Mentoring Programs
Mentoring is offered in school to middle and high school girls and boys who could benefit from having a positive role model in their lives.
The Importance of Mentorship for Youth and Teens
The Bridge’s mentoring program provides at-risk West Hartford youth the support they need to develop life skills such as decision-making, communication, stress management, and healthy coping skills. The goal of our experienced staff is to foster a sense of competence, usefulness, and belonging in youth while focusing on the individual’s strengths rather than failings and offering them hope for the future.
Mentorship at The Teen Center
Through the West Hartford Teen Center, we are able to provide mentoring services using structured activities in a safe environment. Mentoring helps teens overcome obstacles to achieving success. Staff works one-on-one and in weekly groups with teens at risk for engaging in early sexual encounters, drug and substance use, delinquency, and other serious problems to overcome academic and social obstacles by developing life skills and a strong sense of self to resist negative peer pressure. As they gain skills and self-confidence, these students show improved classroom behavior, increased learning readiness, and are less likely to drop out of school.
Experienced staff facilitators model appropriate behavior and provide feedback and support. Because they often do not receive guidance from their parents or caregivers, the program provides assistance with finding a job, money management, college preparation, and other related topics for older teens.
School-Based Mentorship
The Bridge also employs mentors in the schools who are trained in providing relational support but are not licensed therapists. The mentors work with youth to help them develop academic and personal goals and identify obstacles to achieving those goals. Mentors provide adult support outside the authority of home and school—grounding the youth and enabling them to learn the ways of the world without the emotional turmoil that may be triggered by family relationships. Mentors work closely with counselors, particularly when medical interventions are needed if a youth requires hospitalization or medication.
Learn More About School-Based Services