Have you heard of the NAAF Youth Mentor Program? Do you have a child or teen with alopecia areata between the ages of 5 and 18 who is seeking support and guidance to help navigate life with alopecia areata? The NAAF Youth Mentor Program connects children living with alopecia areata to dedicated young adult mentors. The goal is to formulate lasting bonds while providing support and guidance on dealing with the day-to-day challenges stemming from alopecia areata. Mentors in the Youth Mentor Program and the young people they help don’t need to live in the same town or city. Mentoring relationships can be just as effective long-distance via phone or video chat. The important thing is young people with alopecia areata are helping other young people with alopecia areata…from anywhere in the country. NAAF wants every child/teen who wants a mentor to be connected with one, so that they know they are not alone. We are thrilled to offer this program to our NAAF community! NAAF’s Youth Mentor Program is free, supported by donations from our community. You can enroll now by visiting the link below: Click Here to Find A Mentor For Your Child FAQs about the Youth Mentor Program Where do the youth mentors come from? Youth mentors are people between the ages of 17-30 who live with alopecia areata. They want to share their experience and support others. Many of our mentors have been part of the NAAF community for years. They attend the NAAF Patient Conference, NAAF support groups, or other NAAF community activities. Others are new to NAAF and are now part of an ever-expanding network of young adults who want to give back by sharing what they have learned has helped them to cope. How does the youth mentor program work? Youth mentors and mentees connect through a platform where mentors provide a short bio about themselves for parents and kids to review. Once NAAF makes the mentor/mentee connection, the conversations and process would happen over Skype, phone calls, and face to face. This would primarily happen year-round, outside of the NAAF conference. We ask that youth mentors agree to mentor 2 mentees per year, and commit to spending a minimum of 2 hours a month with each mentee. How do I become a youth mentor? To become a Youth Mentor, you must submit an application and go through an interview and screening process. You will also be required to take NAAF’s youth mentor e-training course. Once the application, screening and training process are complete, you become part of the team. Your information is then placed on the mentor match platform! How do I find a youth mentor for my child or me (as a parent)? To find a mentor for you and/or your child, go to our Youth Mentor Program Page to identify a mentor in your area that your child thinks best matches his/her interest. Click the blue ‘Connect’ button next to that mentor. You will automatically be directed to the enrollment form for your child. NAAF will then make an introduction for you, your child, and the mentor. What screening do you do to allow a volunteer to become a mentor? NAAF’s youth mentors submit an application, have an interview, reference check and background check. They must also participate in a 2-hour training program. What if my child doesn’t like their mentor? We do our best to identify the best match, however, if that match does not work out, we will work with you to find a new one! How much does the program cost? There is no fee to join the program. However, activities such as eating out or going bowling, may cost money. Payment is between the mentor and the mentees parents/guardian. How long will my child have his/her mentor? We ask for a one-year commitment from participants; however, this can be extended upon agreement from mentor/mentee. What are the hours for the match activity? The mentor/mentee families determine their schedule. Typically, activities take place on the weekends. If you have any further questions, please contact us at support@naaf.org.
