Welcome to the Children’s Grief Centre’s Common Ground Mentorship Program, where we believe in the power of connection and shared experiences.
We understand that a child’s grief journey is not one-dimensional—it’s full of moments of joy, discovery, and growth, too. Our program is designed to pair children and youth with a caring, trained mentor who can be a positive and consistent presence in their life.
Our mentors are here to be a source of fun, laughter, and new adventures. From shooting hoops at the local park or exploring a new hiking trail to baking cookies, tackling a cool science experiment, or simply sharing a great story over a scoop of ice cream, these activities are all about building a strong, trusting relationship. Through these shared experiences, a child can rediscover their interests, build confidence, and find new ways to express themselves in a safe and supportive environment.
We invite you to learn more about our program and how a mentor can help your child or teen find new ways to grow around their grief, making room for new moments of joy.
Mentee Readiness Checklist
We understand that committing to a mentorship program is a big step. We encourage you to review our Readiness Checklist to make sure the Common Ground Mentorship Program is the right fit for your family and your child.
Mentee Application
If you answered “yes” to all the questions on our checklist, you’re ready for the next step.
Please complete our full application form below. This will help us learn more about your child—their interests, personality, and what your family hopes to gain from the mentorship experience. Once you submit the form, feel free to start on Step 3. Our Community Engagement Coordinator will reach out to you once your application has been reviewed.
Mentee Training Module
This online training module is designed to help young people understand their role as a mentee and must be completed before they are matched with a mentor. The training helps participants build skills they can use for years to come. The program covers:
Understanding the Role: What is a mentor? What is a mentee?
Building a Relationship: Getting to know your mentor and how to communicate with them.
Safety and Boundaries: Staying safe and setting good boundaries within the relationship.
Self-Discovery: Identifying personal strengths and interests.
Complete Mentee Training >> Training provided by the Alberta Mentoring Partnership
Mentee Forms
Once you have been approved for a mentor match,our Community Engagement Coordinator will contact you with the necessary consent forms. These must be completed before a mentor/mentee match is made. Additionally, a Custody/Consent Agreement will be requested if deemed necessary based on the family’s specific situation.
Searching For Your Mentor Match
Congratulations! You are now ready to start your mentoring journey.
While we’re searching for the right mentor, your family will receive our agency emails with invitations to other fun opportunities like our Family Enjoyment Programs: The Village, and The Hangout, as well as special events with the Children’s Grief Centre.
Matching Meeting
Once we identify a potential mentor who we feel would be a good match, our Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) will reach out to both the mentor and the mentee’s family to provide information. If all parties agree to proceed, we will schedule a matching meeting.
This meeting brings together the mentor, the CEC, the child/youth, and their caregiver. It’s a crucial opportunity for everyone to get to know one another and ensure the match feels right.
If all parties agree to move forward, the CEC will coordinate the initial visits. They will provide supervision that gradually decreases over the first few meetings to ensure the mentee, their family, and the mentor all feel comfortable. The CEC will continue to offer regular check-ins and ongoing support to both the mentee/family and the mentor throughout the mentorship.
Do You Have Any Questions?
If you still can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please reach out to:
tricia.hirsche@hospicecalgary.ca