Screening prospective mentor applicants for the high school students in our program helps create a safe and supportive mentoring environment. By the end of a successful screening process, volunteers demonstrate self-awareness, appropriate boundaries, a strengths-based approach to working with young people, realistic expectations for students, and empathy. The official 4 pillars of screening are: Safe, Consistent, Collaborative, and Mission-Aligned. 

Below is an overview of the screening steps used to ensure volunteers are a good fit before being matched with a student:

Step 1: Applicant completes an online application or interest form, including 3 references for a screener's review. 

Step 2: Applicant completes an orientation or early overview of the program. This helps ensure they understand the program requirements, WHY mentor, and also helps solidify their level of commitment. 

Step 3: Applicant completes a mentor contract. This should reflect needs of the district and boundaries of the program.

Step 4: Applicant is interviewed. All questions are curated to address the above 4 pillars of evaluation during a 30 min conversation.

Step 5: Screener reviews submitted references. A minimum of 2 of the 3 references provided must have responded to move forward.

Step 6: Complete a background check. These are district specific and often different between volunteer and employee.

Step 7: Once screening steps are complete, a different screener conducts a peer review of the volunteer's application to ensure all steps are fully complete and accurate. 

*Steps 3-6 can be done in any order.*

For any additional questions about Screening, please email [email protected].