Team Up Mentoring Program
Our Program
About the Program
Seeking a Mentor for a Child?
What Makes Us Different
Team Up Mentoring is an evidence-based youth development program designed to support a young person’s successful path to adulthood. Team Up has also proven effective in redirecting young people toward a healthy and productive future.
Our mentors are carefully selected, and they want to make a positive difference in the life of their mentees. They provide one on one support and encouragement to their mentees weekly to ensure that they are consistent in their efforts. Today, we have a waiting list of more than 100 children in our community who are hoping to be matched with a caring mentor.
Our Impact
Having a mentor present in a young person’s life can reduce risk factors for negative behaviors. It also fosters greater communication skills and helps develop healthy and stable relationships with families, peers, caregivers and teachers. Team Up has created more than 650 mentor/mentee matches since 2008.
In 2023,
97% of youth mentees
showed positive changes in Academic Performance, Behavior, and/or Psychological & Social Behavior.
93% of our matches
were matched for a year or more or were on target to reach their one-year anniversary.
True Stories
“Any time spent with her mentor is her favorite! She has been the best addition our family could have ever asked for!”
—Team Up Parent
“Ms. Tina is kind, spontaneous, bubbly, independent, intelligent, and optimistic.”
—Team Up Mentee Tyliyah
Enroll a Child
Is my child eligible?
We match youth between the ages of 6-17 who need a positive role model in their lives with adult volunteers aged 20 and up.
Additional Information
How do youth spend time with their mentor?
Mentors and youth can decide together what they are going to do each time they meet. Some examples of activities our matches enjoy doing together include: reading a book, playing video games, listening to music, gardening, cooking, playing cards or board games, working on an arts and crafts project, fishing, bike riding, playing basketball, discussing the latest sports scene, working on the computer, writing a resume or a college application, reading online employment ads, learning a musical instrument, studying a foreign language, and discussing career options or plans for after high school.
What to expect in the match process:
Team Up follows quality guidelines and standards of excellence in mentoring. Each prospective mentor goes through a selection process in order to be chosen for this worthwhile and honored role. It includes completion of an application to become a mentor, employment reference checks, an inquiry about a mentor’s interests, character reference and a criminal background check. We also require proof of outstanding driving records and a check with the child abuse registry. These procedures begin a process to match interested individuals with youth who have enrolled in the program.
Meet the Team
Sharon Reams, MSW
Director of Youth Services
Jessica Simmons
Team Up Program Supervisor
Rebecca Miller
Match Support Specialist
Become a Mentor
Is Mentoring Right for Me?
Our Mission
We are committed to partnering with children, families, and communities to improve lives and outcomes through prevention, intervention, and support services.
To submit an application to become a mentor please complete the information below:
Additional Information
How do I spend time with my mentee?
Mentors and youth can decide together what they are going to do each time they meet. Some examples of activities our matches enjoy doing together include: reading a book, playing video games, listening to music, gardening, cooking, playing cards or board games, working on an arts and crafts project, fishing, bike riding, playing basketball, discussing the latest sports scene, working on the computer, writing a resume or a college application, reading online employment ads, learning a musical instrument, studying a foreign language, and discussing career options or plans for after high school.
What to expect in the match process:
Team Up follows quality guidelines and standards of excellence in mentoring. Each prospective mentor goes through a selection process in order to be chosen for this worthwhile and honored role. It includes completion of an application, employment reference checks, an inquiry about a mentor’s interests, character references and a criminal background check. We also require proof of outstanding driving records and a check with the child abuse registry. These procedures begin a process to match interested individuals with youth who are waiting for your support.
Program Contacts
Location: 1805 Airline Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23707
Phone: (757) 337-3414
Fax: (757) 399-3316
How You Can Help
- Tickets to sporting events
- Passes to Latitude Climbing and Fitness, Go Ape, Busch Gardens, Color Me Mine
- Passes to local museums and parks (Children’s Museum, Aquarium, Norfolk Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Funville)
To see a full list of items frequently requested by families, including items for children, visit our Amazon Wish List.
Please email us at development@theupcenter.org if you’d like to help or make an online donation today by clicking here.
Our Mission
We are committed to partnering with children, families, and communities to improve lives and outcomes through prevention, intervention, and support services.
580 E. Main Street, Suite 400
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
© The Up Center Terms & Conditions Site Map My Account New Client Registration