Become a Mentor: Girl with Goals Alliance

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Girls with Goals Alliance provides one-to-one mentoring for girls 9-18 in Hampton Roads cities of Virginia. Each participant is paired with a female adult mentor for a one-year term and meet weekly to work on set goals. "Smart Goals" initiative includes 12-sessions focusing on health/wellness, academic success, leadership skills and community service. Through two-hour workshops, the program is designed to promote healthy eating habits, fitness, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and the Arts) activities and experiences, awareness of the consequences of drugs or alcohol use or early sexual involvement and encourage community service to make a difference. "Passport to Success" our project is awarded to each participant at the completion of the goals set by each girl.
Mission: Mentoring to educate, empower and promote positive and healthy life choices for young girls. By living our mission, Girls with Goals Alliance envisions a community in which every youth experiences nurturing one-to-one relationships and community support, which in turn allows each of them to develop into their full potential, capable of making informed, responsible decisions before using illegal drugs, alcohol, skipping school, staying in school or violence.

Girls with Goals Alliance help to empower youth in our community to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their potential. The mentoring program uses adult volunteers to commit to supporting, guiding, and being a friend to a young person for a period of at least one year. By becoming part of the social network of adults and community members who care about the youth, the mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.

Mentor Role:

* Take the lead in supporting a young person through an ongoing, one-to-one relationship
* Serve as a positive role model and friend
* Build the relationship by planning and participating in activities together
* Strive for mutual respect
* Build self-esteem and motivation
* Help set goals and work toward accomplishing them

Time Commitment:

* Make a one-year commitment
* Spend a minimum of four hours per month one-to-one with a mentee
* Communicate with the mentee weekly
* Attend an initial two-hour training session and additional two-hour training sessions twice during each year of participation in the program
* Attend optional mentor/mentee group events, mentor support groups, and program recognition events

Participation Requirements:

* Be at least 25 years old
* Reside in Hampton Roads area
* Be interested in working with young people
* Be willing to adhere to all program policies and procedures
* Be willing to complete the application and screening process
* Be dependable and consistent in meeting the time commitments
* Attend mentor training sessions as prescribed
* Be willing to communicate regularly with program staff, submit activity information, and take constructive feedback regarding mentoring activities
* Have access to an automobile, auto insurance, and a good driving record
* Have a clean criminal history
* No use of illicit drugs
* No use of alcohol or controlled substances in an inappropriate manner
* Not currently in treatment for substance abuse and have a non-addictive period of at least five years
* Not currently in treatment for a mental disorder or hospitalized for such in the past three years.

Desirable Qualities:

* Willing listener
* Encouraging and supportive
* Patient and flexible
* Tolerant and respectful of individual differences

Benefits:

* Personal fulfillment through contribution to the community and individuals
* Satisfaction in helping someone mature, progress, and achieve goals
* Training sessions and group activities
* Participation in a mentor support group
* Mileage and expenses are tax deductible
* Personal ongoing support, supervision to help the match succeed
* Mentee/mentor group activities, complimentary tickets to community events, participant recognition events

Application and Screening Process:

* Written application
* Driving record check
* Criminal history check: state, child abuse and neglect registry, sexual offender registry
* Personal interview
* Provide three personal references
* Attend two-hour mentor training



Seeking Female Volunteers: Yes

Seeking Male Volunteers: No

Minimum Match Commitment (in months): 12 months or longer

Type of Mentoring: One-to-One

Youth Population Served: Academically At-Risk, Adjudicated/court involved, First-Generation College, Foster, Residential or Kinship Care, Gang At-Risk, Gang involved, General Youth Population, Gifted/Talented/Academic Achiever, Homeless/Runaway, Incarcerated Parent, LGBTQ Youth, Low Income, Mental Health Issues, Parent Involved in Military, Physical Disabilities/Special Care Needs, School Drop-Out, Single-Parent Household, Special Education, Youth with Disabilities

Mentoring Program Goals: Career Exploration, Education/Academic Support, Friendship/Socialization, Healthy Behaviors, Job Placement/Performance, Reduce Recidivism

Ages of Youth Served: 8-10, 11-14, 15-18