About Us
MentorsMatter is an award-winning collaborative effort
to promote the benefits of mentoring and to educate the community about the
needs of at-risk youth in Boulder County. The member organizations work together
to recruit adults from the local population, with an emphasis on recruiting
males and Latinos, to be mentors, advisors, and tutors for the many youth
waiting to be matched with a caring adult role model.
MentorsMatter offers a variety of opportunities to share some time with one of the many at-risk youth living in Boulder County. We are dedicated to matching you with a program that fits your schedule and style.
Think you’re too busy? The volunteer opportunities vary from a few hours a week, to a few hours a month, so we can definitely find a program that works with your busy schedule. Mentoring does not require any specialized skills—just the ability to have fun with a child, ranging in age from 5-17.
You will be matched either one-to-one, or in a group setting, with people that share the same interests. Either choose your own activities: hiking, sporting events, theater, picnic, ect, or attend activities held at the partner agencies. Training and ongoing support is provided.
For more information e-mail Mentors Matter
MentorsMatter is a collaboration between:
- Boulder County Partners
- Boulder Valley School District
- Boulder County Social Services Mentoring and Tutoring Program
- Boulder Enhanced Supervision Team (B.E.S.T)
Mentoring Organization
- "I Have a Dream"® Foundation
- RSVP Senior Corps
- YWCA EDGE: Girls Empowerment Program
- The Mental Health Center Serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties
In The News
Join Me and the First Lady in Helping Youth. more . . .
Mentors Matter Month Declared. more . . .
Read about filling family gaps with Mentors. more . . .
Read about how a $5000 grant will affect MentorsMatter. more . . .
Read about how local groups combine to search for volunteers. more . . .
Read the City of Boulder's "MentorsMatter Month" Declaration. more . . .
Read a Colorado Daily article about MentorsMatter and Laurie Rhoads. more . . .
Questions and Answers
Q. What is Mentoring?
A. Mentoring is:
· People helping youth to succeed
· Individuals who volunteer to establish a trusting relationship with
a young person
· A relationship between an adult (mentor) and a youth (mentee) with
modest time requirements—usually a few hours a week.
Q. Why Should I Mentor?
A. Youth who are matched with a mentor benefit tremendously:
· Improve their self confidence
· Increase their interest in school, and healthy activities
· Improve their relationships with peers and family members
· Decrease their chances for getting involved in drug and alcohol abuse
Q. What Do I Gain from Mentoring?
A. Mentors benefit as much, if not more than the mentees:
· Improve their morale
· Learn more about themselves
· Improve their own values
· Get a fresh perspective on their lives
· Feel more satisfied
Q. Will I Make a Good
Mentor?
A. You don’t need a background in education or counseling.
The best mentors are:
· Reliable and Consistent
· Patient
· Non-Judgmental
· Confidential in all matters
· Good communicators
· People with a good sense of humor
Mentors will go through a comprehensive screening and training process, which includes a volunteer application, background check, and an inquiry about mentor’s interests. Some programs require proof of outstanding driving records, fingerprints, and letters of recommendation.
Q. How do I Pick the
Right Program for Me?
A. Make sure you pick a program that fits well with your schedule
and style. Here are some questions to ask:
· Where does the mentoring take place?
Usually this takes place at the mentoring organization, or at local schools.
Locations will be throughout Boulder County.
· What is the required time commitment?
Some programs require 2-3 hours each week for a minimum of 6 months, others
as for a few hours per month for at least one year. Check with the program
Volunteer Coordinators for specifics.
· What types of Mentoring does the program offer?
Most of the mentoring is done one-to-one with a mentor and mentee, but there
are programs that offer circle-mentoring, in a group setting as well, if this
is something that interests you.
· What kind of training is offered?
There will be an initial training and orientation before you are matched with
your mentee, as well as ongoing support. You will always have the opportunity
to ask questions, and seek guidance from program staff.
· How long can I expect between when I sign up and when I am
matched with
a youth?
This will vary for each program, depending on the amount of background checks
needed, date of next orientation/training session, ect, but you should expect
a couple weeks before you get started.
*Some information provided by Dr. Weinberger’s “Mentoring: A Movement” book at www.hsph.harvard.edu
If you have any other questions about becoming a mentor, you can contact the MentorsMatter coordinator at mentors@volunteerconnection.net or 303-444-4904.
Member Agencies
Boulder County Partners
Partners Mentoring Program matches high-risk youth with screened and trained
adult volunteer mentors in year-long relationships. Once matched, the partnership
agrees to spend 3/5 hours per week together, playing sports, working on homework,
and positively impacting each other’s lives.
Youth are referred to the program by other professional youth-serving agencies
who recognize that the children will benefit from a positive adult role model.
Mentoring is community-based in Boulder and Broomfield Counties, and serves
youth 8-17. Mentors must be 20+.
Contact: Susi Keith, Executive Director
Website: www.bcpartners.org
E-mail: volunteer@bcpartners.org
Phone: 303-772-1411
Boulder Valley School Districts’ Community Access Mentoring (CAM)
The Community Access Mentoring (CAM) program assists middle school students and their families to effectively identify and participate in pro-social after-school and summer programs and services. Community Access Mentors are available to meet with youth during and after school. Serves youth ages 11 - 15. Mentoring is community-based, four hours a week with at least a one year commitment. Mentors must be at least 18 years old.
