Each of our clients is matched with a mentor. Mentorship is an important part of our treatment program and the success of our clients. An ideal mentor will be an emotionally mature female of sound moral character who is capable of establishing and maintaining a friendship with an adolescent in need of guidance and positive interaction. The purpose of a mentor is to enhance the child's self-esteem, and expose the child to positive, compassionate, and responsible role-modeling behaviors.

How do I become a mentor?

Interested females should contact our Social Worker for a volunteer/mentor application. The application will include permission for a criminal background check. The completed application will be reviewed by our social worker and the prospective mentor will be invited to an interview. The next steps for the prospective mentor are an orientation meeting and then to receive a match.

About your match:

Your match will be an adolescent female who will have several areas of concern which may include: poor social skills, low self-esteem, involvement in abusive relationships, poor family functioning, poor school or job performance, non-compliance, or disruptive, self-harm, or runaway behaviors. Your match may have no family support at all, which would make your time together extremely valuable.

Commitment:

Because consistency is very important, we would expect a time commitment of 6 to 9 months. Ideally a mentor would meet with her match once per week for up to several hours. Individual schedules can be accomodated. Mentors will spend time with their match within an environment of positive interaction and age-appropriate activity. Examples may include:

• A walk and talk in the park
• Scrapbooking together
• Roller-skating
• Spending time at your workplace (if appropriate)
• Visiting a place of higher education
• Pursuing a hobby

Mentors are NOT encouraged to spend a lot of money on their match. Quality time is top priority. Mentors ARE encouraged to expand on the positive interests of their match and to expose their match to the mentor's own positive interests.

Mentors must be willing to give consistently of their time and energy to a child who may not always be appreciative.

Mentors will have the support of the Candlelight staff. The relationship is reviewed monthly by our social worker to address questions and concerns.