BECOME A MENTOR FAMILY
A relationship that changes both of you, for life.
You don't need to be perfect, wealthy, or have it all figured out. You need to be willing to show up and stay. We'll train you, match you, and walk beside you the whole way.
Not fostering. Not adoption. Real family connection, without anyone moving in.
WHY FAMILIES SAY YES
Three things you won’t find anywhere else.
01
A relationship that changes both of you.
You'll watch a young person gain a family to call their own. You'll be changed by saying yes to something bigger than yourself.
02
Real connection, without anyone moving in.
Not fostering. Not adoption. Genuine, lasting family connection that fits inside your existing life and supports the young person's independence from day one.
03
Training built for exactly this.
Our training is designed specifically for walking with youth who have aged out of care. We guide you through year one and stay available long after.
A DAY
1
Discover DGA
Virtual interest meeting
Mentor interest form
Get-to-know-you interview
THE JOURNEY
Four steps, from your first question to a relationship that lasts
A MONTH
2
Equip
Self-paced training
Live training session
Background check, to protect everyone
~3 MONTHS
3
Match
We build your profile
Shared with youth by fit
You say yes first. A youth chooses you.
A LIFETIME
4
Walk Together
Closely guided through year one
Ongoing training and support
Always here. Call us anytime.
GO DEEPER
Get the full guide.
A free, detailed walk through all 12 steps of becoming a mentor family, who we're looking for, and what the training really involves.
OUR PROMISE
Every match changes a life. Usually two.
We walk with you through year one and remain available long after. A relationship built this way changes the young person you walk with, and changes you.
QUESTIONS
The things families ask first.
-
No. The young adults we serve are 18 to 24 and already independent. You're becoming a committed family relationship in their life, not a legal guardian, and no one moves into your home. It's connection, not housing.
-
After training, mentoring looks like ordinary family life: regular calls, showing up for milestones, a seat at the table on holidays. It's a relationship, not a schedule. The commitment is to stay, not to hit a weekly quota.
-
Nothing but your time and heart. Training and ongoing support are provided at no cost to you.
-
Empty nesters, retirees, families with teens, former foster parents, and many others. What matters most is that you're teachable, willing to step into hard places, and ready to stay for the long haul.
-
Typically around three months from your first conversation, through training and into a match. We never rush it. A youth chooses you, and you say yes first.
-
You're closely guided through year one, with ongoing training and a team you can call anytime. We don't match you and disappear. We stay too.
THE NEED
DON’T GO ALONE