What is One on One Mentoring?
The Funhouse’s Mentor program pairs youth with caring adults to form supportive one-on-one relationships. Matches agree to meet for one hour a week, for one year, to have fun, develop life skills, and to do whatever the two of them choose!
Mentors are trained in how to connect with youth and in how to help them develop personal skills to support healthy growth. Mentors are trained to help youth to think about their personal goals, and to offer the tools and encouragement needed to achieve them. Through the context of a trusting relationship youth gain a friend, a confidant, an advocate, and a resource for helpful life skills and perspectives.
Why should I become a Mentor?
Youth in mentor programs are:
- 55% more likely to enroll in college
- 78% more likely to volunteer regularly
- 130% more likely to hold leadership positions.
Becoming a mentor has clear benefits for the youth, for the mentor, and for the community at large. Youth with mentors continue to benefit from the relationship throughout their lives. Giving your time and attention to a young person, you can help them to become more resilient, compassionate, and joyful adults. Mentoring will also allow you to develop invaluable skills that come from spending time with a young person. You might be amazed by how much you can learn from hanging out with a kiddo. In addition to the skills you’ll develop from your one on one time, you’ll also undergo training sessions on topics such as communication, positive mindsets, value strengthening, and goal setting. Mentorship also strengthens our community by fostering intergenerational bonds and advancing a culture of shared responsibility for our youth and their future.
Becoming a Mentor
To be a Mentor, you will be asked to complete an application, provide personal references and complete a background check. The Funhouse provides a mentor orientation, ongoing training sessions and continuous support for mentors and mentees. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please click the links on the right that best fit your needs. Thank you for your interest in our Mentor Program, and we hope to work with you soon!
What it's like to be a Mentor
Ali, 31 and Serafina, 13 have been matched for about 2 years now. Serafina was involved in other programs at The Funhouse and eventually became aware of the mentor program. “One of my favorite things about having a mentor is having someone to talk to”, says Serafina, and Ali wholeheartedly agrees!
As part of their agreement through The Funhouse mentor program, they have committed to spend at least 4 hours per month together, doing an activity of their choice. At the beginning of COVID things changed for a bit and they were meeting virtually, once a week. Now, they are able to safely get out again so they have been enjoying nature walks, either on the trails or beaches. Both Ali and Serafina enjoy drawing anime and making slime!
According to Ali, “it is important for the community to be supportive of our youth. I am privileged to be a part of the program and it’s great to have Serafina in my life. Everyone should spend time with a kid if they can!” Mentoring relationships are an essential part of reaching out to the youth and keeping a healthy community. Mentors provide mentees with structure through engaging activities and meaningful relationships, as well as helping to guide them through many challenges and successes
Gavin and Yonatan
Yonatan, 34 and Gavin, 13 have been matched for 4 years. “I was at the Funhouse nearly everyday. My mom told me about the mentor program and said that she thought it would be good for me, so we signed up”, says Gavin. “Some of my favorite things to do with Yonatan are cooking, playing Pathfinder online and camping!” Yonatan says that, “mentoring is a special relationship. There is not a lot of connection between the generations and adults don’t usually relate well to teens. This gives me the opportunity to connect with different life experiences and gives me a different perspective on things. We have some fascinating conversations and go on some big adventures!”
If you are interested in becoming a mentor or have a youth in your home interested in the program, contact Jesse Fabrikant at The Funhouse at 360-818-4368 or email: mentors@thefunhouse.org
We are actively seeking caring adults for a variety of mentoring roles.
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Mentor Program Video
Following Best Practices, Ensuring Positive Impact
The quality of a mentor program’s practices are a critical factor in achieving positive outcomes for youth. For this reason, The Funhouse is committed to following quality best practices, set forth by the National Mentoring Alliance, and its affiliate, Mentor Washington. We have been a Dedicated Partner of Mentor Washington since 2014. The Funhouse Commons achieved that designation through a rigorous evaluation and innovation process. It includes ongoing consultation from Mentor Washington to develop and implement a continuous improvement plan. The goal setting and skill development activities we use were developed by leading mentoring researchers and are based on peer reviewed studies demonstrating their effectiveness.
Our Mentor program includes a careful screening process and initial training for all mentors, as well as ongoing education opportunities for mentors throughout the year. Additionally, we take great care in setting up potential matches, taking into consideration the many complex factors which impact relationship success. Our mentor coordinator works closely with mentors, mentees and mentee families throughout their match, to support their growth.
Prior to being matched, mentors must complete an application, share two personal references, consent to a state and federal background check, interview with the Funhouse Mentor Coordinator, and attend 3-hours of training.