HAVII Become a mentor

In a crisis right now? Call or text 988, or call 911 if someone is in immediate danger. HAVII is not an emergency service.

Mentor application

Volunteering here takes about three weeks.

Four steps. This first one is the quick part — the slow parts are the reference checks and the background check, and neither can be hurried.

Before you spend twenty minutes on this

  • ·You are 21 or older, and there is at least a five-year gap between you and the oldest young person you would mentor.
  • ·You can commit to answering a message within two days, for at least six months.
  • ·You are willing to be background-checked, and re-checked when it expires.
  • ·You understand you would not be a counselor, and that disclosures get escalated to staff rather than handled alone.
  • ·You are not applying because a specific young person asked you to — matches are made by staff, never requested.
Areas you'd be useful in
Realistic availability

A mentor who answers within two days is worth more than one who is enthusiastic for a month. Under-promise.

Two references

Not family. Someone who has seen you around young people or in a position of trust. We contact them directly and call at least one back to confirm they are who they say they are.

Background check

If your application progresses, our screening provider emails you directly. You give your identity details to them, not to us — HAVII never receives or stores your date of birth, social security number, or the report itself. We record a status, a completion date, an expiry, and a reference number.

The boundaries you're agreeing to

  • ✓Everything stays inside HAVII — no phone numbers, socials, email, or other apps, and you explain why if you are asked.
  • ✓No meeting in person except at staff-organised, supervised events.
  • ✓Never promise secrecy. If a young person is at risk you tell a coordinator, and you say that upfront rather than after.
  • ✓You are not a counselor: no diagnosing, no advice on medication, no therapy.
  • ✓Answer within two days, and tell your coordinator when life gets busy so they can cover for you.
Step 1 of 3