Mentoring Cochise Kids provides mentors for kids ages 5–17 to build lasting, positive relationships. Most mentoring happens right at the school through simple but meaningful activities like games, crafts, and life skill building. Once a month, we host a fun off-campus outing to deepen those connections. Our goal is to provide support, encouragement, and guidance that sticks with kids long after the program ends.

We recruit mentors from various organizations and schools around the community. The mentors are matched with kids through a process called best-fit match. This means that several areas are looked at to make sure that the child is matched with a mentor who has the same interests. This also means that a child is not put at the bottom of the list, so regardless of how many kids we have waiting there is no beginning and end.

Our mentors go through a screening process that includes: driver’s checks, background checks, a fingerprint check, an interview and several references. Mentors must also keep a current driver’s license and insurance.

The mentor is there to be a friend and confident for your child. They are not there to be a parent or to discipline the mentee (child). They are there to help with homework, if needed, take them on special outings, and just be a friend.

The mentor signs a contract to spend an average of 2 hours a week for one year. At the end of one year, the mentor and mentee may choose to become official Alumni and continue until the mentee turns 18.

At the time of the match, you will be given the mentor coordinator’s name and phone number. If at any time you have questions, concerns or comments, please call them. If they cannot assist you, they will provide you with the name and number of the Executive Director.