Mentoring services can be provided in a variety of ways. The Early Childhood and Child and Adolescent Programs both use one-on-one and group mentoring modalities to provide the youth with services.
One-on-One Mentoring
The one to one therapeutic mentoring model patterns after the Big Brother Big Sister program. The model focuses on the mentor and mentee developing a sound, honest and trustworthy relationship. The mentor acts as a support system, providing ongoing guidance and modeling appropriate behavior. Key to this relationship is the thoughtful matching of mentor and mentee, where both parties have similar interests, background and experiences and/ or are compelled to establish a working relationship and bond despite their differences.
Group Mentoring
The group therapeutic mentoring model establishes a system of grouping youth of similar age, background and experiences together, providing them opportunities to socialize, learn from each other, share knowledge and experiences, problem solve and utilize their creative talents, while participating in enriching activities in a supportive atmosphere. The mentor serves as facilitator, working towards creating an atmosphere that encourages youth to build on their strengths and reach individual goals, while providing the opportunity to practice new skills with peers.