criteria for accepting mentee's into a mentor program

James,
We have been operating a program for 13-21 year olds in the foster care system for 10 years. Our criteria are based on several factors including our program design. We are community-based so the mentors AND mentees have to be safe out in the community together. Our criteria for mentees include stable on meds and NOT in residential care, expected to stay in foster care for a minimum of six months, no recent history of running, no recent record of violent assault. Basically we are looking for kids who will be available to develop a relationship. Kids that are repeatedly running disrupt that process. Kids that move home almost always have trouble sustaining the relationship due to the competing forces of bio family who are often not supportive of the mentoring relationship. Also, kids in residential care are usually not available to go out into the community. We have had kids go into residential treatment while in our program and have had mentors drive great distances to meet with them during their treatment, but only when those were established relationships. Our program mission is to build resiliency to support successful transition to independent living so activities out in the community include visiting post-secondary education opportunities, shopping for apartments, etc.

Basically, the criteria you decide upon should support your mission and program design. Good luck. Please feel free to visit our website if interested: www.powerhouseprogram.org

Maria Hein