Frequently Asked Questions | TSIC Broward

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Frequently Asked Questions

HOW OLD ARE TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN STUDENTS?

Students enroll in the program as early as the sixth grade and as late as their junior year of high school, and continue to be mentored until they graduate from high school. Therefore, Take Stock in Children students range in age from 11 to 18 years old.

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT TO BE A TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN MENTOR?

A Take Stock in Children mentor is required to meet with his/her mentee once a week for at least 30 minutes throughout the academic year, either in person or virtually through the TSIC App. Our mentors are also encouraged to continue mentoring their mentees from year to year until they graduate high school.

I’M INTERESTED IN MENTORING, HOW DO I BECOME A TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN MENTOR?

You can become a mentor in three easy steps:

Complete and submit a Mentor Application
Attend our New Mentor Training
Get fingerprinted and receive a Level 2 Clearance from Broward County Public Schools and a Match Letter from Take Stock in Children

Once you complete these three easy steps, you can begin mentoring! For more detailed instructions on how to become a Take Stock in Children mentor, please visit the “Apply Today ” page or contact the Mentor Program Coordinator via e-mail at Kwoodson@takestockbrowardfl.org or via phone at (754) 600-9759.

WHAT IS A LEVEL 2 SECURITY CLEARANCE AND WHY DO I NEED ONE TO BE A TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN MENTOR?

All volunteers entering a school when students are present (or having direct contact with students) are required to pass a Level 2 Background Check. Because Take Stock in Children mentors do both, a Level 2 Security Clearance is required from the School Board. You will not be eligible to mentor without a Level 2 Security Clearance.

WHERE DO I NEED TO GET FINGERPRINTED IN ORDER TO PASS A LEVEL 2 SECURITY CLEARANCE?

In order to become a Take Stock in Children mentor, you are required to be fingerprinted at a FieldPrint office of your choice. If you have any questions about fingerprinting, please contact the Mentor Coordinator via e-mail at Kwoodson@takestockbrowardfl.org or via phone at (754) 600-9759.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN AVAILABLE MENTEE AT MY REQUESTED SCHOOL/AREA?

If there are no students available in your preferred area, you will be placed on a waiting list, and will be matched with a student once one is enrolled in our program in your preferred school/area.

CAN I MEET WITH MY MENTEE AT ANY TIME DURING THE SCHOOL DAY?

Many schools do not allow mentors to pull students out of academic classes. Therefore, many mentors meet with their mentees before school, during lunch, during elective classes, or even after school. Once you receive your match letter, contact your Student Advocate and/or School Coordinator to discuss the most convenient time for you to meet with your assigned mentee. They will work with you to secure a consistent time that is convenient for both you and your mentee.

CAN I MEET WITH MY MENTEE BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL?

Most schools allow mentors to meet with their mentees as early as one hour before school begins and as late as one hour after school ends. Once you receive your Match Letter, contact your Student Advocate and/or School Coordinator to discuss these opportunities; your Student Advocate and School Coordinator are the best resources for school-specific questions.

ARE THERE ANY TIMES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT I CAN’T VISIT MY MENTEE AT SCHOOL?

There are a few times during the academic year that mentors cannot visit their students at school. Some examples of these times include: the first week of school, standardized testing days, and final exam days. Most schools will also not allow you remove a student from class during a pop quiz or a scheduled class exam. Take Stock in Children staff work diligently to keep mentors informed of school scheduling, but your best resources for answers to your scheduling questions will be your mentee, the School Coordinator, and the administration in the front office.

CAN I MENTOR MY STUDENT IN THE SUMMER?

During the summer, mentors and mentees do not meet—except during scheduled events organized throughout the county by Take Stock in Children staff members. Invitations to these events are shared via e-mail with all mentors during the summer.

CAN I SPEND TIME WITH MY MENTEE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL?

Mentors and mentees meet at school (during school hours) only. However, if your mentee invites you to a school-sponsored event—for example, a football game or a debate competition—you can attend the event with permission from the parent.

MY MENTEE IS HAVING PROBLEMS IN MATH. AM I SUPPOSED TO TUTOR HIM DURING MY MENTORING SESSIONS?

As a Take Stock in Children mentor, your responsibility is to support and guide your mentee—not tutor. Instead of tutoring, help your mentee find tutoring resources (for example, after school tutoring groups). You can also contact the School Coordinator for further guidance on available resources to help your mentee excel in class.

CAN I MENTOR MORE THAN ONE STUDENT?

Yes, you can mentor more than one student. However, mentoring occurs on a one-to-one basis. Therefore, if you mentor more than one student, you are required to meet with each student separately for at least 30 minutes once per week.

CAN I MENTOR WITH A FRIEND OR WITH A GROUP?

Take Stock in Children welcomes co-mentoring, especially if a mentor is worried about fulfilling the time commitment to his or her student. Co-mentoring allows mentors to work as a pair and mentor one student. Therefore, if one mentor cannot attend a mentoring session on any given day, than the other mentor can attend instead. Both mentors can also attend a mentoring session together.

You can get a group involved in mentoring as well. Your group can select a school, and we can match each person in your group with a student at your requested school. Please note that each mentor is required to meet with his or her mentee on a one-to-one basis for at least 30 minutes once per week.

WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MENTORING?

If you have questions about mentoring, please contact the Mentor Coordinator via e-mail at Kwoodson@takestockbrowardfl.org or via phone at (754) 600-9759.

WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY MENTEE?

If you have questions about your mentee, please contact your Student Advocate. Your Student Advocate’s contact information can be found on your Match Letter. If you do not have your Match Letter, please visit our staff listing page for your Student Advocate’s contact information.

WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY MENTEE’S TEACHERS OR MY MENTEE’S SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT?

If you have questions about your mentee’s teachers or your mentee’s school environment, please contact your School Coordinator. Your School Coordinator’s contact information can be found on your Match Letter. If you do not have your Match Letter, please call the Take Stock in Children office at (754) 600-9759, and the Mentor Coordinator will assist you.

MY MENTEE IS SWITCHING SCHOOLS. CAN I MENTOR HIM OR HER AT THE NEW SCHOOL?

Yes, if your mentee switches schools and you want to follow your mentee to his or her new school, than please inform your Mentor Program Coordinator of this request via e-mail at Kwoodson@takestockbrowardfl.org or via phone at (754) 600-9759.

MY MENTEE IS GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR AND I WANT TO CONTINUE MENTORING. IS THAT POSSIBLE?

If your mentee is graduating this year, and you want to continue mentoring, inform your Mentor Program Coordinator of this request via e-mail atKwoodson@takestockbrowardfl.org or via phone at (754) 600-9759. We will match you with another student, so you can continue mentoring for as long as you wish!

WHERE DO I LOG MY MENTORING SESSIONS?

Click here to log your mentoring sessions

READY TO MENTOR?

Apply now to become a Take Stock in Children mentor. If you have any further questions, simply email Kwoodson@takestockbrowardfl.org or call (754) 600-9759 to speak to the Mentor Program Manager.

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