Become a Mentor

You Can Make an Impact

Reach & Rise® is an evidence-based mentoring program where mentors help youth envision and work toward individualized goals. Mentors can be anyone 21 years or older with clean background checks and a desire to support youth through change and challenges.

1 on 1 Mentoring

Our 1:1 program matches one mentor with one child (age 6-17) to meet weekly for one year. These meetings can be at the Y or out in the community when parents are comfortable. Mentors are not meant to take the role of a parent, babysitter, or financer, but to introduce their mentees to new activities to help them grow and learn about themselves and their community.

Group Mentoring

In our Group program, two mentors work together to deliver an evidence-based curriculum to a small group of youth of similar ages. Group meetings are two hours weekly over the course of an 8- or 16-week session. The curriculum covers topics like self-esteem, communication, and coping skills; the choice of topics emerges from group dynamics.

Benefits of being a mentor:

Build positive relationships

Increase in self-esteem

Better supervisory skills

Increase opportunities for growth

Free YMCA gym membership

Make an Impact Today

Ready to become a 1:1 mentor? Complete your mentor application to get started today.

Build a Better Future

Ready to become a Group Mentor? Complete your mentor application to get started today.

Reach & Rise

Do you know someone who could benefit from having a mentor? Let’s connect!

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the mentoring program created?

The Reach & Rise® mentoring program was established to serve the needs of young people not being met by existing mental health services. The program strives to offer over-stressed families a resource to help meet their children’s needs while providing youth with positive, growth-inducing relationships with adults through mentoring.

Each mentor will fill out a volunteer application and background check before speaking with the Program Director for an initial screening. Mentors commit to spending 1-3 hours each week and will also complete 15+ hours of mentor training before being assigned to a mentee or group. 

Reach & Rise® is committed to on-going training and support for all volunteer mentors, and the Program Director is actively involved in goal-setting and continual planning with all mentors for their mentees. Individual telephone support is provided on a monthly or as needed basis.