Mentoring Program Overview

The Governor’s Mentoring initiative was created to help teens in foster care prepare for adulthood by pairing them with volunteer adult mentors who provide a stable, positive adult influence in their lives.

All adult mentors must complete an application, pass a mandatory background screening, and complete a brief training. Teens and mentors will then be paired together based on shared interests.

The first two mentoring activities are conducted in group settings, where groups of mentors and teens get to know one another. After the group sessions and pairings are complete, mentors and teens begin working with one another in a one-on-one environment.

All one-on-one mentoring activities are conducted in public forums. The activities depend on the interests of the mentor and the teen.

Mentors work with teens to help them learn to make responsible life decisions and to help them prepare for adulthood and the decisions and responsibilities that accompany adult life.

“We want good folks, from all walks of life, to share some of their time and wisdom with Tennessee’s foster care kids. Every child needs a steady hand to help guide him or her into independent, adult living. By giving our most vulnerable kids – those living in foster care - that support, we boost their chances of successfully transitioning into the grown-up world.”

- Governor Phil Bredesen