Mentorship
Mentorship
Our mentorship program connects volunteers from the community with individuals who are participating in the Rise & Rebuild program at The Rolla Mission. Each mentor is paired with one mentee to provide encouragement, guidance, and a consistent, supportive presence.
Our Goal
We want to help people who are experiencing homelessness or poverty build healthy, positive relationships with members of the community. These connections can foster a sense of belonging and trust, and help mentees develop the social support they need to thrive.
Expectations
Time commitments
In order build real, authentic relationships, Mentors and Mentees should meet for at least an hour every week for 6 months to a year.
Qualifications of mentors
Over 18, no felonies for last 5 years, not on probation, must pass drug test, and background check.
Qualifications of mentees
In Rise & Rebuild Program for at least one month, over 18, no positive drug tests or breathalyzer in past month.
Process of matching with a mentee
01
Step
Mentor completes application, passes interview and background check, passes urine analysis, and completes training.
02
Step
TRM case management team matches Mentor with a member of the Rise & Rebuild Program.
03
Step
Mentor receives a short bio of a mentee who the case management team feels would be a good match. Mentor will then have the option to meet with them.
04
Step
Mentor has an initial meeting with potential mentee, where they both determine if the match is a good fit. The first meeting might take place at The Rolla Mission, or at a neutral location like a park or coffee shop. A member of the case management team will introduce the mentor and mentee. After the conversation gets going, the staff member can excuse him or herself.
05
Step
Going forward: For the next meeting, the mentor is encouraged to do something fun with their mentee. The third meeting is a great time to discuss life vision and goals and fill out the Mentorship Agreement.
Some considerations when matching
Schedules
Ensure that the individuals have overlapping free time to meet.
Age/Life Stage
In general, the mentor should be either in the same or a later life stage than the mentee.
Gender
Ensure that the individuals have overlapping free time to meet.
Shared Interest or
Occupational Overlap
This gives a starting place for conversation and activities.
Temperament
A particular mentee might need someone who tends more toward tough love, who relentlessly takes the conversation deeper, while another mentee might need a more nurturing person with a softer touch
Q&A
If you’re not able to commit to being a mentor for at least 6 months, we have many other opportunities to volunteer at The Rolla Mission that are based on your availability and duration you’d like to serve.
Please fill out this form and we will reach out to you.
Being a mentor is about showing up for someone who just needs a little encouragement. Many of our patrons are working hard to rebuild their lives, and having someone who listens and believes in them can make all the difference.
You do not need to have all the answers. You just need to be consistent and kind. Most mentors find that they get just as much out of the experience as their mentee does. It is a chance to build a
meaningful connection and be part of someone’s journey forward.
Mentoring relationships flourish when the mentor and mentee
become a natural part of each other’s lives. They might:
- Meet for coffee or lunch.
- Work on a project together.
- Offer help with assignments from a class. Sometimes mentors and mentees will have a standing date to work on homework, especially if the mentee struggles to read.
- Attend a sports game together. These don’t even have to be professional—your kid’s high school basketball game works too!
- If the mentee lives or spends time at the program site, he might want to give the mentor a tour.
- Attend a community event together.
- Serve together. Groups can volunteer at an organization/church or even help out another mentee who is moving or needs their gutters cleaned.
Yes! After you apply to be a mentor, you will go through an interview, and once approved, you’ll go through training. During the training we will cover topics like:
- The importance of relationships
- Stages of change
- Techniques for productive conversations
- Good meetings
- Goal setting
- Boundaries
- Submit mentor application
- Pass a background check and drug test
- Complete Mentorship Training
- Get matched with a potential mentee and have an initial meeting
The Rise & Rebuild Program is a long-term support initiative focused on achieving independence through sobriety, employment, and financial stability. Participants will be provided with the key
tools needed to rebuild their lives.
Contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss the program before applying. Just call (573)308-5474 and press the option to speak with someone in case management. You can also email us at therollamission@gmail.com.