Connecting Youth Mentoring Program Job Description

The Key qualities of a good mentor are:

   Good listener

   Persistent

   Committed

   Patient

A Mentor IS…. 

• A trusted guide or friend.  Young people today do not get much of an opportunity to be friends with adults; especially adults who are going to listen to them.

•  A caring, responsible adult who provides access to people, places and things outside their mentee’s routine environment. 

•  A positive role model….A role model is someone the youth aspires to be like, whereas a mentor is someone who offers to help the youth be whoever he/she wants to be.  Today, youth have many role models; however, they are not necessarily positive role models. 

A Mentor is NOT….

• A parent/legal guardian . . . .  The role of the parent or legal guardian (governed by law) is to provide food, shelter and clothing.  It is not the mentor’s role to fulfill these responsibilities. 

• A social worker . . . . A social worker is a licensed professional with the necessary skills and training to assist in family issues.  If a mentor believes there is something wrong in the mentee’s home life, the mentor should share this concern with the mentor program coordinator and not assume the role of a social worker and attempt to solve the problem. 

• A psychologist . . . . A mentor is not a formal “counselor” or therapist.  A psychologist or psychiatrist is a licensed professional.

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Home Page maintained by Georgene Grover
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Last updated: August 01, 2006