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How Smiles Works | What Volunteers Do
 SMILES Mentors are an asset to the community. As a group they serve to be part of the solution to attaining a better educated, responsible and community minded society. The SMILES Mentoring Program helps to empower youth in our community to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their potential. The mentoring program recruits adult volunteers who will commit to supporting, guiding, and being a friend to a young person for a period of at least one year, one hour per week. Mentoring is most effective when its a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement.
By becoming part of the social network of adults and community members who care about our youth, the mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals. SMILES believes that with the proper support in place all children have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society in a positive fashion.
AT SMILES a mentor IS:
A trusted friend and guide (usually someone senior in age with different life experiences).
A caring, responsible adult who provides access to people, places and things outside the mentee's everyday environment.
A positive role model -- someone the youth can aspire to be like; someone who can help the youth be whoever he/she wants to be.
Consistent, committed and patient.
A mentor IS NOT a...
Parent/legal guardian.
Social worker.
Psychologist or psychiatrist.
A mentor should serve as a resource by talking to the mentee about how to access services and support, rather than provide those services for him or her.
SMILES Mentors work in a group or independently with their mentees one hour per week. Programs are available serving all grade levels. All programs are site-based and facilitated by SMILES staff. Age appropriate activities are developed and utilized to enhance and build the match relationship. Optional field trips, events, mentor fellowship and other activities are offered during the course of the program year.
Mentor Commitment consists of:
Taking the lead in supporting a young person through an ongoing, one-to-one relationship
Serving as a positive role model and friend
Building the relationship by planning and participating in activities together based on mutual respect
Building self-esteem and motivation
Helping set goals and work toward accomplishing them
Being consistent |
