AFC Mentors, our one-to-one mentoring program, matches adult volunteer mentors with youth ages 7 to 14 who have personal experiences around out-of-home care, including foster care, adoption, kinship or residential care and are from the Greater
Boston area.
Mentor Requirements
Mentors commit to meet with their mentee at least 8 hours a month, about twice a month, for one year. Mentors and mentees choose activities that fit both of their interests and are also invited to participate in AFC sponsored events held for all matches. Because our mentors are so dedicated over 88% of our matches last longer than one year!
At least one third of our mentees have moved to a new home during their match relationship and many have moved more than once already. Our support system has allowed each of these matches to continue through those moves. Often the mentor is one of the only consistent adults in the mentee's life during these transitions. Several mentees have even said that their mentors are among the key people in their lives.
Mentee Requirements
All mentees must meet the following requirements to become a mentee with AFC Mentoring, including:
- Youth with personal experiences around foster care, adoption, kinship care, residential care, and other out-of-birth home placements.
- Potential mentees are between the ages of 7-14 and willing to meet for 8 hours/month for one year.
- Live in our service area of Boston or Metro Boston
- Attend two (2) hour mentee training to prepare for the mentoring match.
- Complete a mentee application and fax (fax: 617-451-1025) or mail it to AFC.
Post-Match Support
We encourage mentors to attend mentor support and networking meetings. At these meetings, mentors can discuss successes and roadblocks to the development of their match relationship. AFC Mentoring also provides on-going training based on their needs.
Mentoring program coordinators also make monthly phone calls to mentors and mentees to make sure everyone's needs are met in the match. We are also in contact with social workers or parents of all mentees on a consistent basis.
Mentor Requirements
All mentors must meet the following requirements to become a mentor with AFC Mentoring, including:
- Potential mentors must be at least 18 y/o and willing to meet for 8 hours/month for one year
- Complete mentor application with:
- CORI check
- SORI check
- FBI background check
- RMV check (if necessary)
- Three non-family references
- Interview with mentor program coordinator
- Attend a two (2) hour of mentor program information session
- Participate in six (6) hours of adoption & foster care training