History & Vision

Massachusetts MENTOR was founded in 1980 by E. Byron Hensley, a social worker who believed that children and adolescents in the state’s care were best served in family homes with specially trained Mentor foster parents.

Hensley first utilized this model with juveniles within the Massachusetts court system who would otherwise be placed in correctional institutions.  Their successful placements with Massachusetts MENTOR within communities would be the foundation for the growth and progress of the organization for nearly thirty years.

Expanding to Serve Individuals with Disabilities

By 1983, Massachusetts MENTOR was one of the first community-based providers in the country that offered people with developmental disabilities an opportunity to live in homes as opposed to institutions.   By adapting the original Mentor model for children to people with developmental disabilities, Massachusetts MENTOR expanded and began addressing the unmet need for community-based care across the country.

While MENTOR grew into The MENTOR Network (now Sevita), a national network of local providers, serving a full range of people in need in all regions of the country, Massachusetts MENTOR continued to expand to serve more children and adults in more cities across the state.

Supports Across the State

With its proven Mentor model, its network of caring Mentors, and its strong support system, Massachusetts MENTOR is a partner of the Department of Social Services and the Department of Developmental Services.   In addition to the Mentor model, Massachusetts MENTOR offers a full range of community -based programming, including case management and aftercare services for children and independent living and day programming for adults.  With eight offices in Massachusetts we can offer individuals in need—and their public partners—community placements that are close to home.

As part of Sevita, Massachusetts MENTOR draws on the expertise and resources of a national organization with advanced support in the areas of quality improvement and outcomes tracking, financial accountability and work force support.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, we envision playing an active role in shaping human services reform.  Our experience as an innovative provider offers the opportunity to test new models of care.  Our cutting-edge systems can help document success and explore ways to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiency.