Become a Mentor
The Great Life Mentoring model begins with rigorous screening, to ensure only the best candidates become volunteers.
Twenty hours of training prepares the mentors to provide the youth with the individualized care they need, and continued support throughout their relationship establishes success.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Mentors meet with their friends, either at school or in the community, just to hang out and be a friend for 2-3 hours a week for at least 12 months. We’ll give you lots of ideas for free activities you can do together, but it’s up to the two of you to decide what you want to do together and when you will meet.
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Mentors must be 19 years of age or older. There is an application and screening process which includes a background check, reference checks, and an interview. After that you must successfully complete our mentor training process, which takes about 20 hours. You will also need to have a vehicle, valid driver’s license and auto insurance.
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Once you are invited to become a mentor you will help select the child you mentor. GLM’s training process and ongoing support will help you develop a trusting relationship with your new friend. You get to decide what day and time you mentor and you will spend time together with your friend in the community. You’ll also become a part of your friend’s mental health treatment plan and part of the professional team that serves the child and helps you to become a successful mentor.
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We provide match support for as long as you are mentoring your friend. We are a high quality-mentoring program and our goal is to help you enjoy your mentoring experience so much that you’ll want to stay matched with your friend even past your one-year commitment! Our pre-match training will prepare you to confidently handle situations that may arise and our helpful staff is only a phone call or an email away.
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Some work full time and others are college students or retired; their education levels are from high-school to doctorates degrees; some have children of their own while others don’t. We have a fire fighter, a pilot, a homemaker, a laborer, business people, students and food service and health service workers; the list goes on. Our mentors are all kinds of people with different personalities but one thing in common: they have compassion for a child who needs a friend and are willing to let us help them to be that friend.
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No, we provide training and support.
“We’ve seen countless life-changing miracles. Each child has a story all their own, but every story includes a mentor who brings encouragement, consistency, and hope.”
—Elizabeth Higley, Founder and Director
Meet our Mentors
In Their Own Words, Mentor and Youth Stories
Reyna and Sydney — Mentoring Since 2017
“When you get a mentor, if you’re having problems in life, it will fix your problems. Because, you’ll have a friend who will teach you new things and show you new things.” —Sydney
Adam and Alex — Mentoring Since 2014
“Great Life Mentoring is fantastic for kids like me who didn’t think they’d have any friends where they are. It increased my mood and made me really happy. So, I’d be looking forward to something every week.” —Alex
Phil and Evan — Mentoring Since 2001
“A kid even as young as 12 can see…They’re looking for the adult that’s going to stick around and be their friend. They are scared about that next adult who’s going to drop them and walk away like some have; they’re worried about that. They’re looking for someone that is faithful and that they can trust in.” —Evan
Jessica and Kaylee — Mentoring Since 2013
“She’s taught me to not give up on my dreams.” —Kaylee
Aislinn and Whitney — Mentoring Since 2018
“I had a strong feeling that me and her could get really close. So that way, I could express myself more without having to be silent almost all the time.” —Whitney
Tammy and Tyger — Mentoring Since 2012
“When you have this feeling that you’re valued, or you’ve made a difference in someone’s life, it’s such a rewarding feeling.” —Tyger
Mentor and Youth Quotes