Being a Mentor
Taking the first step is easy - complete the pre-screening application online. Our MODEL Program staff will contact you and remain with you every step of the way - from completing your online application and participating in our program orientation to meeting your mentee and throughout the entire match.
What is a mentor?
In essence, a mentor is a friend: someone who listens, who asks about your day, helps figure out how to handle those everyday problems that come up in school and home. A mentor is not a surrogate parent or a perfect role model, but rather a person who offers support and shares stories of his or her own experiences. Being a mentor can help you learn a lot - not just about your mentee (the youth you are partnered with) but also about yourself and what you are capable of. A mentor isn't super-human, but a mentor is a hero.
What do a mentor and a mentee do together?
The list is limited only by your imagination! Our program is community-based, meaning it's up to each mentor and mentee to decide what to do and when to meet. All we ask is that you spend at least one hour together each week. Mentors do not have to spend money - there are plenty of free activities available in our community, and we are happy to help you find them. Mentoring is all about spending time together: the personal connection between each mentor and mentee is what's most important.
Here are a few ideas for free or low-cost activities:
- Shoot hoops at the park
- Plan a dinner, grocery shop and cook together
- Go to the library and pick out new books
- Work on homework projects together
- Ride bikes on a local nature trail
- Go to a movie
- Visit a local museum
- Hang out at a park and chat or have a picnic
- Volunteer together
- Check out a community fair or art show
MODEL Program staff also plan and host many different activities throughout the year. We'd love to have you join us for movie afternoons, roller skating parties, and Tampa Bay Rays, Lightning and Buccaneer games! Each event is available to all of our mentors and mentees for little to no cost.
What impact does a mentor have on a child's life?
To sum it up, a mentor has a huge impact. A mentor can provide guidance and support for a child who might not have it anywhere else in his or her life. Training and guidance from our program staff help each mentor and mentee build trust and communication skills, resulting in improved academic performance plus stronger family and social relationships. The youth are then more equipped to avoid negative activities or peer relationships. It all helps youth develop to their full potential and become productive members of our community. All of that comes out of just spending a little time together each week.
Why do these youth need a mentor?
The MODEL Program is for children aged 4-18 years who have an incarcerated parent. Children with incarcerated parents suffer significantly from a situation over which they had no control. They have lost a caregiver, a role model and a loved one to the prison system. They live with a parent who now finds it difficult to support the family alone, with grandparents or relatives, in a foster home, or in a group home. A mentor is not there to take the role of a parent but to be a friend for a child, to listen and talk each week. This simple act of being there makes a world of difference to a child who may never have had a true friend before.
How do you match youth and mentors?
Don't worry, we're very good at matching the right mentor with the right child! Based on the information in your application and conversations with our program staff, we get to know you, your interests and hobbies and your personality. Similar questions are asked when we meet with youth and their families. Sometimes geography is a factor, making sure the youth and mentor live within a reasonable distance of each other. But, out main focus is on matching youth and mentors who share common interests and personalities that work well together. Our program has a solid history of successfully matching youth and mentors who have a very fulfilling experience together.
Who can become a mentor?
We are looking for people of all ages, male or female, and from all cultures and backgrounds. People who are friendly, who can listen with an open heart and remain non-judgmental of others, have good problem-solving skills, and who can be honest without being hurtful. We need mentors who are dependable and will follow through on commitments and keep their word.
MODEL Mentors must:
- Commit to spending at least one hour a week with their mentee for one year
- Have access to reliable personal transportation
- Be at least 21 years old
- Complete an application, interview and background check*
- Attend an orientation session
*We check personal/professional references, plus criminal history and driving records. Mentors must meet our stringent standards. For more specific information, please contact our program staff.
Where can I get more info or take the first step to get involved?
You can begin the Mentor Pre-Screen Application online. Once your completed application is received, MODEL staff will contact you to schedule an interview. We will be with you every step of the way - from completing your online application and participating in our program orientation to meeting your mentee and throughout the entire match.
Mentor Pre-Screen Application