When you were young, did you have a role model who inspired you or was a positive voice in your life?
It takes one person to make a difference in a child’s life. You can be that person.
With all that our world is facing today, it’s more important than ever for kids to have a caring adult in their life who will encourage and empower them through real life decisions. Right now in Palm Beach County, 1,050 kids are waiting to be matched with a mentor. Watch to see how you can turn up your impact in our community through mentoring.
Change Our World. Click Here to Become a Mentor Today!
Are you a teen (or a parent of a teen) who would like to learn more about being matched with a mentor?
Click Here to Complete Our Mentee Interest Form!
Introducing the Level Up Program
The Mentor Center, in partnership with Palm Beach County Youth Services Department and Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, is launching a new program called Level Up that will offer mentoring opportunities for teens ages 11 to 19 years old who are directly involved with or at risk of entering the Juvenile Justice or Dependency system.
The goal of the program is to match the teens with a long-term, positive role model, make referrals to community-based services, and provide opportunities to continue education or career exploration. Three hubs will be planted across Palm Beach County to serve teens in the northern, central, and southern areas of the county.
You may be a good fit to mentor this population if you are an individual who has experience/involvement with the criminal justice system.
If you know a young person who could benefit from this program, please share this flier with them or have them sign up for the program here.
Why Mentorship?
Research shows that students who participate in mentor relationships miss fewer school days, are less likely to participate in negative behaviors and more likely to graduate on time.
Spending just one hour a week with a mentor can help a child become:
- 55% more likely to be enrolled in college.
- 81% more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities.
- 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
- More than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
- 52% less likely to skip a day of school.
- 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs.
- 27% less likely to start drinking.
What Does It Take to Be a Good Mentor?
All you need to do is show up, be present, and be yourself.
Often we get asked “What does it take to be a mentor? I just don’t know if I am qualified.” Our response is usually the same. Why would you not be qualified? Your unique life experiences will help a kid navigate their path and overcome obstacles.
Being a mentor is being a listener, a guide, a support, a cheerleader, providing insight, and fostering success in others. Here are a few qualities that all mentors share:
- A sincere desire to connect with a young person
- Respect for young people
- Active listening skills
- Empathy
- Ability to see solutions and opportunities
- Flexibility
It’s normal to go into mentoring being unsure of what impact it will make, not realizing that you have the opportunity to create a positive shift in the life of a young person- impacting generations of people to come.
We can guarantee that you will change two lives through mentorship – both you and your mentee will experience incredible fulfillment.
Take the Next Step to Become a Mentor Today!
About Our Mentor Center
Under the Mentor Center, United Way now funds and has oversight of 25 local mentor programs.
The Mentor Center also serves as the anchor of the Palm Beach County Mentor Network, a professional affiliation of 55 formal mentor programs working together to elevate mentoring in the community. These local mentor programs oversee more than 10,000 mentor matches. View a list of the Mentor Center Network programs and contact information.
Mentoring Spotlight: Make a Difference in a Young Man’s Life
Mentoring Spotlight Success Story: Talented Teen Club
The United Way of Palm Beach County Mentor Center is an affiliate of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership and an official Technical Assistance Provider of the National Mentoring Resource Center, a project of MENTOR and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Thank you to our funders who make this program possible!
