Mentor Washington

For two decades, MENTOR Washington has been at the forefront of fostering meaningful connections that change lives. Our commitment has supported a beautifully diverse community of youth across Washington State, guiding them through challenges and opportunities alike.

Youth We Impact:

• 51% of youth in state mentoring programs are involved with the juvenile justice system or experiencing foster or kinship care.
• 74% of these young individuals come from low-income households, facing unique challenges that require tailored support.
• 64% of mentored youth identify as BIPOC, bringing diverse perspectives and enriching the mentoring experience.

Mentoring Foster Youth

MENTOR Washington (MW) and Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) have partnered to host a pilot to provide mentorship specifically for youth experiencing foster care.

The partnership includes local programs who deliver the mentoring services either through volunteers or staff. MW and DCYF are providing training and technical support to partner programs. Mentoring is added support not only for youth but for foster parents as well.

Supporting Mentors

At MENTOR Washington, we believe every young person deserves a champion. Through advocacy, training, and direct support, we empower mentors and programs dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child. Our ongoing efforts ensure that mentors are equipped to provide the guidance and support that make all the difference.

MENTOR Washington is proud to work with so many agencies in Washington State. We have developed partnerships and deep relationships over the past 20 years. We work collaboratively to directly support vulnerable youth as well as impact systems change. MENTOR Washington is a critical part of the safety net for the most vulnerable youth in Washington State.

Our partnership with DCYF goes all the way back to our roots. The work began at DSHS and has transitioned to DCYF. We collaboratively support mentorship for youth experiencing foster care and the juvenile justice system.  

MENTOR Washington provides critical support to programs providing mentorship to the most vulnerable youth in our communities. This is achieved through shared work with DCYF staff members including professional development and robust programming such as our pilot for Mentoring Youth Experiencing Foster Care. This pilot launched in 2023 and MENTOR Washington brings together DCYF staff, mentoring providers and young adults with lived experience to implement best practices.

The education of Washington youth is a critical component of a young person's growth and development. Our partners at OSPI know that relationships between educators and students matter. A community's support is also critical for healthy schools and OSPI has proven to be champions of mentoring time and time again. 

Mentoring is an evidenced-based prevention strategy for substance abuse and positively impacts behavioral health. Our partners at the Health Care Authority collaborate with MENTOR Washington to review mentoring programs who apply for HCA funding, ensuring that programs are indeed implementing best practices for mentoring.

****IMPORTANT**** There is pre-work involved that needs to be completed before the training dates, otherwise we are unable to let you in into the training!

Join us for a comprehensive online training session on youth mental health first aid. This event is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to provide initial help to young people experiencing mental health challenges or crises.

During this training, you will learn practical strategies to identify common mental health issues in youth, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. The instructor will guide you through interactive sessions, role-playing exercises, and real life stories to enhance your understanding.

Part 1 of the training will take place on Tues, June 24th, 2025 at 10:00AM-1:00PM PST. It will cover topics such as risk factors, warning signs, and effective communication techniques in non-crisis situations. Part 2 will follow two days later at the same time at Thurs, June 26th, 2025 at 10:00AM-1:00PM PST to delve deeper into intervention strategies and crisis situations.

Don't miss this opportunity to become a certified youth mental health first aider and make a positive impact in the lives of young individuals.

Register Here 

Training description:

Many of us have confided in others during dark times and vice versa. But it can feel awkward, if not downright frightening, not knowing what to do when a loved one or a peer shows suicide warning signs. Developed by Forefront, the five simple and effective LEARN steps empower individuals to help others move in the direction of hope, recovery, and survival. This trainings a suicide awareness training that helps participants identify and act on signs of suicide., based on best practices outlined by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). This course has been adapted to address the needs of both foster caregivers and professionals working with youth.

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

- Explain the public health issue of suicide and why people may consider suicide

- Identify, understand, and be ready to support someone who may be at risk for suicide

- Apply the LEARN steps in a practice scenario

Trainer bio:

Charlene Ray, MSW, LICSW (she/her)

Charlene is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and has been in practice as a therapist, mentor, grief counselor, and workshop facilitator for 40 years. Charlene taught mindfulness in the school, K-6, and facilitates Mindfulness Based Self Compassion Programs. Charlene has led programs for school districts on various mental health topics and is a frequent speaker at Sno-Isle Library Issues that Matter events. She works for Forefront Suicide Prevention as a trainer.

Register Here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/MgZgKWOcQ6GxjtDaQUauVQ

Mentorship is often seen as a one-way street: a more experienced person guiding someone with less experience. But what if mentorship could flow in all directions, creating deeper connections, resilience, and growth throughout an organization or community?

In this engaging session, facilitator Sam Gorman will introduce the Four Pathways of Mentorship—a powerful framework that encourages mentorship as a dynamic ecosystem:

• Inner Pathway: Self-mentorship and personal reflection
• Outer Pathway: Peer support and collaboration
• Upper Pathway: Receiving guidance from mentors
• Lower Pathway: Mentoring others and uplifting future leaders

Participants will explore how to activate each of these pathways in their own work, leaving with strategies and tools to build a thriving mentorship culture.

Who Should Attend?
This workshop is ideal for educators, youth-serving professionals, nonprofit leaders, community organizers, and anyone invested in building intentional mentorship structures.

About the Facilitator

Sam Gorman (he/him) is a dynamic facilitator, mentor, and coach with deep roots in mindfulness, creative expression, and cross-cultural leadership. He holds certificates in Emergent Facilitation from Pacific Integral and Mindfulness Facilitation from UCLA.

Sam has led transformational experiences across the globe—from directing an international monastic life program for students from 25 countries to providing trauma-informed coaching that supports self-awareness and community resilience. His work centers on cultivating mentorship ecosystems that are inclusive, sustainable, and transformative.