Mentoring
I'm a Mentor
Mentor Training
As a mentor, you are welcome and encouraged to attend any of our foster parent trainings. Check out our events page for upcoming training opportunities.
​
Read on below for more mentoring tips, icebreakers and the mentoring interaction / progress log.
Mentoring Tips & Icebreakers
Key points to remember:
-
Schedule appointments when it is convenient for the mentee and placement provider. A mentee that is a teenager might not want to get up at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning and meet with you!
-
Remember that the relationship takes time. Do not get frustrated if the mentee doesn’t seem super excited about you at first or it takes them some time to “warm up.”
-
Balance “fun” activities (going for ice cream, miniature golfing, etc.) with activities that might encourage further development and growth (such as practicing reading, life skill activities like filling out job applications and looking into secondary education).
-
Use your support! Call the mentoring coordinator if you need to bounce something off someone else. Also, connect with other mentors to get additional support.
Good topics to talk about
-
What do you like to do in your free time?
-
What do you want from your mentor?
-
What are your dreams and goals?
-
Ask about their culture, family, etc.
-
If you could choose a superpower, what would you pick?
-
What’s your favorite food, color, animal, subject in school, etc.?
-
What’s the funniest joke you’ve ever heard?
Activities to do with your mentee:
-
Help youth with homework
-
Help youth apply for jobs and colleges
-
Going out for ice cream
-
Picnic at the park
-
Go to the zoo
-
Go to a splash-pad at a park
-
Go to a youth’s sports game
-
Participate with their hobbies
-
Read books at the library
How to connect with your mentee:
-
Offer praise
-
Listen and reflect
-
Share about yourself
-
BE REAL!
Mentoring Interaction / Progress log
After every interaction you as the mentor have with your child / youth mentee, BFT asks you to please complete the below form.
Upcoming Events
BFT offers trainings that would also be useful for you as a mentor, which you are welcome to attend. Please visit our events page to see our upcoming events.
Resources
For additional resources to support your journey as a mentor, you may wish to check out the following:
-
Lorm Ipsum
-
Lorm Ipsum
-
Lorm Ipsum
Testimonials
What People Say About Us
Subscribe
Newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest news, events, volunteer opportunities and more.