Mentors Wanted!

We are actively seeking caring people, teens or adults, for traditional one-on-one mentoring. The Funhouse also welcomes “skill” mentors for children or teens, “group” mentors for small class skill-building, and project-based mentors. Tutors for one-on-one tutoring or to help during our after-school homework club are also needed.

 

If you are interested, please download a mentor form here and submit it electronically to volunteer@thefunhouse.org, or stop by The Funhouse in person!

 

The Funhouse mentor program has been successful for over a decade. The Funhouse Commons is committed to following quality best practices and has been recognized as a top mentoring program in Washington State by a Mentoring Works Washington.

The program offers training, host mentor meetings, and takes great care in setting up potential matches. Mentors can play a key role in a child’s life. Self-esteem, emotional well-being, grades, and social confidence can all be positively affected by having another loving adult around to learn from, play with, and confide in.

Do you have some free time each week to spend with a younger child in need of adult guidance?

Are you an artist, an outdoor enthusiast, an athlete, a chef? Are you looking for an apprentice for your studio?

Children and teenagers on the island are looking for mentors who can help them pursue their interests and talents, provide companionship, and positive role-modeling.

The Funhouse Commons Mentor program was just named a Dedicated Partner by Mentoring Works Washington. The Funhouse Commons achieved Dedicated level through a rigorous, guided evaluation process that is based on over 20 years of national research and experienced practitioner insight and includes ongoing assistance from Mentoring Works Washington to develop and implement a 12-month Improvement & Innovation Plan.

This designation means that the Funhouse Commons is committed to following quality best practices that help ensure the community’s youth and volunteers are safe and that they experience mentoring relationships that result in positive outcomes such as increased self-efficacy, academic success, and decreased chances of exhibiting risky behavior.

To achieve Dedicated status the Funhouse completed the Quality Mentoring Assessment Path, or QMAP. Out of around 200 mentoring programs in Washington, only 6 have become Dedicated Partners and 3 have become Expert Partners in the first two years of the statewide program.

In rigorous studies, mentoring conducted in high quality programs reduced juvenile delinquency and crime; improved school attendance, grades and high school graduation rates; improved mental health; and lowered risk of youth involvement in such risky behaviors as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco use.

We hope you’ll consider becoming a mentor, or sharing the opportunity with someone you know who would like to participate in this program!