The Ohio Youth Advisory Board outlines a three-tier mentoring model for foster youth. The model pairs an adult community member with an emancipated foster youth, who then serves as a peer mentor to a current foster youth. The document also discusses traits of good mentors, how to engage with and bond with young adults, and the importance of consistency, respect, and understanding diversity when working with foster youth.

1. Ohio Youth Advisory Board
Youth-Developed Model for Mentorship
Michael Bolwaire, Media Spokesperson

2. • We exist to be the knowledgeable statewide
voice that influences policies and practices
that effect all youth who have or will
experience out of home care.
OHIO YAB Mission

3. Five Focus Areas
I. Traits of a Good Mentor
I. How to Engage With and Bond With Young Adults
II. Things That Can Undermine the Mentor/Mentee
Relationship
III. Consistency, Respect and an Understanding of Diversity
IV. Three Tier Model:
Understanding How We As Foster Care Youth and Alumni
Bond With and Support One Another

4. Start the Connection
• Meet up in a neutral area – find a
place that will fit you both
• Introduce yourself, and allow them
to introduce themselves
• Icebreaker – have FUN 
• Listen, Think, Engage, Express Your
Bond, Connect, Relate, Remember

5. Overcoming
Snags and Barriers
• Avoid assumptions
• Don’t pass judgment
• No false promises
• Don’t try to bribe me
• Believe in me, and help
me succeed

6. Traits We Look For

7. Understanding the Importance
of Consistency
As foster youth, we have been:
Judged - Misused – Left - Abandoned
Most of us have been dealing with mental and physical
abuse for so long on our own that we have formed
personal defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from
further harm.
Some of us have grown numb to the point that we expect
to be let down and forsaken by others.

8. Understanding the Diversity of
Foster Youth

9. Understanding how foster care alumni
and youth support one another
• We look at one another as brothers and sisters
• We support and encourage each other
• We follow up on how the other person is doing
• We are there for each other
• We engage with one another
• We C.U.S. each other (Care – Understand - Sustain)
• We keep it real in a respective way

10. • An adult community member mentors an
emancipated foster youth, and that foster care
alumni serves as a peer mentor for a young
person currently in foster care.
OHIO YAB
Three-Tier Mentoring Model
Adult Alumni Youth