Parent/Guardian Handbook

• Youth will speak with their mentor a minimum of one time per week. 

• Youth are expected to speak with their mentors a minimum of 5-8 hour per month.

• Youth are expected to meet with their mentors in-person once per month. 

• Parents/Guardians are expected to communicate important boundaries directly with mentors and program staff regarding transportation, in-person meetings, etc. 

• Staff will check in with parents/guardians at one month, 3 months, 6 months and anniversary milestones or as needed. Parents/guardians are encouraged to reach out to staff or the mentors with additional questions or needs.  For Jefferson Academy's mentoring pilot staff will check-in with parents/guardians monthly for the first 6 months. 

• Parents/Guardians are expected to engage with the mentor while giving the youth and their mentor space to get to know each other. 

• Youth are expected to attend a minimum of 2 PowerUp! workshops per season (summer, fall and spring). 

• Parents/Guardians are responsible for monitoring the student's online communication and Mentors, Inc. @ Kid Power does not directly monitor online behavior of students. 

Mentors, Inc. @ Kid Power Main Office - 202.484.1404

Kaitlin Putnam, program director - 202.227.8961

Hannah Ayer, program manager, 202.570.4913

Aiden Teplitzky Dobens, program manager - 202.227.0366

CHAMPS (Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Service) of Catholic Charities - (202) 481-1440

National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Hotline - 1-800-273-8255

DC Access Helpline -  In case of a mental health emergency -1(888)7WE-HELP or 1-888-793-4357

Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7 crisis counseling - Text HOME to 741741

In case of an emergency - 911 

Parents and guardians are important in the mentoring relationship too! As a parent/guardian of a protégé, it is encouraged of you to keep in contact with your child’s mentor and staff contact to support the mentoring relationship and your child in reaching their goals. 

Your role in this relationship is: 

• To encourage your youth to communicate with their mentor weekly. 

• Check in with staff regularly when staff reach out to you or if you have any questions or concerns about your child and/or their mentor. 

• Encourage your child to have in person outings with their mentor if they are ready and it is appropriate (The mentor will clear all outings with you prior to the outing). 

• Engage with the mentor and get to know them while also giving space for the youth and mentor to get to know each other and build their relationship. 

• Communicate guidelines around transportation, gifts, etc. directly with the mentor, as well as with staff. 

• Let staff and the youth’s mentor know if there is a change in the child’s schedule or anything of concern in their school, personal life, etc. Also let us know if phone numbers or your youth’s access to phones/email changes.