Submitted by Palmer Home for Children
An interview with Kiona Pharr, LSW, Senior Director of Children’s Programs at Palmer Home for Children.
When children grow up without a consistent role model, they often miss out on more than guidance. They miss seeing what patience looks like, what trust sounds like, and what it means to be cared for through life’s ups and downs. At Palmer Home for Children, mentorship helps fill that gap.
Through its mentor program, Palmer Home connects children with caring adults and families who walk alongside them through everyday moments, the kind that build confidence and belonging over time.
Q: For someone new to the idea, what does mentorship look like at Palmer Home?
A: Mentorship can take different forms. Some mentors build a one-on-one relationship with a child, spending time together, attending church, or joining in special events. Others serve as mentor families, opening their homes for weekends or school breaks. They go through our Safe Home Study process and provide a consistent, loving space where a child can simply be part of family life.
Q: What difference can a mentor make in a child’s life?
A: A mentor helps a child see that relationships can be safe and lasting. For many of our children, consistency has been missing from their lives. When someone continuously shows up for them, listens to them, and helps them set and achieve their goals, it starts to build trust. Over time, that trust turns into confidence and hope.
Q: What kinds of people make good mentors or mentor families?
A: There isn’t one kind of person because there isn’t one kind of child. We have single adults, young couples, and families with children who serve as mentors. What they have in common is flexibility, patience, and a willingness to grow. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to care enough to keep showing up.
Q: How does faith guide the mentor program?
A: For many of our mentors, this feels like a calling. They see it as local mission work, a way to live out their faith right here in their own community. Through mentoring, they reflect God’s love in a personal and practical way that reminds each child how deeply they are valued.
Q: How can someone get involved?
A: Anyone who feels drawn to serve can begin by learning more about our mentor program at palmerhome.org/mentors. The process starts with a simple inquiry and a conversation with our team. From there, we walk alongside potential mentors or families through every step of preparation and training.
Every child at Palmer Home deserves someone steady in their corner. If you’ve ever wondered how to make a difference close to home, mentorship is one of the simplest and most lasting ways to do it.