blossom mentor program

Our goal is to provide each young woman with a mentor who will build relationship by offering them guidance, support, and encouragement to help cultivate positive and healthy development. We believe a positive relationship with a kind, trustworthy adult is an important factor in a youth’s development, especially for those coming from hard places.
The mentor will:

• Make intentional investments of time and energy, spending time weekly with the youth
• Model and help youth develop critical life skills necessary for a successful transition to independence
• Build on young person’s strengths and interests
• Look for ways to enhance mentees’ skills in communication, conflict management, goal-setting, and limit-setting
• Understand that their mentee may have trouble developing a close, trusting relationship with an adult as a result of having experienced neglect or abuse
• Set appropriate boundaries, define appropriate and inappropriate behaviors in a mentoring relationship
• Have appropriate expectations of youth regarding reciprocity in the mentoring relationship

Ways to Connect:

• Participate in a variety of social outings and activities
• Share what they are passionate about with the youth, ie: knitting, painting, bowling, etc.
• Assist with homework, resume writing, meal planning, grocery shopping, or other real-life skills
• Be open to the youth calling "just because" they need a caring someone to connect with
• Instill creativity, and promote the youth's self esteem by trying new things with her
• Participate in Blossom activities

Blossom will:

• Help you establish boundaries with your youth like not calling in the middle of the night, not asking for help with financial problems, and not expecting you to intervene in conflicts
• Is available to discuss potential warning signs and make appropriate referrals for behavioral or emotional problems, and substance abuse
• Address challenges that arise in the relationship
• Help you identify cultural and class-based values and beliefs and effectively engage youth in a cross-cultural relationship
• Provide initial and ongoing training to better help you provide a stable, consistent and genuine relationship

The Ideal Mentor will:

• Have the time and flexibility to invest in a Blossom youth
• Have an understanding of how trauma affects development and have experience with youth from hard places
• Be accepting rather than judgmental of the youth’s story and situation
• Have the ability to not take things personally and if they make a mistake, the ability to own it and apologize to the youth