Frequently Asked Questions
The presence of caring adults offering support, advice, friendship, reinforcement and constructive examples has proved to be a powerful tool for helping young people fulfill their potential.
Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the youth, also known in the mentoring relationship as the "mentee." A mentor is an adult who, along with parents and guardians, provides a young person with support, counsel, friendship, and positive reinforcement.
Valuable research suggests that quality mentoring programs implement nationally recognized best practice standards based on research, experience and evidence of positive outcomes. Read more on how MPM supports quality mentoring,
A good mentor is defined as a wise and trusted friend who offers support and encouragement. Mentors help young people develop their sparks and interests, draw out their strengths, and guide them down the right path. Mentors are:
- Good listeners
- Tolerant, non-judgmental
- Reliable
- Consistent
You do not need a background in education or youth development to be effective. Mentors and youth may decide together what they want to do when they meet. Here are some great activities and examples. For other, more structured mentoring programs such as school or group-based programs, guidelines for meeting times and activities are laid out by the program.
MPM believes all children have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society, but not all children get the support they need to thrive. There are more than 270,000 youth in Minnesota who could benefit from a positive mentoring relationship. Most mentoring programs have a waiting list of youth who want to be matched with a mentor. There is an especially critical need for more male and ethnically diverse mentors.
Youth benefits:
- improve their self-confidence
- improve their attitudes
- increase their interest in staying in school
- improve relationships with peers and families
- are less likely to get involved in drugs and alcohol abuse and delinquent behavior
Mentor benefits:
- feel valued
- learn more about themselves
- improve their own values
- get a fresh perspective on their lives
- feel more satisfied
Depending on the program you choose to volunteer with, the time commitment varies. Community-based programs typically ask volunteers to meet at least 6-8 hours a month for at least a year to develop the relationship. School-based programs meet on-site during the school calendar year.
Patience is a virtue in mentoring! Often, a mentor eagerly wants to observe dramatic results in a short period of time, but it takes time to see positive results. It is important to remember that no matter what the immediate outcomes are, your time and presence in a young person's life make a difference because it shows them that they are a valued member of the community.
Find a mentoring program in MPM's network on the Find a Program page. The Google map based search allows you to find a program based on your location; advanced features can help you further customize your search by program type, ages served, and Quality Partner status.