Friends First Mentoring
Mercy Home’s Friends First Program matches adult volunteers with young people who could use additional support from a caring and trusted adult role model. Our team members take special care to match these children one-on-one with well-trained volunteer mentors and provide ongoing support, oversight, and encouragement to ensure a positive experience for all involved.
Need a Mentor?
Become a Mentor
Mentoring Gives a Child Opportunities
Many of the young people referred to Friends First for mentoring have never ventured far outside their neighborhoods. They’re looking to experience unfamiliar parts of Chicago and participate in new and different activities with their mentors. Mentors are usually looking for this kind of exposure too! Friends First outings range from a visit to a museum to a stroll on a college campus to simply playing Frisbee in a park.
Through connection with a trusted adult and exposure to activities, a child can build on their strengths, develop their skills, increase their sense of belonging, and grow their self-empowerment.
Supporting a Child’s Family
The Friends First Mentoring Program also offers support and referral services to families. These help address the underlying challenges that impact many of our children and families. As members of our Community Care program, Friends First mentees and their families have access to drop-in supports, case management, parent support groups, vocational assistance, and invitations to participate in seasonal events and activities like our holiday party, summer festival and sporting events.
Our Impact
Research shows that mentors play a powerful role in young people’s lives, providing them with the tools they need to grow and succeed. Children who are mentored are:
- 55% more likely to be enrolled in college.
- 81% more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities.
- 92% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
- 75% more likely to have held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
And thanks to the work of our volunteer mentors, we see these successes and more in the children we serve.