YouthZone’s Pals Mentoring Program is a voluntary one-on-one mentoring program which provides a young person with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement, positive role modeling, and activities. Mentors are adults or older teens who care about and want to be a guiding friend to a youth.

Volunteers in the program are highly screened and trained. Youth in the program go through a thorough interview. This process seeks to assist in making the Pals match a rewarding, constructive relationship for all involved. A mentor match is made according to activity interest, personality traits, individual likes and dislikes, location and life experiences.

You may be what YouthZone is looking for to mentor a young person, if you are:

• interested in working with youth.
• capable of being objective and non-judgmental.
• sensitive to what people are saying verbally and non-verbally.
• willing to spend 2-3 hours per week to a youth.
• committed to the overall philosophy of YouthZone and willing to represent the agency in an appropriate manner.

Every mentor applicant must: 1. fill out a volunteer application; 2. participate in a screening process which includes a driving records check, automobile insurance verification, criminal history check, a child abuse registry check, reference check; 3. participate in a personal interview with a YouthZone staff member; 4. participate in a 4 hour training. This entire process can take up to 2 months or longer. Mentors are only matched with a young person when it is determined a beneficial match for both the volunteer and youth.

To start the rewarding experience of participating in a young person’s life, complete the YouthZone volunteer application or contact YouthZone at 970-945-9300.

The Family and Pal Connection
When families and volunteers work together and are guided by common goals and direction, the benefit to the Jr. Pal is greatly enhanced. Mutual expectations that are clear and well understood provide the Jr. Pal reliable consistency and creates a cohesive atmosphere that encourages positive development.

Open communication between parents and volunteers is the key to success in establishing and maintaining common goals and shared understanding. Each party needs as many pieces as possible in order to identify the needs of the child and generate acceptable solutions.

With this joint effort in place, the child is able to stay focused and ultimately the goals and expectations become more obtainable. An additional dividend is that once the goal has been accomplished, the recognition for the Jr. Pal supported jointly by parent and volunteer is doubled, thereby increasing the positive reinforcement.

As the adult components of the Pals match, plan time together to discuss your concerns and expectation for your Jr. Pal/child. Brainstorm solutions and plans for action. Update each other on the child’s progress. Last but far from least, share in the celebration of your successes … you will have reached them together!

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