What is the C+F Youth Mentorship Program and how does it work?

Let’s get you set up! 

There are two ways to be a part of the C+F Youth Mentorship Program:

Receive support as a C+F Youth Mentee:

This means you are looking to access peer support from a trained C+F Youth Mentor. All mentors are directly affected by a childhood rheumatic disease.

Looking for a mentor? Click here to get started!

Give support by becoming a trained C+F Youth Mentor:

Our mentors have been equipped with the skills and resources needed to coach their mentees through their health journeys.

Interested in Becoming a C+F Youth Mentor? Sign Up for Our Next Training Session here!


About the program:


All of our mentors are trained using the iPeer2Peer training program developed at SickKids Hospital. As a part of their training program, they attend a 3-day training course and complete the mental health literacy ‘Be There Certification’ through Jack.org. Upon completion of the training program, they are set up to have meaningful conversations and identify when additional help might be needed.

All meetings happen in our secure, online platform powered by our partners at Jane.app. Through Jane.app, mentees can read through mentor bios and schedule a time to chat with those they most relate to.

Have questions? Contact our Programs Officer, Jessica at Jessica@cassieandfriends.ca.

Testimonials

“It was so nice when my daughter came to me and said “mom I finally have someone who knows what I am feeling and talking about” honestly this is a very big blessing and I would say it is as important as meds. Mental health is so imp and when my daughter has a session she feels so much better.”
Messages From Mentors

It wasn’t until I was on that zoom call with six other people my age who had my same diagnosis as me that I truly felt seen in my experiences in growing up with JIA. The connection to the others was instant: it was so comforting to meet others had also been through the same things I had. Having that community of people—to exchange tips of how to deal with flares, talk about medications, how to navigate getting support and all the new experiences that come along with having JIA—was an important puzzle piece in my acceptance of my JIA.” – Morgan

“I find people are more curious than anything and enjoy learning about how a young person has an “old persons disease” (this is what I got told a lot growing up). When people said this to me when I was younger, it really got under my skin. It doesn’t bother me anymore, as I turned it into an opportunity to educate!” – Chelsea

“But the best thing you can do is be gentle to yourself during flares and acknowledge when your body and mind need to rest. Arthritis is hard on your body, but even harder on your mind at times. Don’t forget that your body is fighting hard inside to get better. I think even the smallest accomplishments — noticing what you can do or what feels OK instead of what you can’t or what hurts — are worth celebrating!” – Morgan