MENTOR Washington

For over two decades, MENTOR Washington has been at the forefront of fostering meaningful connections that change lives. Our commitment has supported a beautifully diverse community of youth across Washington State, guiding them through challenges and opportunities alike.

Simply put, we believe that young people don't stand a chance of being happy and healthy unless the adults around them are equipped and ready to support them in meaningful ways.

Youth We Impact:

• 51% of youth in Washington mentoring programs are involved with the juvenile justice system or experiencing foster or kinship care.
• 74% of these young individuals come from low-income households, facing unique challenges that require tailored support.
• 64% of mentored youth identify as BIPOC, bringing diverse perspectives and enriching the mentoring experience.

Supporting Youth Workers and Mentoring Professionals

Through training, capacity building, program coaching and quality program assessments we offer youth mentoring programs a variety of avenues for ensuring their programming is evidence-based and reaching optimal outcomes with and for youth.

Supporting Mentors

At MENTOR Washington, we believe every young person deserves a champion. Through advocacy, training, and direct support, we empower mentors and programs dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child. Our ongoing efforts ensure that mentors are equipped to provide the guidance and support that make all the difference.

MENTOR Washington is proud to work with so many agencies in Washington State. We have developed partnerships and deep relationships over the past 20 years. We work collaboratively to directly support vulnerable youth as well as impact systems change. MENTOR Washington is a critical part of the safety net for the most vulnerable youth in Washington State.

Mentoring is an evidenced-based prevention strategy for substance abuse and positively impacts behavioral health. Our partners at the Health Care Authority collaborate with MENTOR Washington to review mentoring programs who apply for HCA funding, ensuring that programs are indeed implementing best practices for mentoring.

We also partner with Washington's Rural Prevention Partners bringing resources and capacity building supports for the unique challenges rural communities face.

Our partnership with DCYF goes all the way back to our roots. The work began at DSHS and has transitioned to DCYF. We collaboratively support mentorship for youth experiencing foster care and the juvenile justice system.  

MENTOR Washington provides critical support to programs providing mentorship to the most vulnerable youth in our communities. This is achieved through shared work with DCYF staff members including professional development and robust programming such as our pilot for Mentoring Youth Experiencing Foster Care. This pilot launched in 2023 and MENTOR Washington brings together DCYF staff, mentoring providers and young adults with lived experience to implement best practices.

The education of Washington youth is a critical component of a young person's growth and development. Our partners at OSPI know that relationships between educators and students matter. A community's support is also critical for healthy schools and OSPI has proven to be champions of mentoring time and time again. 

Led by Doug Wells
Tuesday, June 23 | 12:30–2:30 PM | Virtual

Nonprofit finance does not have to feel overwhelming. With the right understanding, financial information can become a powerful tool for making decisions, strengthening programs, and sustaining your mission.

MENTOR California and MENTOR Washington are partnering to host Nonprofit Finance: What You Need to Know, a practical virtual training led by Doug Wells . This session is designed to help nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, and program teams better understand the financial foundations that support strong, sustainable organizations.

Participants will explore key nonprofit finance concepts including budgets, financial reports, oversight, planning, sustainability, and how financial stewardship connects directly to mission-driven impact.

Whether you are new to nonprofit finance or looking to build more confidence with the basics, this training will offer clear, accessible insight to support your work.

Training Details
Date: Tuesday, June 23
Time: 12:30–2:30 PM
Location: Virtual
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DA7N02RBTVSVJGq4p7AI4w

This training is ideal for: nonprofit leaders, board members, program managers, operations staff, community-based organizations, mentoring programs, and anyone supporting mission-driven work.

Register today to build the financial knowledge needed to support stronger programs, stronger organizations, and stronger communities

MENTOR Washington is proud to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid, a nationally recognized certification course designed to help adults identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among young people ages 12–18.

This virtual training will be facilitated by Jolynn Kenney, Executive Director of MENTOR Washington. Jolynn is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor with a Master of Education in Counseling and more than 25 years of experience working with young people and the adults who support them.

Training Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Virtual
Registration Deadline: Monday, August 3, 2026

This course includes 2 hours of required self-paced online pre-work before the live session. The live class will include approximately 5 hours of interactive virtual instruction, and participants must be on video to complete the certification.

Participants may choose between two registration options:

Virtual Certificate with Digital Materials: $50 per person
Includes PDF versions of course materials.

Virtual Certificate with Printed + Digital Materials: $85 per person
Includes printed materials shipped to you, plus digital copies. Participants requesting printed materials must register by August 3 to allow time for shipping.

Paid registration helps cover the cost of the licensed certification seat and course materials. Scholarships may be available for those who need support.

Register today to become better equipped to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Register Here