Primary Tasks of a Mentor

1. Build a Relationship - Establish a positive, personal relationship with your mentee
* Establish mutual trust and respect
* Maintain regular interaction and consistent support
* Remember that relationships take time. Don't expect immediate results.
* Make your time spent with the youth enjoyable and fun

2. Develop Life Skills - Help mentee to develop or begin to develop life skills
* Work with your mentee to accomplish specific goals
* Instill the framework for developing broader life-management skills (i.e. spiritual walk, decision making skills, goal setting skills, conflict resolution, money management, etc.)

3. Provide Resources - Assist mentee on obtaining additional resources
* Provide awareness of church, community, educational, and economic resources and how to get them
* Act as a guide and/or advocate, “coach” and/or model
* Conduct your role of mentor as a friend rather than a counselor

4. Enhance Communication - Increase mentee’s ability to interact with people/groups/things from various backgrounds (cultural, religious, racial, socioeconomic, etc.)
* Respect and explore differences among people/groups from various backgrounds
* Introduce student/mentee to different environments, i.e. workplace vs.school setting; Christian vs. secular
* discuss differences in behavior, attitude, and style of dress