If there’s one thing that connects us all, it’s this: we can learn from each other. We see it every day at Covenant House, as our youth build the skills and resilience that will help them lead safe, stable, and fulfilling adult lives. Providing residents with a network of trusted mentors is one of the most meaningful supports we offer.

National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month, a time to affirm the importance of supportive relationships in young people’s lives. A mentor can be any adult who shows up for a young person consistently, positively, and respectfully. For many young people, parents or other family members serve as mentors. But other community members like teachers, faith leaders, and volunteers through formal mentoring programs can provide the support that young people need.

Mentorship is more than just a friendly ear to ask for advice. It’s a key to unlocking young people’s potential. Youth who have a mentor are 75% more likely to take on leadership roles and 22% more likely to feel a strong sense of belonging while growing up. Feeling empowered by a mentor translates into long-term success: almost three quarters of those who had a mentor say that person contributed significantly to their success later in life. And 60% of those under 40 who had that support during childhood still get advice from their mentors to this day.

Mentorship at Covenant House

At Covenant House, our goal is to ensure youth who lack a support system can get the help they need to thrive. The outcomes of youth who benefit from mentorship are exactly the kind of success we want to see for our residents. That’s why we offer a mentorship program for youth in our transitional housing programs. As Covenant House youth move toward an independent adulthood, our generous volunteers from the community are there to help them navigate the transition.

Sometimes that means giving a mentee a ride to a job interview. Sometimes it’s offering advice on a tricky interpersonal scenario. But often, it just means being a nonjudgemental supporter who’s there to listen and learn from a young person who’s facing immense challenges. For many of our youth, these mentoring relationships are the first stable, positive relationship they get to form with an adult.

If you want to show up for your community or know someone who would be a great mentor, we’re always looking for more volunteers. Get in touch today to start building better futures for our youth.