Mentors are supportive adults. We hope that with a mentor’s help you can feel supported as you begin to make your way toward completing your educational and employment goals, successfully transitioning out of foster care, successfully transitioning into a career, successfully transitioning into college, improving your future, and achieving your dreams.
Try a Natural Mentor. A Natural Mentor is someone you know or have knowledge of that you believe would be a good mentor for you.
Here are some Natural Mentors to consider:
- Your caregiver.
- An adult with whom you already have a connection, such as a teacher, tutor, coach, or youth leader.
- An education advocate within the child welfare system.
- Your caseworker or Independent Living Coordinator.
- A mentor from a community or school mentoring program.
- Your court-appointed special advocate (CASA), if you have one.
- If you have a disability, your IEP coordinator or special education teacher.
- High school counselors.
- College campus counseling programs and financial aid counselors.
If you’re not sure try one of the mentoring resources below in your area:
Mentoring Resources
Washington State Mentors - Find a mentoring opportunity or locate a Washington State Mentor near you. Go to the website and scroll down to Connect to Mentoring Opportunities. Then just enter your Zip Code.
Do-It - program for youth with disabilities that offers online career and college mentoring. For an application, e-mail doit@u.washington.edu.
Have a question about mentoring? Email Tom Pennella at tom.pennella@dcyf.wa.gov.