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How to become a mentor:
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Read the Mentor Job Description.
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Fill out an application. All
prospective volunteers are required to fill out and sign a Kids ‘n Kinship
mentor application. This application can be printed, filled out and then mailed
to our office. (After you print the form, press your browsers back button to
return to this page)
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Fill out a background check. All prospective
volunteers are required to sign a Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions check. This
is a release that gives information on a candidates criminal history, arrests,
criminal charges or convictions. Please include this form when mailing your
application.
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Attend an Orientation. All prospective
volunteers attend an orientation to kids ‘n Kinship. The orientation is the
place to place to hear about the children who are waiting for mentors, the
volunteer screening process and the activities and benefits provided by Kids 'n
Kinship. We have orientations every few weeks during the day/evening/weekends.
If none of the current dates work for you, let us know and we'll plan a date
and time that is better.
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Schedule an interview. After kids ‘n Kinship receives the
application forms, we will send reference letters to those you listed on the
application. (please tell your references to watch for a request from Kids ‘n
Kinship.) When the references are returned to us, we will contact you for an in
home interview. The interview is an opportunity for staff to get to know the
prospective volunteer better, which assists them in the matching process. It is
also an opportunity for the candidate to ask questions and discuss the type of
child they would like to mentor.
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The fun begins! Once all the procedures are complete and the
candidate has been accepted as a mentor through Kids ‘n Kinship, a mentor
training will be scheduled for you. Staff will contact you with information
about children to consider mentoring. If the mentor is interested in being
placed with one of those children, the parent/guardian of the child is
contacted. The parent/guardian has final approval of all prospective mentors.
The initial introduction takes place in the child's home, with the mentor,
child, parent/guardian and Kids ‘n Kinship coordinator all present for the
first meeting. After the match is made, staff have ongoing phone contact with
the child and parent/guardian as well as the volunteer. Both parties are
encouraged to call their Kids ‘n Kinship staff person if any concerns arise
during the course of the relationship.
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Activities. Kids ‘n Kinship sponsors an activity every three months
for the mentors and children, who are getting together on their own weekly, to
join the large group for fun and opportunity. There is no cost for these
outings. There are ongoing offerings of sporting event, theatre, zoo, science
museum, art center and other tickets – free - to mentor matches.
We hope you will join us for a fun and rewarding time!
Contact the Kids 'n Kinship office today!
Call (952)892-6368 or write us an email.
In addition to our community based friendship mentoring program, we
have a school based mentoring program with Glacier Hills Elementary School in
Eagan. (School based mentoring link)
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