Mentor Program of White County
Embedded Files
A service program of White County Family Connection. Read more about our mission and services.
Are you ready to mentor? Fill out an application below, then save the date for our next training.
Our Mentor Coordinator will follow up with you with details about the program.
Phone, Zoom or In-Person Training Available
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it take to be a mentor?
What does it take to be a mentor?
A desire to help a child.
A commitment of 30 minutes a week during school year.
Completed application and training.
Background check.
Where and when would I mentor?
Where and when would I mentor?
At a White County public school of your choice:
Jack P. Nix Elementary
Mossy Creek Elementary
Tesnatee Gap Elementary
Mount Yonah Elementary
White County Middle School
Warrior Academy
White County High School
During a child’s lunch break on a day you choose each week.
How would I know what to say?
How would I know what to say?
We provide you with a thorough training to prepare you for mentoring.
Active listening and the development of trust---not talking---are the two biggest roles of a mentor. In fact, your mentee is likely to chatter away during your time together, giving you the opportunity to ask poignant, open-ended questions.
How can I sign up?
How can I sign up?
Fill out our application.
Or reach out to Mentor Program Coordinator Haley Hobson at haley.hobson@white.k12.ga.us or 706-969-5066.
Is there a fee involved?
Is there a fee involved?
There is no cost to volunteering to mentor through White County Family Connection. Approved mentors must complete a fingerprinting background check through Pioneer RESA, but the fee for that check is paid for by Family Connection.
How long would I mentor?
How long would I mentor?
Week to week, you would mentor roughly 30 minutes throughout the school year during a child's lunchtime.
We ask our mentors to commit to mentoring a student for at least one school year. Some mentors commit to three years and some commit to mentor until the student graduates.
We understand that life happens, and as such, mentor-mentee relationships may end. We have had several students who have moved away unexpectedly and several mentors who have faced health issues. When this happens, we work to re-pair the mentor or mentee with another available student or volunteer.
It's always more than "just lunch"
It's always more than "just lunch"
By outward appearances, this may look like lunch with a student. But it's not that simple; it's so much more.
What you don't see is a mentor meeting every single week with a child, offering a warm welcome to let the child know he is valued.
You don't see a child's guard come down each week because he knows his mentor is a friend he can trust.
You don't feel the unspoken bond, which allows the child to share the highs as well as lows of his life.
You don't hear a mentor actively listening, encouraging and asking the right questions so the child can feel heard, valued and able to make beneficial life choices.
You don't see the quiet fighter in the child's corner because, honestly, it's not about the mentor. It's always been about the child.
Page updated
Report abuse