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Why Mentoring Matters:
Community for Youth inspires and supports students to be their best selves through mentoring, learning experiences, and a powerful community.
Mentorship has countless benefits for youth – academic success, decreased likelihood of substance use, reduction in depressive symptoms, promotion of positive relationships & communication, connection to employment opportunities, concrete skill learning and practice, and more. CfY’s mentoring model is data-driven, based in racial equality, and prioritizes youth voices.
When you mentor at CfY, you are an important cornerstone of critical programming that allows Seattle high school students to reach their full potential!
What It Takes to be a Mentor:
As a CfY mentor, you are dependable, patient, flexible, and open to learning. Above all else, you are committed to the success of every CfY student!
We ask mentors to see youth not as broken or deficient, but as dedicated, committed, and powerful. CfY asks mentors to be opportunity brokers, collaborators, listeners, and supporters of our students. We are youth advocates who meet our students where they are and inspire them as they navigate their journey of transformation. This partnering leads to transformation in our students, mentors, and community.
Learning Communities:
Our primary and most popular program, Learning Communities, follows the academic year. Programming kicks off in late September, and runs through mid-June. Participants dedicate 2-3 hours each week to Community for Youth activities. Weekly activities rotate between a one-to-one activity with your student, an activity with 3-4 other mentoring pairs known as a Family Group, a mentor-only workshop, and a larger Community Workshop with 20-30 mentoring pairs.
Ready to enroll?
Recruitment for Learning Communities is now OPEN! Enrollment for CfY Duos is currently on pause. Please apply by our priority deadline, September 1st, 2023, to join our upcoming program year.
Still have questions, or don’t know where to start? Fill out and submit our interest form and a staff member will be in contact shortly.
To get started:
- Fill out and submit the New Mentor Application linked below.
- A CfY staff member will contact you to schedule an interview.
- If we determine you are a good fit for our program, you will complete a comprehensive background check.
- Learning Communities participants start the year with four mentor training sessions in September before being matched with a student. CfY Duos participants will complete a virtual mentor training as directed by a CfY staff member.
Scroll down to read mentor eligibility requirements and apply!
Mentor Eligibility Requirements
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- Reside in the greater Puget Sound area.
- Be willing to adhere to all Community for Youth Mentoring Program policies and procedures and follow the CfY Code of Conduct.
- Agree to a full academic year commitment to the program. (September through June)
- Commit to spending quality and intentional time with your mentee in a consistent manner.
- Complete the screening procedure.
- Agree to attend all of CfY Activities. (Any schedule conflicts can be worked out with the team!)
- Be willing to communicate regularly with the Match Support Specialist and submit monthly meeting and activity information.
- Have access to an automobile or reliable transportation.
- Have a current driver’s license, auto insurance, and good driving record.
- Have never been accused, arrested, charged, or convicted of child abuse or molestation.
- Not use illicit drugs.
- Not use alcohol or controlled substances in an excessive or inappropriate manner.
- Not be currently in treatment for substance abuse. If a substance abuse problem has occurred in the past, the applicant must have completed a non-addictive period of at least five years.
- Not have falsified information during the course of the screening process.
- Be vaccinated against COVID-19 and follow CfY guidelines regarding masks and safety.
CfY acknowledges that the criminal justice system disproportionately impacts folx of color, and while there are certain exclusionary crimes (sex offenses, violent crimes, crimes against the vulnerable), we take a holistic approach to application review that considers multiple factors.
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