Become a Mentor
By becoming Mentor, you’ll have the opportunity to make a difference in an individual’s life. You’ll also receive the tools, education and support from our expert team that you need to be successful.
Shared Living
In our Host Home program—known to some in Massachusetts as Shared Living—individuals live in private family homes with dedicated caregivers who we call Mentors. We use the term “Mentor” because the people who open their homes to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities become so much more than just care providers. They are advocates, teachers, friends, and family.
Our Host Home program begins with a highly personalized matching process. We carefully select our Mentors and ensure they have the skills needed to support the individuals we serve. In partnership with our Mentors, the individuals, and their families we develop Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) and continually adjust service plans as individuals reach new goals or their needs change.
Personal Choice and Program Stability
Every individual in our Host Home program is actively involved in planning their daily routine and the services they need to be successful. Our Host Home program includes:
- 24-hour support in family homes
- Life skills development
- Opportunities to participate in community activities and day programs
- Advocacy services
- Community integration
- Family involvement and support
- Medication management oversight
- 24-hour on-call support for Mentors
- Quality improvement
With a track record of success, Massachusetts MENTOR’s Host Home program has changed the lives of hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities—giving them new opportunities to learn, grow and achieve their dreams.
It’s all About Relationships
In our Host Home program, the goal is not “making a placement”. We focus on “making a match” between the individual and Mentor which provides the foundation for a lasting and enriching relationship. These relationships—built in natural family settings—are what make our Host Home program a success.
Backed by our clinical experts and experienced human services professionals, our Mentors provide individuals with personalized services and countless opportunities to take part in everyday activities of family life, such as:
- Learning new skills
- Socializing with family and friends
- Managing household chores
- Discovering new hobbies
- Improving independence
- Participating in community events