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Interested in Mentoring?

Reach & Rise® is an evidence-based mentoring program operated through YMCAs nationwide. Become a part of the mentoring movement, and 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. Choose between the traditional 1:1 (one mentor, one youth) and group (two mentors, up to eight youth) models. 

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Know a Child or Teen Who Could Benefit?

The Reach & Rise® mentoring program serves youth between the ages of 6 and 17. Participation is free, as funding comes from a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and YMCA fundraising. The only requirement is a shared desire by youth and parents or guardians to be in the program. We believe anyone can benefit from the added socioemotional support and skill development that mentoring can provide. Referrals can be made by family members, mental health professionals, school counselors, or juvenile justice staff - anyone with a vested interest in helping youth succeed.

Refer a Child or Teen

Benefits of Mentoring

Research overwhelmingly points to the value of youth mentoring, and a recent study on Reach & Rise®'s cognitive-behavioral mentoring model further shows its effectiveness in delinquency prevention, promoting academic/civic engagement, and improving mental health. Youth with mentors are:

  • 52% less likely to skip a whole day of school
  • 37% less likely to skip a class
  • 55% more likely to enroll in college
  • 46% less likely to use illegal drugs
  • 27% less likely to begin drinking
  • 81% more likely to engage in extracurricular activities
  • 130% more likely to hold a leadership position

Studies also show significant improvement in parental communication, school engagement, and overall outlook on life. Clearly, mentoring is powerful.

The benefits of mentoring aren't just for youth; mentors can feel the power of relationships forged with youth. Mentors may gain:

  • Increase in self-esteem
  • Feeling of accomplishment
  • Insight into stages of youth development
  • Network of volunteers
  • Increase in patience
  • Better supervisory skills

The feel-goods that mentors can reap are pretty impressive. Mentoring is also a way to beef up a resume, build confidence for careers with youth, or hone parenting skills.

What Makes Reach & Rise® Special

Reach & Rise® is not just about having fun or tutoring. It is a therapeutic, evidence-based mentoring program created by psychologists and licensed counselors. While some therapeutic techniques are employed, our mentors are not therapists. They are, however, fully vetted and trained in simple-to-use methods to foster open communication and help youth identify new pathways in thinking. This makes each 1:1 match or group intentional in how it functions. It is not a cookie-cutter approach but is tailored to the needs of the youth or groups. We won't lie . . . there is still a lot of fun along the way. 

Another thing that sets Reach & Rise® apart from other programs is the quality of preparation. We don't just throw a mentor in a room with a kid and hope for the best. We take time to get to know our mentors (and youth) and assess if it is a good fit. There are training and background checks. While that may sound like a lot of work, it ensures our mentors are prepared and confident. That extra effort on the front end sets everyone up for success, and we think that's important. That support continues throughout the experience with regular check-ins from the program director and connections with other supports as needed.

There are two ways to participate in Reach & Rise®. The first is the traditional 1:1 program that matches one mentor with one child to meet weekly for one year. These meetings can be at the Y or out in the community when parents are comfortable. The times are determined by what works best with the family and the mentor. The second form is group mentoring. Here, 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 16 weeks during the school year and 8 weeks in the summer. The curriculum covers topics like self-esteem, communication, and coping skills; the choice of topics emerges from group dynamics.

 

 

 

1:1 Director

Kim Terrazas, M.A.

kterrazas@hsymca.org

501-623-8803 x 109

 

Group Director

Dr. Kevin Burns

kburns@hsymca.org

501-623-8803 x 116

 

What is the process to become a mentor?

First, fill out the application here. A program director will be in contact within a day or two to invite you to the YMCA and talk about the program. Expect it to take 20-30 minutes and be aware that there are certain questions we must ask all mentor applicants as part of the screening process. We will also get your background check started. Once enough potential mentors are ready for training, we will schedule training chunks according to what works best for all involved. Training is not just about teaching you about the parameters of the program and effective mentoring practices; it's also about us getting to know each other, so you can be matched as well as possible. Once a youth or group has been identified for you, there will be a meeting with mentor(s), youth, and families to talk about what goals can be worked toward, scheduling meetings, and other nuts and bolts.

What is the process to enroll a child?

First, fill out the referral form. A program director will be in contact within a day or two to invite the family to the YMCA and talk about the program. Expect it to take 20-30 minutes. We will get to know a bit more about your child's personality, interests, and goals. This helps in matching with a mentor or a group. Before a match is made, families and youth have an opportunity to meet mentors and discuss how basics like scheduling, pickups/dropoffs, and other necessities work. 

What if I can't choose between 1:1 and Group?

Both versions of the program are impactful, but one may be a better fit for your individual needs. The 1:1 program is a greater time commitment (one year), but it also affords an opportunity for deeper connection and individualization. The group program has two mentors working together with a lot of structure from the curriculum, and it provides better opportunity for youth to practice and hone peer relations. It is also of a shorter duration (8 to 16 weeks). While mentors and youth cannot participate in both versions of the program at the same time, there is no reason that both cannot be on the table. Feel free to discuss your options with either Elan or Kim.