mentors are required to attend a training session and additional training/meetings with Mentoring Programs to support the match. These may be held via phone or teleconference, pending Mentor desires.
Once matched, Mentors have contact with the adolescent and family until either the match stops consistently meeting or academic year ends. Contact between Mentors and Mentees can be made via phone, video conference, home visit, or community activity. Scheduling occurs at the discretion of each individual match and family.