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mentoring program
help isolated teens and young adults - impacted by foster care - experience the love of Christ through being seen, loved, and valued in a relationship with a Christian mentor
WHY IT MATTERS
Every year, over 1,000 youth age out of foster care without ever finding permanency. Without stable family and community, these youth are at very high risk of falling into addictions, homelessness, trafficking, involvement with the criminal justice system, and unplanned pregnancy. Most of the youth and young adults referred to KFA's Mentoring Program have little to no contact with biological family and virtually no community connections.
One caring adult showing up consistently in a youth's life can make a positive impact on long-term outcomes, and the mentoring relationship can grow into an extended family kind of connection. Can you help and connect with one of these teens or young adults, so that they may experience the love of Christ through being seen, loved, and valued in a relationship with a caring, Christian mentor?
WANT TO BE A MENTOR?
Do you have a heart to serve the vulnerable and want to help make a positive difference, so no child ages out alone? We want to hear from you! Learn more about the next steps to become a mentor and start the process today.
HAVE A YOUTH REFERRAL?
Do you know a youth or young adult, currently in the foster care system, who could benefit from being connected with a committed mentor? We'd love to hear from you and help connect them with a mentor in their county!
MENTOR QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
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Member or involved participant of a Partner Church for at least 1 year
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Commitment to invest in mentee for 1 year with an openness to a long-term relationship
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Commitment to visit mentee a minimum of 2x per month
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Completion of KFA's mentoring orientation and trauma-informed training and willingness to engage with ongoing training
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Willingness to provide monthly updates to Keystone Family Alliance mentoring program staff
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Completion of FBI fingerprinting, as well as child abuse and criminal background checks
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4 References provided (Pastor, employer, personal, and spouse/family)
OUR VISION: NO CHILD AGES OUT ALONE
"As Christ-followers, we are called to follow in His steps. Jesus reached out to the lonely, the overlooked, the disadvantaged, the hurting. Youth who are aging out of foster care are desperately lonely; they are forgotten, devastatingly disadvantaged, and deeply hurting. He is calling us to reach out to them, to demonstrate through real, tangible, faithful actions that He really does love them, that they are worthy of love and care. Their experiences have taught them that no one can be trusted, that no one really cares, that their life has no meaning. They don't need one more adult to speak meaningless words to them. They need the Body of Christ to show up and keep showing up. One caring adult is all it takes to begin to change the story for these young people and help them begin to see their incredible potential and their worth as God's image-bearers. Could you be that one?"
- Sarah W., KFA Lehigh & Northampton County Coordinator
