National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Project

Washington Youth Academy

Washington

The mission of the Washington Youth Academy is to provide a highly disciplined, safe, and professional learning environment that empowers at-risk youth to improve their educational level and employment potential and become responsible and productive citizens of the State of Washington.

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    Mentors

    WHAT IS MENTORING?

    Mentoring is a positive one-on-one relationship between a youth and an adult that provides emotional support, advice, and guidance to help the younger person deal with the challenges of life. The goal is to help the young person gain the skills and confidence to deal with those situations and be able and responsible to make good choices in the future. Examples of challenges and situations where a mentor’s advice and guidance could be important, if not critical, include: making education and career choices; seeking, performing, and holding a job; managing personal finances; owning a home or renting an apartment; teen pregnancy and parenting skills; substance abuse; etc. Your role is not to replace a parent or guardian, but to provide additional information and perspectives that might not be available to the child

    WHAT’S EXPECTED OF YOU AS A MENTOR FOR A WYA STUDENT?

    If you agree to be a mentor for a specific student, or want to be considered for a mentor position with a student/applicant that you don’t know personally, you’re making a commitment of time, attention, and some expense. We can’t quantify any of these, however, in terms of the potential impact you could have on a young person’s life the cost is negligible and the rewards are immense. This is not a token or nominal position and you can plan on the following:

    • Submit an application providing all requested information.
       
    • Attend a mandatory half-day training session (four hours) at the WYA in Bremerton WA, on or before the first day of the class. You’ll be trained on the specific requirements of the mentoring program and be prepared to spend some time with your student/mentee. This training will take place on a weekend (November/December or May/June depending on the class). Check our events section for updates to the dates offered for this training.
    • The WYA staff will review the application and do a reference check and coordinate the required criminal histories background check.
    • Maintain weekly contact with the student/mentee during the residential phase primarily by letter or e-mail. - You will be invited to attend graduation for your student/mentee.
    • After graduation, maintain weekly contact with the student/mentee for the next 12 months, with a minimum of four hours of personal contact each month.
    • Once a month you’ll submit a brief On-line report of the student/mentee’s progress.

    This is when the student/mentee needs you the most and is critical to their continuing and future success. 

    GOALS OF MENTORING A STUDENT/GRADUATE OF THE WYA:

    • Create a positive one-on-one relationship built on trust, honesty, and open communication.
       
    • Maintain regular/on-going contact with the student throughout the program to help them keep their focus and effort in building, implementing, and attaining the goals they set for themselves while attending the Academy.
    • Help the student understand and embrace the positive qualities and traits of a responsible citizen and a successful student, employee, parent, etc.
    • Provide advice and general guidance as the student makes decisions and deals with the inevitable issues and challenges of life after they graduate.

    MANDATORY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO BE A MENTOR:

    • A resident of Washington State
    • Should be at least 25 years old (some exceptions, former WYA graduates must be at least 21 years old) 
    • Must be of the same gender/sex as the student/applicant
    • Mentor cannot be an immediate relative, either by marriage or bloodline, or someone living in the same household
    • Mentor must live within the same geographic area of where the student will return to after graduating the residential phase (to minimize travel)
    • Attend a half-day Mentor Training Workshop at the WYA in Bremerton WA on or before the first day of the class
    • Willing to commit for 17-1/2 months with four contacts per month, with a minimum of four hours of personal contact
    • Submit brief report (on-line) each month to document the student’s progress

    DISQUALIFYING FACTORS:

    • A history of arrest or conviction for a sex offense
       
    • A felony conviction or any alcohol, drug, or substance abuse with the last seven years
    • A history of domestic violence (reports, charges, convictions)

    SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION:

    If you are interested in becoming a mentor and able to commit to the student along with the program, please complete the attached application forms. Please note and understand that we must ask for personal and sensitive information in the application process. This information will be used to conduct a criminal background check and a sexual offender registry check. The application forms and the information thereon will be kept confidential. 

     Application Forms

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