Foster Care Mentor
1 in 3 young people will grow up without having a mentor– either through a formal mentoring program or informally through a family friend or community member – leaving them disconnected from a critical resource to help with these very things.
Before becoming a mentor, here are a few things to understand about the role of mentoring. Mentors provide many aspects of support to their mentees, a friend, role model, and advocate are just a few. Mentors assume these different roles as they build this relationship. Spero Foster Care mentors must have:
- A sincere desire to be involved with a young person
- Respect for young people
- Active listening skills
- Empathy
- Ability to see solutions and opportunities
- Flexibility
The requirements are easy. Have a love for kids and a willingness to be the best mentor you can be. For safety purposes, mentors must be 18 years old and willing to submit to a background check (child welfare & criminal). If visits will include transporting a youth, driving records must be checked for transporting clearance, and proof of insurance must be on file with the agency.