Youth Mentorship Program
Connect with someone who truly understands.
Living with a rheumatic disease can sometimes feel isolating — especially during the teen years. The Youth Mentorship Program connects young people with trained peer mentors who have lived experience navigating school, friendships, treatment, and everyday life with a rheumatic condition.
It’s a space for honest conversations, shared experiences, and encouragement from someone who’s been there.
What Mentorship Looks Like
Mentorship through Cassie + Friends is designed to be flexible, supportive, and youth-centered. Mentors provide guidance based on their own experiences while creating a safe and encouraging environment for connection.
Mentorship may include:
- Talking about school, friendships, and daily life
- Navigating treatment and medical routines
- Building confidence and independence
- Learning from someone who has faced similar challenges
Mentorship conversations take place virtually and are scheduled in a way that works for both mentor and mentee.
Who This Program is Designed For
Who Can Participate
Mentees
- Teens living with juvenile arthritis or another rheumatic disease
- Typically ages 13–18
- Looking for connection, support, or guidance
Mentors
- Young adults with lived experience managing rheumatic disease
- Trained and supported by the Cassie + Friends team
- Passionate about helping younger youth navigate the journey
What Mentorship Looks Like
Sometimes the most powerful support comes from someone who has already walked a similar path. Mentorship helps young people feel understood, build confidence, and realize they’re not alone.
For many participants, these conversations become an important part of building resilience and independence.
Featured Mentor
Hear from young adults with lived experience who understand school, treatment, friendships, independence, and life with rheumatic disease.
How to Get Started
- Submit a mentor request form
- Our team reviews your request and identifies a strong match
- We introduce mentor and mentee and help set up the first conversation
Parent Reassurance
All mentors are carefully selected and supported by the Cassie + Friends team. Our goal is to create a safe, respectful, and positive mentorship experience for every young person involved.
Parents are welcome to learn more about the program and how mentorship works.
Closing Reinforcement
Meeting someone who understands your experience can make a powerful difference. The Youth Mentorship Program exists to help young people build confidence, connection, and community.
Youth Mentorship Program Video
Get to know the Cassie + Friends Youth Mentorship Program and how it connects young people living with rheumatic disease with trained mentors who understand the journey. This video explains who the program is for, how mentorship works, and why peer support can make such a meaningful difference.
More Youth VideosYouth Stories
Meeting someone who understands your experience can make a powerful difference. The Youth Mentorship Program exists to help young people build confidence, connection, and community.
Ways to Get Involved
Whether you’re looking for support from someone who understands, or you’re ready to support another young person, the Youth Mentorship Program offers meaningful ways to connect.
Become a Mentee
Get support from a trained peer mentor.
Become a mentor
Meet the C+F Youth Mentors
C+F Youth Mentors are young adults who understand what it’s like to grow up with juvenile arthritis or another rheumatic disease. They offer peer support, practical advice, and encouragement from someone who has been there.
All Mentors are trained through the iPeer2Peer program developed at SickKids Hospital and complete Jack.org’s Be There Certificate, helping them support meaningful conversations and recognize when additional help may be needed.
Youth Mentorship FAQs
Learn more about who the Youth Mentorship Program is for, what youth can talk about with a mentor, and how C+F mentors are trained to provide safe, supportive peer connection.
Who is the youth mentorship program for?
The C+F Youth Mentorship Program provides a safe and secure space where trained mentors can share their lived experiences, tips, and advice in navigating growing up with JA or another rheumatic disease and where mentees can ask questions in a judgment-free setting with a peer that ‘just gets it’.
What kinds of things can I talk about with my mentor?
There’s a lot going on when you’re a kid – school, making friends, extracurriculars. As you get older, this list gets even longer: graduating high school and beginning post-secondary, jobs, relationships, travel, and more. And, when you’re living with juvenile arthritis or another rheumatic disease there are even more considerations:
- How do I talk to my teachers/coaches about my health needs?
- How do I tell my friends?
- How do I balance school, work, and other commitments with all of my doctor’s appointments and the need to take care of myself?
- How do I travel with my medication? Can I access my prescriptions in other countries?
- When my friends start dating and going to parties, are there things that I need to consider related to my health?
All of these questions (and so many more) can be overwhelming – the C+F Youth Mentorship Program can help!
Do mentors receive special training or certification?
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 completing the training program, they are set up to have meaningful conversations and identify when additional help might be needed.
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“Talking with my mentor helped me realize I wasn’t the only one going through this.” — Youth participant
