Gold partners represent the highest level of implementation of evidence-based best practices for youth mentoring. While core practices are solid, Gold partners often choose Innovation Plan work to take their youth outcomes to the next level!
Programs at Silver are highly skilled at implementing evidenced-based practices for youth mentoring. All programs work on Innovation Plans to prioritize the enhancements they would like to implement with MENTOR Washington's technical support.
Program partners at Bronze have implemented many best practices and demonstrated a strong and ongoing commitment to implementing all recommended best practices. These programs also create Innovation Plans and are provided support by MENTOR Washington through consulting, training and capacity building.
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.