• Why become a BEST Kids Mentor?

If we each help one child, we can change the world. When you volunteer with BEST Kids, you re-direct the path of a young foster care person’s life. Being a BEST Kids mentor will change you as well. You will be well-trained and supported by many professionals through both initial and ongoing training sessions. You will be able to share ideas and perspectives with other mentors who are mentoring similarly aged youth, and your mentee will be made part of a peer group whose activities will help support the relationship that you two have. Throughout your time together you will learn and grow as you experience new things with your mentee.

•  What’s it like to be a BEST Kids Mentor?

 Best Kids mentors spend ten hours a month in person with their mentees and also maintain weekly contact in some form. While in-person contact is preferred, weekly contact can consist of a phone call, postcard, email or text; anything that lets the mentees know their mentors are thinking about them. Mentors participate in activities that both parties will enjoy; some favorites have been ice skating, bowling, rock climbing, and visiting local museums.  Mentors also attend pre-match and on-going training sessions that both prepare and support them throughout the match. Once a month all mentors and mentees attend peer group events through which they can engage in age-appropriate experiential learning activities. Some past peer group events have been canoeing, bike riding and career planning. At the end of each month, mentors record the time spent with their mentees through a simple online program so that the mentor coordinators can track the progress of the relationship.

• Why is there a one year minimum commitment?

 Foster care children nationwide average three foster family placements; children in the DC child welfare system often fare much worse. Some of our youth have been in more than three placements in the last year alone. These children have many adults revolving in and out of their lives, so we ask for a one year minimum commitment to maintain consistency with the youth. You may be their only consistent, caring, and competent adult between their foster care placements.  You are desperately needed in their lives.