South Boston T.E.A.M.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are the youth selected to be a part of the program?

All of the youth in the program are participants on a voluntary basis. The youth in the program, or “mentees”, come from all areas of South Boston. They must be between the ages of 10 and 16 and want to have a relationship with an adult mentor.

Referrals come from diverse youth-serving agencies, counselors, schools, parents, and the adolescents themselves. Young people who are interested in being a mentee fill out an application and the program staff meets with them and their family to talk further about the program. The mentee is then invited to come to a weekly drop-in group with other mentees who are waiting to be matched.

Will I have to spend a lot of money to be a mentor?

No. You are not required to support the mentee or family in a financial manner. T.E.A.M. encourages matches to take part in activities which are low cost or free. However, in the event that you take part in an activity that costs money, we ask for each match to have a plan on how they will handle this issue.

What are T.E.A.M.’s policies for spending time with a young person?

T.E.A.M.’s program policy for outings is that all parties agree upon the parameters of the visit and are comfortable with these parameters before-hand. Each parent and child is unique, and we ask that mentors respect the parental boundaries they set for that particular child.

I occasionally travel for work and take an annual vacation. Can I still be a mentor?

Yes. You would just let the young person know in advance and set a date for seeing them when you get back.

What if my mentee shares confidential information with me that I feel unprepared to handle on my own?

All interactions between you and the mentee are kept confidential EXCEPT if you are concerned about the mentee or someone the mentee knows. You must share this information with the program coordinator immediately. You are not expected to take on the role of parent, counselor, or social worker. Program staff will advise you on next steps.

What kinds of things do mentors do with their mentees?

Every relationship is unique. Here are some of the kids' favorite activities:

“Walked around [his] neighborhood, he was showing me around, showing me his restaurants – had real great pizza.” – Matt, 16
“We went to a haunted house.” – Simone, 13
“Salem – when we all went together, we ate, went to museums … we had lots of fun that day.” – Juanita, 12
“Ice Skating!” – Megan, 10
“Fanueil Hall, Old Country Buffet for my birthday, Pope John Paul Park [they show] movies in the summer …” –Tasha, 13
“Basketball in Third St. Park” – Andrew, 16

I’m not Catholic, can I still be a mentor with Catholic Charities?

Yes. Catholic Charities operates as any social service agency – employing staff and volunteers of all religions.

I don't have a car. Can I still be a mentor?

Yes. Many mentors in the program do not have cars. When matching you with a young person, we will take this into consideration to assure that their house is accessible via public transportation.