Mentors

Role of a Mentor

A mentor is a wise and trusted friend and advisor. A mentor may serve as a positive role model, a coach, esteem builder, career counselor or advocate. Family Partnership mentors help their partner families write as many as three six-month goals and help them evaluate their progress toward meeting those goals.

Achievements in education, employment, managing a home and family and good problem solving skills provide the background needed to be an effective mentor along with a healthy dose of tough love, patience, listening skills and a non-judgmental attitude.

Mentor specialists provide short-term assistance for budgeting, educational counseling, job searches, mortgage counseling and small business counseling.

Commitment

Mentors must agree to a background check, commit to being a mentor for approximately nine months to one year and attend monthly mentor support meetings.

Mentor Exploration

Most people have significant misgivings about becoming a mentor. A half-day program known as mentor exploration helps allay these doubts by providing information about the culture of poverty, the role of a mentor and the Family Partnership program. Participation confers no obligations and group size is limited to ten.

Mentor Support