Mentoring is an intentional relationship between youth and adults that is based upon a mutual investment of time, energy, trust, and learning. Mentoring relationships are reciprocal and experiential connections that have enduring impact on the lives of the youth and adult.

Howard Brown’s Mentor Program

Howard Brown Mentor Program is dedicated to ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQQ) youth, ages 14 to 24, lead healthy, high quality lives by connecting them with caring, trustworthy adult members of the LGBTQ community who are committed to developing meaningful relationships with these youth, both individually and within a group setting.

Youth Eligibility
Youth interested in being matched with an adult mentor must meet the defined eligibility criteria. For the purpose of the Mentor Program, youth participants must identify as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, same-gender-loving communities or identify as questioning their sexual/gender identity. We recognize that this list of identity labels is not exhaustive, but we hope it gives interested participants a sense of the program’s vision and intent.

Youth requirements:

• Must be between the ages of 14 and 24 years old
• Identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender queer, same-gender-loving and/or questioning
• Willing to participate in program activities for a minimum of 10 hours per month
• A one-year commitment to the Mentor Program

In addition to these requirements, youth applicants will vary in numerous ways, including but not limited to:

• comfort with and expression of sexuality and/or gender identity
• relationship with parents/guardians
• housing status
• substance use
• gang involvement
• participation in sex work
• health status
• race/ethnicity/culture
• maturity
• education
• enrollment in school

Program coordinator will not allow these various backgrounds to impact a young person’s participation into the program unless it will directly result in their inability to fully commit to the Mentor Program.

Youth Participant Responsibilities

• Successful completion of the application process
• Conducting themselves in accordance with program policies
• Committing a minimum of 10 hours per month to the Mentor Program
• Attending ongoing meetings scheduled by the program coordinator
• Completing and submitting all necessary documentation
• Utilizing a nonjudgmental perspective
• Consistent follow up with mentor and program coordinator
• Alerting Mentor Program Staff immediately with any violation of the program policies by the mentor
• Alert Mentor Program Staff immediately of any feelings of being unsafe or uncomfortable

Adult Mentor Eligibility
Adults wanting to become mentors must meet the defined eligibility criteria. Interested adults who do not meet these standards will not be accepted into the Mentor Program, but may be referred to other volunteer opportunities within Howard Brown. For the purpose of the Mentor Program, adult mentors must identify as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or same-gender-loving communities. We recognize that this list of identity labels is not exhaustive, but we hope it gives interested participants a sense of the program’s vision and intent.

Mentor requirements include:

• Must be at least 25 years of age
• Adherence to the Mentor Program policies and procedures
• Completion of the mentor application process
• Commitment to the program for a minimum of one year
• Spending an average of 14 hours per month participating in mentor program activities, including weekends
• Living in/near Chicago
• Communicating regularly with youth participant and program staff
• Never convicted of a violent or sexual crime. (If convicted of a felony crime we reserve the right to ask further questions)
• Not using illegal substances
• Not using alcohol/controlled substances prior to or during mentor activities or being impacted by substances during mentor activities

Adult Mentor Responsibilities

• Successful completion of the application process and training
• Conduct in accordance with program policies
• Committing to a minimum of 14 hours per month to the Mentor Program for a period of one-year from the time of the match
• Attending ongoing meetings and trainings scheduled by the Program Coordinator
• Completing and submitting all necessary documentation
• Establishing a positive, personal relationship with youth participant(s)
• Promoting the health and well-being of youth
• Utilizing a nonjudgmental perspective
• Demonstrating and promoting cultural competency and understanding
• Planning and engaging in activities that the youth participant expresses interest in
• Helping youth to develop life skills
• Educating youth about and linking them to community resources

All mentors report directly to the Program Coordinator and will be provided with ongoing supervision, training, and programmatic/clinical support.

Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Howard Brown Health Center’s nondiscrimination policy, applicants and participants will not be discriminated against based upon actual or perceived age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, veteran or marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, HIV or other health status.  Transgender, HIV+ and LGBTQ-SGL people of color encouraged to apply.

Mentor Community Advisory Board
To ensure the success and high-quality of the Mentor Program, a diverse group of youth and adult volunteers from the community serve as members of the Mentor Community Advisory Board. The Mentor Community Advisory Board (MCAB) is responsible for the overall development, implementation, and evaluation of the Mentor Program.