MentorsMatter offers a variety of opportunities to share some time with one of the many at-risk youth living in Boulder County. We are dedicated to matching you with a program that fits your schedule and style.
Think you’re too busy? The volunteer opportunities vary from a few hours a week, to a few hours a month, so we can definitely find a program that works with your busy schedule. Mentoring does not require any specialized skills—just the ability to have fun with a child, ranging in age from 5-17.
You will be matched either one-to-one, or in a group setting, with people that share the same interests. Either choose your own activities: hiking, sporting events, theater, picnic, etc., or attend activities held at the partner agencies. Training and ongoing support is provided.
MentorsMatter is a collaboration between:
- Partners Mentoring Youth
- "I Have a Dream"® Foundation
- Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services
Mentoring
and Tutoring Program
- YWCA EDGE: Girls Empowerment Program
- Boulder County Community Services Mentoring
- The Mental Health Center Serving Boulder and Broomfield
Counties
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Colorado
- Volunteer Connection
What is Mentoring?
A matter of trust. Mentoring is a structured and trusting
relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who
offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence
and character of the mentee. A mentor is an adult who, along with parents,
provides a young person with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and
constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people who care, people
who want to help young people bring out strengths that are already there.
A mentor is not a foster parent, therapist, parole officer, or cool peer.
All young people have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society. All children have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society. However, not all children get the support they need to thrive.
By all estimates, an astounding 17.6 million young people – nearly half the population of young people between 10 and 18 years of age – live in situations that put them at risk of not living up to their potential.
Without immediate intervention by caring adults, they could make choices that not only undermine their futures, but, ultimately, the economic and social well-being of our nation.
Mentoring – the presence of caring adults offering support, advice, friendship, reinforcement and constructive examples – has proved to be a powerful tool for helping young people fulfills their potential.
Mentoring can help by:
- Improving young people’s attitudes towards their parents,
peers and teachers;
- Encouraging students to stay motivated and focused on their education;
- Providing a positive way for young people to spend free time;
- Helping young people face daily challenges; and
- Offering young people opportunities to consider new career paths and get
much-needed economic skills and knowledge.
By using your influence and resources as a decision maker, you can bring new hope to young lives through the power of mentoring. And you'll be surprised how much you will benefit, as well.
Source: www.mentoring.org
Member Agencies
Partners Mentoring Youth
Partners Mentoring Program matches high-risk youth
with screened and trained adult volunteer mentors. Youth are referred to the
program by other professional youth-serving agencies who have recognized that
the children will benefit from a positive adult role model. Mentoring is community-based
and serves youth ages 8-17. Mentors must commit to spending 1 year with their
mentee and be at least 20 years old. Orientations take place at Partners’
office in Longmont.
One-to-one Mentor (Senior Partner): Once matched in a one-to-one partnership, spend 3-5 hours per week with an at-risk youth for one year. Share experiences, learn new things together, and attend Partners’ activities and life-skills workshops.
Waiting Youth Volunteer: Chaperone an at-risk youth waiting to be matched in a one-to-one mentoring relationship at Partners’ sponsored monthly activities, workshops, and special events. This is a good way to try out being a mentor or get involved in our program without having to commit a full year.
Elder Mentor (Sage-ing volunteer): This is an intergenerational
partnership for Senior citizens, where a senior citizen volunteers to meet
at least once a month with an ongoing one-to-one partnership.
Contact: Susi Keith
Website: www.bcpartners.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 303-772-1411
"I Have a Dream"® Foundation
“I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County (IHAD) is a long-term
dropout prevention program. All of the youth involved in the program are low-income.
The foundation adopts a group of children in elementary school and works with
them through high school. Tuition assistance is provided upon high school
graduation. Serves youth ages 7-17.
Mentor: Spend at least 4 hours per month as a one-to-one mentor to a low-income youth, providing academic assistance as needed, doing fun activities in the community, and attending IHAD regular and special events. Mentors must have transportation with proof of insurance and valid driver’s license. Mentors must commit to meeting with their mentee for one year and be at least 18 years old.
Tutor: Work once a week for at least one semester with a child or group of children providing academic assistance at one of IHAD’s after school sites in Boulder, Lafayette, or Longmont.
Contact: Cori Callahan
Website: www.ihadboulder.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 303-444-3636 x 40
Boulder County Department of Housing and Human
Services Mentoring
and Tutoring Program
Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services
Mentoring and Tutoring Program provides one-to-one mentors and tutors for
children in the Social Services’ caseload. Mentoring is community-based.
Serves youth ages 5-17. Develop a supportive, healthy relationship with a
child or teen victim of abuse or neglect.
Mentor: Spend 2-3 hours per week for 9 months with a child in the Social Services’ caseload, living at home or in foster care. Help with school work and enjoy fun activities in the community together. Mentors must be at least 20 years old and have transportation with proof of insurance and valid driver’s license.
