Program Overview
The ChildPromise Higher Education Mentorship Program builds meaningful, career-focused relationships between college students and professional mentors in their respective fields of study. The program supports students in the final years of their undergraduate journey, bridging the gap between academic learning and meaningful employment. By matching students with mentors who share professional interests and industry experience, the program fosters career readiness, confidence, and long-term success as students transition from higher education into the workforce.
Objectives
Objective 1:
Establish Sustained Professional Mentorship: Build mentoring relationships that extend through the student’s college years and into their early career, providing consistent professional guidance and networking support as they navigate career entry and growth.
Objective 2:
Support Students Transitioning from College to Career: Develop support systems that help students—especially those with foster care experience—build professional readiness skills, secure meaningful employment, and maintain networks of support as they move into independent adulthood.
Objective 3:
Enhance Professional and Career Development: Mentors will support students with real-world insight into their chosen fields, help refine professional skills, review resumes and portfolios, conduct mock interviews, and build confidence in workplace communication and self-advocacy.
Objective 4:
Build Strategic Career Partnerships: Collaborate with employers, alumni, professional associations, and community organizations to expand mentoring opportunities and connect students directly to career pathways, internships, and job placements.
KEY COMPONENTS MENTOR SUPPORT
Designated ChildPromise Mentor Coordinator: Program staff will serve as an active point of contact for students, providing ongoing communication, training, and logistical support to ensure smooth connections between mentors and mentees.
Goal Setting
Career Goal Alignment: Mentors will work with students to identify short- and long-term career goals, create individualized action plans, and build accountability milestones. The focus will be on developing clarity around professional direction, networking strategies, and pathways to employment.
Transition Support
Focus on Career Transition: Mentors will assist students in navigating the transition from college to the workforce by offering job search guidance, networking introductions, and insights into industry expectations.
Professional Readiness Training: Students will have access to workshops, shadowing opportunities, and field-specific training experiences that connect academic learning with employment outcomes.
Long-Term Mentorship
Sustained Career Connection: Emphasizes the value of ongoing relationships that extend beyond graduation, offering continued mentorship as students enter and adapt to their professional roles and responsibilities.
Partnerships and Community Outreach
Industry-Based Mentorship: Expand mentor recruitment by engaging professionals across diverse industries and disciplines who can offer specialized career insights.
Alumni & Employer Partnerships: Collaborate with alumni networks, employers, and workforce development agencies to create internship pipelines and job placement connections.
Professional Engagement Events: Host networking events, site visits, and industry panels that connect mentors and students in authentic, career-centered environments.
TAILORED MATCHING PROCESS
Field-Specific Matching: Matches will be based on students’ academic majors, career interests, and long-term professional goals to ensure the most relevant support. Comprehensive Vetting: Mentors will be screened for both safety and professional suitability, ensuring mentors have credible experience and commitment to student success.
MENTOR INCENTIVES
Professional Mentor Recognition & Incentives: ChildPromise may offer stipends, or formal recognition via LinkedIn etc. to mentors who invest their time in supporting student success and professional readiness.
