Mentoring

SUFK Mentoring

In a nutshell

Youth are paired with two mentors who meet with them on a weekly basis. During mentoring sessions, youth develop a goal plan and mentors help them prioritize and execute their plan. Mentors act as guides, role models, and accountability partners for these youth. Our mentoring programs have a definitive plan for meeting our mission of ending the cycle of youth homelessness in combination with our housing support, education support, and life skills programs.

Transformative relationships

Given the diversity of the communities we serve throughout the country, we conduct mentoring in school, after school, and in our Outreach Centers.

In-School and After-School Mentoring

  • The goals of the mentoring program are to deter teen pregnancy, gang involvement, increase high school graduation rates, and foster a love for learning. Mentors provide stability, friendship and support by developing an effective study plan, providing tutoring, and processing the challenges experienced due to unstable housing.
  • To support our mentees, we provide weekly life and career counseling, computer access, and homework help.
  • We want these junior and senior high teens to understand that we truly believe in them, that they are capable and will be rewarded for their hard work and diligence in education.

Small Group and Center-Based Mentoring

  • Many locations utilize the in-center – or small group – mentoring model. In these locations, we provide homeless and at-risk young adults ages 18 to 24 with resources and support needed to overcome challenging situations.
  • Since each youth has a different reason for being on the streets, we work individually to meet each one’s specific needs.
  • Our program not only provides basic necessities such as food, clothing and toiletries, but also engages mentors to assist with educational support, resume and interview preparation, obtaining birth certificates and developing life skills.
  • Mentors set goals, assign homework and obtain referrals to other professionals who are needed to assist with each youth’s specific needs. One of the most important aspects of our program is that goals are set with each youth, with mentors utilized to hold them accountable to achieve each goal.
  • Through our mentoring program, our Centers provide a safe, welcoming place for homeless youth to seek companionship in a safe space and openly discuss their problems and achievements.

Where are our Mentoring programs?

7 locations: California (Orange County, San Diego, Silicon Valley), Georgia (Atlanta), Illinois (Chicago), Texas (San Antonio), Virginia (Hampton Roads).