RSP Adult Mentor Program FAQ

What is a mentor?  What is a mentee?  What is a match?

A mentor is not a parent, teacher, parole officer or savior but a trusted friend or life coach who provides support, encouragement and friendship.  A mentee is the person receiving the mentoring.  A match is the mentor and mentee.

How do I apply to become a mentor?

Fill out the online volunteer application. Once you’ve completed the application, our volunteer & outreach coordinator will contact you to schedule an interview.

Do I have to attend training?

Mentors must attend training prior to being matched with their mentee.  Ongoing trainings and support groups are also available.

When do I get my mentee?

Mentees are referred to Mid Valley Mentors by the Marion County Sheriff’s office. Both the mentor and the mentee are interviewed so that program staff can identify personality traits and personal characteristics that compliment each other. Each participant can provide preferences of a match and the staff work very hard to fulfill those requests. Some matches take no time at all and others may take up to a month. Mid Valley Mentors wants to ensure that both participants are happy in the match and sometimes it may take longer to find a perfect match for each one.

What if I’m gone for a long period of time?

Mentors may maintain contact with their mentees via email, phone calls, texts or postcards. The flexibility of this option especially benefits most students and travelers. While face-to-face contact is emphasized and preferred, sometimes there is a need to leave for an extended period of time.

What if I already have a busy schedule?  What is the time commitment?

Mentoring only requires a minimum of three hours a month for six months.   We ask that mentors communicate with their mentee once a week via email, telephone, or face-to-face with at least one of those times being face-to-face. Many volunteers have very busy schedules because they are involved with other activities. One of the best ways to make time for mentoring is by including your mentee in your daily activities. Many of our mentors bring their mentees to community service projects, club meetings, or church activities. This also benefits your mentee because they are getting a chance to meet other positive adults in our community.

Does mentoring cost me money?

While some activities can cost money, Mid Valley Mentors encourages volunteers to participate in free or low cost activities. Mentors are not reimbursed for mileage or entertainment and some activities may become expensive. We provide our mentors with a monthly calendar of activities that are within the county and are free or extremely low cost. Some examples include seeing live, local bands perform and attending interesting exhibits at the library. Contacting your mentor coordinator for ideas is always an option as well.

What if I can’t get in contact with my mentee?

A large portion of the population that Mid Valley Mentors serves has limited means of communication. Some do not have Internet access, telephones, or even a steady address. The first thing you should do after trying to make several unsuccessful attempts at reaching your mentee is to contact your case manager. Your case manager can update you on the best way to contact your mentee and even try to contact them for you.

What if I don’t have car?

You don’t need a car to be a mentor. Some individuals are provided with bus passes and can meet their mentors at a specified location. The mass transit options offered throughout the county have always benefited mentors without personal transportation.

What am I responsible for concerning the needs of my mentee?

As a mentor, it is not your responsibility to provide your mentee with these resources. You will be given a community resource guide from Mid Valley Mentors and a goal plan from the mentee’s parole officer. If you are comfortable, you can work directly with your mentee to help them find the resources themselves. Another option is to contact your case manager.