Become a Mentor

Interested in Becoming a Mentor?

The GMP is very excited that you are interested in mentoring. Investing your time in youth is one of the most valuable and fufilling things you can do for yourself as well as for the one(s) you mentor.

If you are familiar with mentoring and would like to find out more about exciting opportunities in your area, you can go directly to California Volunteers.

If you are interested in mentoring and are new to the field, please follow the steps below;

Step 1. Do Research

It is important to have a good idea of what mentoring is all about. Preliminary research will make the overall process run more smoothly:

Here is a list of the general roles of a mentor. No special skills are required, only your kindness and commitment to someone in need.

Here are some tips for building a mentor relationship.

The National Mentoring Partnership has online training on how to become a mentor.

Once you are familiar and comfortable with these roles and responsibilities of mentoring, you may move on to Step Two.

Step 2. Tailor Your Options

The spectrum of mentoring programs available is very broad and it is vital that you select a program that will enable you and your mentee to get the most out of the relationship. It is important that you are comfortable with the programs' values and interests. Think about your particular interests and then address these type of questions:

• Is there a group of youth that I am particularly compassionate for? (i.e.physical abuse, alcohol/drug, foster, special needs, etc.)
• What age group would I like to work with?
• What type of mentoring would I like to do? (i.e. one-on-one, group, family, tutoring, counseling, etc.)
• What kind of time commitment would I be able to offer?

In thinking about these questions, the following two links may aid you in your decision.

Here is a list of some suggested mentor/mentee activities.

E-mentoring utilizes the power and convenience of the internet to connect with youth.

Step 3. Contact and Application Process

Now that you have established your interests, you are ready to contact a mentoring program. Visit California Volunteers to get a listing of the programs available in your area. Select the county you are interested in and a listing of the available programs will be given as well as their contact information. Contact the program director and find out more about the specifics of the program. Ask questions similar to the ones you asked yourself in Step two. Once you have found the right program, ask about the application process as each organization has their own methods.

Congratulations! Soon you will be on your way to making a big difference in the life of a youth.