About Us
Reach & Rise is a national, therapeutic mentoring program that matches adult volunteer mentors (age 21+) with young people. A key feature of the program is the inclusion of parents in the mentoring process, from matching their child to an appropriate mentor, to setting goals for the mentoring relationship.
Highly trained mentors meet with mentees once each week to discuss issues occurring in the youth's life while engaging in enriching activities in the community.
Youth are referred from schools, counselors, parents and other YMCA programs.
Program Directors provide ongoing mentor support, family support, and case management.
WHY WAS REACH and RISE CREATED?
This free program was established to serve the needs of young people not being met by existing youth services.
- To offer over-stressed families a resource to help meet their children’s needs.
- To provide youth with positive, growth-inducing relationships with adults through the mentoring process.
- To make a difference in a child’s life.
WHAT TYPE OF YOUTH DOES THE PROGRAM SERVE?
Youth from a wide range of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds:
- Young people (ages 6-17) and their families
- Young people experiencing problems such as low self-esteem, poor academic performance, truancy, peer difficulties, family conflict and poor decision-making skills.
- Youth encompassing a variety of family backgrounds including intact families, single-parent families, blended families, foster home and/or grandparent and other relative-headed families.
ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING
- One youth (ages 6-17) is matched with one adult volunteer mentor
- Matches meet in the community for 1-3 hours per week for a minimum of 1 year
- Mentors who drive will need proof of auto insurance and clean driving record
- Contact 1:1 Program Director
GROUP MENTORING
- Two Adult mentors are matched with a group of up to 8 mentees (Ages 6-17)
- Matches meet in the community for 2 hours per week for 16 weeks (Fall & Spring) or 8 weeks (Summer)
- Contact Group Program Coordinator
Together, mentors and mentees share diverse experiences, develop a stronger sense of belonging within their communities, and create lasting memories!
Urban Services YMCA
1530 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94115
BECOME A MENTOR
1:1 Mentor Application
REFER A YOUTH
1:1 Youth Referral
GROUP MENTORING
Become a Mentor
Youth Referral
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Vanessa Gonzales, Program Director of Reach & Rise, at vgonzales@ymcasf.org or (415) 561-0631
Chinatown YMCA
855 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94108
BECOME A MENTOR
1:1 Mentor Application
REFER A YOUTH
1:1 Youth Referral
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Hang Yi Tam, Program Manager of Reach & Rise, at HTam@ymcasf.org or (415) 748 3547
"Reach & Rise impacts youth, because they just get another choice. They get another opportunity in life to see that there are other ways and things to see out there...and faith in humanity."
- Jennifer Kriebl, National Director
Meet Our Staff
Jennifer Kriebl
National Director of Reach & Rise®
Urban Services YMCA
About Jennifer
As a longtime social worker, Jennifer believes in giving back to the community. Be a mentor! She oversees the Reach & Rise national mentoring program in 38 states.
Jordan Banks
Senior Program Director of Reach & Rise®
Urban Services YMCA
(415) 561-0631
About Jordan
Jordan works to promote youth resilience by recruiting and training volunteers to be trauma-informed therapeutic mentors for kids as they face the challenges of growing up.
Vanessa Gonzales
Program Director of Reach & Rise®
Urban Services YMCA
(415) 561-0631
About Vanessa
Vanessa commits herself to support the local youth by developing comprehensive youth mentoring programs. She relies on her experience as a former teacher to understand areas of need for youth and find creative therapeutic solutions.
Hang Yi Tam
Program Manager of Reach & Rise®
Chinatown YMCA
(415) 748-3547
About Hang
Growing up in an immigrant family, a college degree seemed to be an unachievable dream to Hang Yi as a youth. With the guidance of her academic mentors, she navigated the higher education system and received a Master of Social Work in 2020. Hang Yi is devoted to promoting protective factors in youth and families through a strength-based approach and supporting youth and mentors with cultural humility. Mentees benefit from developing positive outlook for their future as an outcome of therapeutic mentoring, which served as the foundation of a future of resiliency.