Junior Senior Friends

Community-based versus Site-based Senior Friends

Community-based Senior Friends commit to being a friend and mentor to a youth for at least one year, spending 3-5 hours per week with them. This is typically done on weekends or after school hours.

Site-based Senior Friends commit to being a friend and mentor to a youth for at least one school year, typically spending 1 hour per week with them during lunch / recess or at an after school program site.

Both types of Senior Friend go through a rigorous screening process including criminal background checks, professional and personal references, and an intensive personal interview.

Research has proven that community-based mentoring reduces the chances of a youth deciding to try drugs or alcohol, makes them less likely to hit someone, and improves academic behavior, attitudes, and performance. Results also indicate higher quality relationships with parents or guardians and with their peers.

Researchers looking at school-based mentoring have found improvements in students’ behavior, attitudes, and self-confidence. These students got higher grades in social studies, languages, and math, had better relationships with teachers and with their peers, and were better able to express their feelings.

Both types of mentoring are proven effective ways to improve a young person’s life. The key ingredient that makes mentoring work is the formation of a genuine friendship between the Senior Friend and the Junior Friend. This may be easier to achieve in the more time-intensive Community-based approach. This approach has a much longer waiting list and simply may not be a good fit for some families.

Sometimes a volunteer will start out as a Site-based Senior Friend and then want to spend more time with their Junior Friend. In those cases, with your permission, the Site-based Senior Friend (who would receive some additional training and a driving record check) could gain the flexibility of a Community-based Senior Friend by becoming a Site-based Plus mentor. This can be a great way for a Site-based Senior Friend to still see their Junior Friend during the summer months. In addition, they can participate in monthly program activities offered by the program, and, when schedules allow, can occasionally see their Junior Friend on weekends – in addition to during or after the school day.

Please understand that the Junior Senior Friends Program is a volunteer driven community service. We can only match youth as we have screened and trained volunteers available. Therefore, please be advised there is often a waiting period for all youth referred. As soon as the program has a possible Senior Friend in mind, you will be contacted.