Youth Mentoring
To help address this need, MaineStay offers an award-winning on-site mentoring program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters for youth ages 8-12 who live or attend school in Maine Township. This is a unique opportunity for youth to build leadership skills that will enhance their self-confidence, social skills, and academic achievement to help shape them to become future leaders in today’s modern society. Plus, there is no cost to participate!Children are matched with highly-skilled adult mentors, many with extensive work experience in fields such as medicine, business management, and human resources, and participate in a variety of fun, diverse activities and field trip experiences. Children are also matched based on interests, so that each match will be built to last. Activities focus on the social and emotional development of youth and include themes such as academic success, avoiding risky behavior, relationship building, and increasing confidence. The goal of this program is to help youth take positive steps towards academic and future success. All mentors undergo a thorough screening process, which includes an application, interview, background check, and training.
Meetings are typically held every other Tuesday from 6-7:30 pm at the District 63 Family Resource Center (9000 Capitol Drive, Des Plaines), which is next door to the Maine Township Town Hall building.
To sign up for the program, please fill out the application below.
Mentoring Application – English | Mentoring Application – Spanish
For questions about Big Brothers Big Sisters, please contact Jeniffer Gutierrez at gutierrez@bbbschgo.org. You may also contact Emily Toomey at etoomey@mainetown.com or 224-257-4853.
Volunteer Opportunities
We are looking for volunteers, especially males, willing to give 3 hours of time a month to serve as mentors to youth ages 8-12 for our on-site evening mentoring program offered in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Meetings are typically held every other Tuesday from 6-7:30 pm in a structured group setting at the District 63 Family Resource Center (9000 Capitol Drive, Des Plaines), which is next door to the Maine Township Town Hall building.
Volunteers are matched with a child of the same gender. Activities are pre-planned by an experienced facilitator and take place in a group setting. Meetings consist of a combination of one-on-one time and group activities focused on the social and emotional development of youth. A small contribution of your time can change the course of a child’s life.
Being a Big Brother or Big Sister is one of the most enjoyable things you’ll ever do—not to mention, one of the most fulfilling. You have the opportunity to help shape a child’s future for the better by inspiring positive change and empowering them to achieve what they never dreamed possible. And the best part is, it’s a lot of fun. Help start a Little on their path to big things!
Volunteers must meet the following criteria to be matched with a child in our program:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Meet residency criteria of being a US citizen for at least 1 year, legal resident for at least 2 years, or having a student/workers visa for at least 2 years
- Be will to commit to a minimum of a 1 year relationship
- Be willing to commit to attend, at a minimum, 80% of program sessions
- Be willing to allow BBBS to conduct a thorough criminal background check and public domain search
- Be willing to disclose and discuss current and previous medical and mental health conditions
For questions about Big Brothers Big Sisters, please contact Jeniffer Gutierrez at gutierrez@bbbschgo.org. You may also contact Emily Toomey at etoomey@mainetown.com or 224-257-4853.