Navigating Adoption Through Mentorship Program
Welcome to our new mentorship program!
We are not doing background checks on our mentors and are screening them through interviews. This program is designed for peers to connect with each other. Please use your own judgement when discussing methods of contact between mentors and we encourage that you do not share personal information beyond mail address, email address, and social media handles. This program does not serve as a form of counseling. If you are in need of professional help, please contact your local medical professionals. We are also not responsible for any communication outside of our Discord server. Any means of contact outside of this server will not be monitored by Navigating Adoption and participants should use their own discretion in sharing information.
We have made the difficult decision to temporarily halt the mentorship program for the upcoming year. This is a personal decision made by the co-founders as we enter into a new stage in our adult lives. We will reopen the program with new changes from the feedback we have received in the summer of 2024. We appreciate your patience with this as we rebrand our program and find new balances in our life.
About
Connecting Adoptees to Navigate Adoption Through Mentorship
The Navigating Adoption Through Mentorship program is an international program founded in 2022 designed under Navigating Adoption for the purpose of allowing adoptees to connect with one another and discuss their life experiences, including hardships and overcoming obstacles. The goal is to provide adoptees with a proper resource for adoption-related topics through peers. Research has shown that adoptee support groups is one of the best ways for adoptees to work through adoption issues while also providing them with a sense of belonging and community. Therefore, this program aims to do just that. This is open to adoptees ages 7 and up. Adoptee mentors must be at least 18 and you must be an adoptee to participate. Mentorship matches will be based on factors such as gender, age, and likes and dislikes. Adoptees will also have the chance to connect through email or snail mail, or even social media.
There is no maximum age to be a mentor or a mentee but you must be at least 18 to be a mentor and at least 7 to be a mentee. Additionally, you are allowed to be a mentor and a mentee through this program, or you can choose one over the other. If you are an adoptee, we highly encourage you to apply for this program and we welcome you to share it with others who are interested as well. If you have any questions about this program, please reach out to us at zoeandcosette@gmail.com.
Quotes from Current Participants
"I have enjoyed the growth that I have seen in the relationship [my mentee] and I have developed and the closeness and support we have!"
"We are connecting really well and having great conversations."
"My mentee (pen pal because we’re almost the same age) are super busy but still make time to connect because we want too. You did a great job of matching us up, thanks :)"
FAQs
Who can be a mentor and mentee? What are the qualifications?
Mentors must be of at least 18 years of age and mentees must be of at least 7 years of age. The only qualification is that you are adopted!
Is this program international?
Yes! Our goal is to connect adoptees globally. We have accommodated for any language and location barriers.
If I am a mentor, can I also be a mentee?
Yes! Mentors can also choose to have a mentor of their own while also being a mentor to someone else!
What if I want a mentor closer to my age or who is the same gender as me?
In the applications, you can indicate what type of matching preferences you would like. This includes someone who is the same age as you (or close to), same gender, adopted from the same country, etc.
How do I become a mentor?
Once you fill out our application, we will review the application carefully. If chosen, you will be interviewed by the co-founders and will then be notified through email of our final decision. There will be mentor application cycles throughout the year for you to apply to be a mentor.
How do I become a mentee?
Once you fill out our application, we will review your application. If we feel you are fit for our program, you will be matched with the best fit mentor and we will connect you via email. It is then an option between you and your mentor how you want to continue communication. Mentee applications are open all year.
If I am not adopted, can I be a mentee?
The goal of this program is to be a peer adoptee mentor program. We are connecting adoptees with other adoptees to talk about shared life experiences, give advice, etc. If you would like to be educated on the experiences of being adopted, you are welcome to read our adoptee spotlights or visit our social media pages where we share some of our own personal experiences.