Contact: Patti Ashley, CAM Coordinator or Patricia Kenney
Email: patti.ashley@bvsd.org or
patricia.kenney@bvsd.org
Phone: 720-203-6844 or 303-442-5235 x 237
Boulder County Social Services Mentoring and Tutoring
Program
Mentors participate in a wide variety of enriching
activities with children and teens who have open child protection cases. Children
may be living at home or in foster care, and some of them are “special
needs,” meaning they have post-traumatic stress, emotional/behavioral/mental
problems, fetal alcohol syndrome, etc. All are experiencing difficult family
situations.
Serves youth ages 6-17. Mentoring is community-based in
Boulder County—the highest needs are in Longmont and East County. There
is a nine-month minimum commitment for one-to-one mentors, 2-3 hours per week.
Mentors must be 19+.
Contact: Donna McCraith or Thomi Quackenbush
Website: www.co.boulder.co.us/volunteer/opps_children.htm
E-mail: socialservicesvolunteer@bouldercounty.org.
Phone: 303-441-1053
Boulder County Enhanced Supervision Team (B.E.S.T.)
Mentoring Program
The B.E.S.T. Mentoring Program matches adults with
teens involved in the juvenile justice system. Many juveniles who become involved
in the justice system have come from difficult family situations and/or have
suffered traumas, and they face the added challenge of negative peer influences.
Volunteers are required to complete a 16-hour training and commit to an average of 3 hours per week for one year. Mentors must be 21+ and possess a valid Colorado license.
Contact: Anne Brubacher
Website: www.co.boulder.co.us/volunteer/opps_crimjust.htm
Email: abrubacher@bouldercounty.org
Phone: 303-441-3718
"I Have a Dream"® Foundation
IHAD is a long-term dropout prevention program. All of the youth involved
in the program are low-income. The Foundation adopts a group of children in
elementary school and works with them through high school.
Tuition assistance is provided upon
high school graduation. Mentoring/Tutoring is done at after-school sites in
Boulder, Longmont, and Lafayette. There is a one-year commitment, for 8 hours
per month. Mentors are highly encouraged to have a car and must be 20 or older.
Contact: Lisa Schwartz, Volunteer Coordinator
Website: www.ihadboulder.org
E-mail: lisa.schwartz@ihadboulder.org
Phone: 303-444-3636 x19
RSVP Senior Corps
RSVP's mission is to mobilize volunteers aged 55+ to
meet community needs and to promote the security, independence and comfort
of seniors and adults with disabilities. RSVP assists their volunteers with
transportation when needed, along with supplemental insurance for volunteers
going to, coming from, and while on their volunteer jobs. MentorsMatter is
proud to have RSVP as our Community Partner working together to match seniors
as mentors with our agencies.
Contact: Emily Ditty
Website: www.rsvpboulder.org
E-mail: rsvp@rsvpboulder.org
Phone: 303-443-1933 Boulder / 303-772-2262 Longmont
YWCA EDGE: Girls Empowerment Program
The mission of the EDGE program is to empower girls with both the skills and
attitudes they need to take healthy risks, maintain high aspirations, and
stay resilient in the face of difficulty.
YWCA serves girls between the ages of 9 and 18 in three
different semester-long programs: “Bold, Bolder, Boldest Girls”:
a journalism project taught as a class; “Wired Girls”: teaches
computer/website creation skills; and “Teen Parent”: professional
women mentor teen parents to encourage them to go to college and look toward
a career. Mentors must be at least 18 years old.
Contact: Jennifer Klimowicz
Website: www.ywcaboulder.org/programs/edge.html
E-mail: frontdesk@ywcaboulder.org
Phone: 303-443-0419
The Mental Heath Center Serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties Youth Advocacy
Program
This program is designed to support youth in the community
with behavioral, emotional and mental health issues through one-on-one advocacy.
It is similar to a mentoring or Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. To practice
advocacy that is multifunctional in that the advocate wears multiple hats;
they act as teachers, listeners, protectors, advisors, supervisors and role
models.
There is a 9-12 month commitment of 2-4 hours a week of one-on-one client time as well as completion of paperwork and attendance at one hour bi-weekly supervision meetings. Mentors must be at least 21 years old, have a valid Colorado license, a clean driving record, and possess thier own car.
Contact: Karla Kruse, Volunteer
Coordinator
Website: www.mhcbbc.org
E-mail: kkruse@mhcbbc.org
Phone: 720-406-3682
Volunteer Connection
The mission of the Volunteer Connection is to engage people as volunteers
and strengthen volunteer-based programs, improving the quality of life in
Boulder County. Search online for volunteer opportunities in your area of
interest. Serves all ages!
Website: www.volunteerconnection.net (you're there!)
Phone: 303-444-4904
E-mail: staff@volunteerconnection.net
MentorsMatter Contact Information
If you would like more information on how to get involved, or are just
interested in learning more about our programs, please call or e-mail the
MentorsMatter Coordinator.
Sue McCullough
MentorsMatter Coordinator
2885 E. Aurora Ave., Suite 32
Boulder, CO 80303
Phone: 303-444-4904
Fax: 303-444-4915
E-mail: mentors@volunteerconnection.net
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
MentorsMatter is funded in part by the following organizations:
