Frequently Asked Questions for Mentees
You can also take our eligibility quiz to find out if you are (or your child is) eligible to become a mentee.
Q. How do I (or how does my child) get a mentor with Mentoring Today?
A. Mentoring Today serves youth who are committed to the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), who are incarcerated at New Beginnings Youth Development Center, and who are at least 16 years old. If you (or your child) fit these criteria, please contact Whitney Louchheim at whitney@mentoringtoday.org or (202) 678-9003 to find out when Mentoring Today is accepting its next class of mentees.
Q. Who are your mentors?
A. All of our mentors are law students at American University’s Washington College of Law. Mentors must be at least 21 years old, are carefully screened and trained by our staff, and undergo a thorough background check.
Q. Does Mentoring Today pay mentors for their services?
A. No. All mentors in our program are volunteers.
Q. Is your program voluntary for mentees?
A. Yes. All of our mentees volunteer for the program. No one is requiring them to participate and they do not get paid to participate.
Q. How long does your program last?
A. Mentors and mentees commit to three hours per week for at least 12 months. For the first 4-6 months of the mentoring relationship, mentoring pairs meet at New Beginnings every Thursday evening. Once a mentee is released, the mentoring pair continues to meet regularly in the community for the remainder of the 12 months and often longer.
Q. Do you accept female mentors?
A. Yes. Even though all of our mentees are male, we accept both male and female mentors. The most important qualities in a mentor are commitment, compassion, and understanding. Research shows that the success of a mentoring relationship depends on compatible personalities and commitment to the relationship rather than the mentor’s race or gender.
Q. Does Mentoring Today offer training for its mentors?
A. Yes. Mentoring Today requires each mentor to attend ten hours of pre-match training and also offers consistent support and in-service training throughout the relationship.
