It is the policy of the C. J. Smith Mentoring Program that each mentor and mentee applicant complete a screening procedure. All staff members must be trained and required to carefully follow the screening procedures.
At minimum, the following screening procedures are required for mentor and mentee applicants. Program staff must ensure that each applicant completes these established minimum screening procedures:
Mentor Screening Procedures
• Attend the two-hour mentor training
• Complete written application
• Check driving records and gain copy of current insurance coverage
• Check criminal history: state criminal history, child abuse registry, sexual offender registry. Same checks must be performed in all states resided in as an adult.
• Provide three personal references
• Complete personal interview
Mentee Screening Procedures
• Attend the two-hour mentee training
• Complete written application
• Obtain parent/guardian consent
• Complete personal (mentee) interview
The decision to accept an applicant into the program will be based upon a final assessment done by program staff at the completion of the mentor or mentee screening procedure. The program coordinator has final approval for an applicant’s acceptance into the program. No reason will be provided to mentor applicants rejected from participation in the program.
All mentors are expected to meet the eligibility criteria. However, extenuating circumstances may be reviewed at the discretion of the program coordinator and acceptance may then be allowed with written approval of the executive director and representative of the board of directors when all eligibility requirements are not clearly met. These instances are expected to be rare.
Documentation of the screening process must be maintained for each applicant and placed in confidential files.