The Children's Aid Society

Mentoring

What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is the relationship between an adult (mentor) and child (mentee) that provides young people with the guidance, support and encouragement that will make a positive and lasting difference in their lives. Children's Aid staff work to form these relationships with children and youth in their programs and locations, but the programs listed below depend on volunteer mentors.

Character development is a key component of The Children's Aid Society's mentoring programs. To that end, mentors provide career exploration, life skills discussion groups, educational activities and academic support. Each program is overseen by a program facilitator who works alongside each mentor and guides them in completing the program activities and components.

When Do Mentors and Mentees Meet?
Meetings occur once a week on weekday evenings or Saturdays from October through May. Most one-on-one mentoring sessions last two hours and take place at Children's Aid community centers and schools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

Who are the Mentees?
Mentoring Programs serve boys and girls from fourth through 12th grade. Our mentees are from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Our Commitment to Training
The Children's Aid Society has put together a series of workshops intended to inform, educate and help volunteers accomplish the goals and objectives of the academic and mentoring programs.

Volunteers, both new and returning, are strongly encouraged to attend several training workshops throughout the season to learn various tools and techniques that are useful when working with youth of all ages.

Tell me more about how I can mentor a child!