Tutor: Spend 2 hours a week for 3 months providing academic support and tutoring to children in our child protection or adolescent services caseloads. The tutoring program runs during the school year. 8 hours training required. Placements generally run concurrent with school semesters.
Contact: Ann Sullivan
Website: www.bouldercounty.org/volunteer/opps_children.htm
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 303-441-1430
YWCA EDGE: Girls Empowerment Program
The YWCA E.D.G.E. Program is a group of programs with
the primary goal of empowering girls. These programs are designed to teach
leadership and life skills, to build self confidence, to foster community
awareness, and to work toward the elimination of racism. The aim is to foster
a group of girls who have the skills, confidence, resilience, and adaptability
to succeed in the future. The programs take place on a semester basis and
work with girls from ages 8-18. All mentoring is done in a group setting.
Time commitments vary, but average around 2.5 hours per week for 12 weeks.
Mentors must be at least 18 years old. Volunteer needs:
Bold Girls: 2nd - 4th grade, creative writing, also 2-5 grade collaboration with YMCA in BVSD, classes offered in Fall and Spring.
Bolder Girls: 4th – 6th grade, journalism class with Camera newspaper, classes offered in Fall and Spring.
Boldest Girls: 6th – 8th grade, digital storytelling using digital cameras and moviemaker, promotes community activism and working for social change, classes offered in Fall and Spring.
Teen Parent Graduation: High School, teaching teen parent’s career and life skills, programs run during BVSD school year.
Puente Program: High School (8th grade graduates going into 9th grade), bridge program to ease the transition from middle school into high school. Works with girls going into Boulder High, program runs from June through November after school.
Wired Girls/Boys Mentor: Middle School, use digital
cameras to take pictures and turn them into works of are, classes offered
in Fall and Spring.
Contact: Jennifer Klimowicz
Website: www.ywcaboulder.org/programs/edge.html
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 303-443-0419 x108
Boulder County Community Services Mentoring Program
The mission of the Boulder County Community
Services Mentoring Program is to empower youth receiving services through
the court system to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize
their personal potential.
Boulder County Community Services Mentoring Program envisions a community
in which every youth experiences nurturing one-to-one relationships and community
support, which in turn allows each of them to develop into their full potential,
capable of making informed, responsible decisions as involved members of our
community.
Responsibilities: Provide mentoring and guidance to an adolescents, ages 11-17,
involved in the court system by building a positive and ongoing relationship.
Mentors will have opportunities to engage the youth in healthy activities
through regular one-on-one meetings. Mentors will serve as a positive role
model, encourage community connections, and offer a support that will help
motivate the teen to successfully move through the system and life.
Contact: Anne Brubacher
Website: www.bouldercounty.org/cs/cb/mentor.htm
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-441-4890
The Mental Heath Center Youth Advocacy Program
The Youth Advocacy Program provides support
to youth in the community with behavioral, emotional and mental health issues
through one-on-one advocacy. The advocates wear many hats; they act as teachers,
listeners, protectors, advisors, supervisors and role models.
Why Volunteer:If you are currently, or are planning on working in the human service field or applying to graduate school, you must have direct experience to be a viable candidate. In this program, you will obtain excellent clinical experience along with close supervision. The Mental Health Center provides excellent training and ongoing supervision for any person wishing to support youth in our community.
Requirements: 2 to 4 hours a week one-on-one client time, completion of minimal paperwork and attendance at one-hour, bi-weekly supervision meetings. Approximately 9-12 month commitment; must be 21 years or older, have a valid Colorado drivers license, a clean driving record, and own your own car.
Contact: Mentor Program Coordinator
Website: www.mhcbc.org
E-mail:
Phone: 720-406-3681
Big Brothers Big Sisters
(This program is currently full. Please
select another mentoring program)
Big Brothers Big Sisters matches youth 7-12 years old in one to one mentoring
relationships. In the Community Based Mentoring Program, matches meet 2-4
times per month for 3-5 hours each time, doing various activities of their
choosing. Services are focused on the rapidly growing number of elementary
aged youth who qualify for Free and Reduced School lunch (live at or below
185% of Poverty) and who live with a single parent or caregiver.
Big Brothers Big Sisters also offers a Sports Buddies Program, and various site based programs run out of the Denver office.
Programs are designed to serve youth by providing them with safe, quality mentoring relationships that help them reach their full potential by:
improving their sense of self and community;
achieving a greater sense and awareness of their future; and
improving their school performance.
Potential volunteers need to complete a two hour informational training, an in person interview, and pass background checks. Upon approval, they will be matched with a youth in their community who fits their activity interests, personality, and background.
Contact: Howie Hutchinson, Volunteer Recruiter
Website: www.biglittlecolorado.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-433-6002
Thank You! Thank
You! Thank You!
