We very carefully screen potential high school and college students who have an interest in child development, psychology, and/or being peer role models and leaders. Because high school and college students are very busy themselves, we make sure that the handful of students who are judiciously selected can commit to at least one time a week to spend with their peer buddy. They also check in weekly with Dr. Biesman to brainstorm ways to best encourage and mentor the student who is being seen.
The following are some examples of how time is spent (usually 1-2 hours per week) between the mentors and mentees:
Giving Back… We are strong believers in paying it forward. In this spirit, we volunteer our time to mentor the mentors. For parents, it is a creative way to get in-home and community support for a child. For high school students, it is a unique opportunity to support another, to develop empathy and patience, to think creatively in the moment, to be leaders and role models, and to learn about individual differences that people have.