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We'd love to pair your child with a trained mentor in our program. Here's what you need to know about forms and processes for both mentees and mentors.
If a Family Advocate or school counselor has reached out to you to ask if your child would like to be paired with a mentor, the first step is to complete the Parental Permission form and then help your child fill out the Mentee Interest Survey.
If you haven't been approached about your child being paired with a mentor, you can fill out our Student Referral Form to let us know that you would like your child to have a mentor.
If you have questions about our program, please reach out to us using the form below to ask us anything that comes to mind.
Mentee Interest Survey
2024 Parental Permission Form.docxFrequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a mentor vs. a counselor?
What is the difference between a mentor vs. a counselor?
School counselors are responsible for hundreds of students at our public schools. They are able to check in on kids or meet with them consistently for a few months, but because of the breadth of their responsibilites, cannot provide on-going one-on-one attention to any particular child for that child's academic career.
Mentoring is a less formal relationship than counseling in that mentors have no pressure to meet with multiple students. A mentor's role is to be a listening ear, role model, sounding board, trusted friend, confidant and cheerleader for your child.
Our hope is that many of our mentors will commit to mentoring a child until graduation. This offers long-term consistency for the student and allows them to feel known and heard throughout their childhood.
When you look at the statics from Mentoring.com, the results as to the effectiveness of mentoring are impressive: Of adults who had a meaningful mentor as youth, 74% say that their mentor contributed significantly to their success later in life.
How long, how often and where do mentors meet?
How long, how often and where do mentors meet?
Mentors meet with their student mentee once a week for about 30 minutes during a student's lunch break, so as not to disrupt learning time.
Mentors meet with mentees during the school year only, but may opt to mail cards to your child during the summer to keep that connection going. Refer to the school calendar for when our mentors meet with students: www.white.k12.ga.us/school_calendar
Counselors at every White County school have provided a list of approved meeting areas. Most often, mentors meet in a conference room, spare classroom, library or other quiet place that gives them the opportunity to chat with the mentee.
How are mentors screened?
How are mentors screened?
To become a volunteer mentor in our program, mentors must:
Fill out an application
Attend a two-hour mentor training
Pass a fingerprinting and background check at Pioneer RESA
Complete the Mandated Reporter Training Module (yearly)
Submit a Volunteer Badge Request (yearly)
Comitt to meeting with a mentee at least one year
Are mentors trained?
Are mentors trained?
Yes, our mentors must attend an in-depth mentor training that provides them with practical knowledge on relationship building, such as how to be an active listener and develop trust.
We want our mentors to feel equipped to conversate and connect with kids.
What if my child and the mentor aren't a good fit?
What if my child and the mentor aren't a good fit?
We do our best to pair mentors and mentees based on what we think will be a thriving relationship, but realize that sometimes a pairing may not be a good fit. We prefer to give the relationship three months to develop trust and connection.
After three months, if you or your child feels that the mentor pairing is not a good fit, please reach out to Haley Hobson, Mentor Program Coordinator, haley.hobson@white.k12.ga.us, 706-969-5066.
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