JAY4T helps 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.

We enhance the lives of our community's youths by providing adult mentors to engage them in meaningful educational, recreational, and developmental activities.


Mentor Role
- Take 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

Benefits
- Personal fulfillment through contributions towards community and individuals
- Satisfaction in helping someone mature and achieve goals
- Training sessions and group activities
- Participation in a mentor support group
- Personal ongoing support and supervision to help the match succeed
- Mentee/mentor group activities, complementary tickets to community events, participant recognition

Time Commitment
- Make a one-year commitment
- Spend a minimum of 8 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 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 21 years old
- Reside in respective county  
- Be interested in working with young people

All volunteers must go through criminal background checks, reference checks, and an in-person interview.