Get a consultation

Contact the provider of the social service for organising mentorship (hereinafter — the Provider) to get information about the mentorship process and the requirements for candidates.

Who can be a Provider. The Provider is not necessarily a social service centre. The social service for organising mentorship can be provided by any social service provider — state and municipal institutions, as well as public associations, charitable organisations, and other legal entities regardless of their organisational and legal form — provided they are entered in the Register of Providers and Recipients of Social Services.

You can also get an initial consultation by phone or online. Look for a provider in your region here or find the network of social service centres in your area.

Submit an application of intent to provide mentorship and a package of documents

The application of intent to provide mentorship is submitted in free written form (usually filled out by hand during a visit to the Provider) and must include: your full name, date of birth, passport details, taxpayer registration number (or a refusal thereof), contact details, address of residence, information about your education, place of work or volunteer activity, marital status, and information on whether you have previously been an adoptive parent, guardian/custodian, foster parent, or mentor, and whether any such arrangement was terminated through your fault.

Checklist of documents for a mentor candidate:

• a copy of your Ukrainian citizen’s passport (or international passport, or temporary certificate of Ukrainian citizenship);
• a copy of your marriage certificate — if you are married;
• a medical statement in the form approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1261 of 1 October 2025. Please note: obtaining the medical statement is usually the biggest challenge, and future candidates often don’t know where to start. We offer a ready-made algorithm to help you plan your medical examination route as efficiently as possible: medical examination route;
• an extract from the information and analytical system “Records of Information on Criminal Prosecution and Criminal Record”. It can be obtained, in particular, through the Diia app;
• a letter from the territorial body of the National Police confirming whether or not you have committed acts of domestic violence or gender-based violence.

The application and documents can be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically — depending on the Provider’s capabilities.

Wait for the decision on inclusion in the training group

When accepting your application, the Provider explains, verbally or in writing, the procedure and conditions for providing mentorship, as well as your future rights and responsibilities as a mentor. This is an important conversation that helps both you and the Provider understand how ready you are for this role.

The Provider reviews your application and documents and, within 30 calendar days of receiving them, decides whether to include you in the training group for mentor candidates — or provides a reasoned refusal.

Complete the training and receive a statement

Participation in an in-person training course for mentor candidates is mandatory. The course covers the issues faced by the children and young people who receive mentorship: experiences of loss and displacement, separation from loved ones, experiences of violence, neglect, instability, attachment disruption, difficult life circumstances, disability, or other circumstances that have affected their development, self-esteem, trust in adults, and ability to build relationships and prepare for independent living. It also covers the mentor’s role in preparing a mentee for independent living, building trusting relationships, and more.

Upon successful completion of the course and assessment, the Provider issues you a statement confirming your eligibility to provide mentorship. If you do not complete the course successfully or risk factors are identified, the Provider issues a reasoned written refusal — and you have the right to reapply no earlier than 6 months later, once you have addressed the issues raised.

Go through the matching process

Even before meeting you, the Provider assesses the child’s or young person’s need for mentorship: a psychologist or social work specialist completes a questionnaire to establish the mentee’s individual characteristics, needs, and consent (and, for a child, the consent of their parents or other legal representatives).

The matching process is based on the principle of putting the child first: the starting point is the mentee’s needs and individual characteristics. It is on this basis that the Provider carries out the matching — selecting a mentor for the child or young person who has sufficient resources and capacity to meet that particular mentee’s needs, rather than the other way around.

Meet and establish contact with the mentee

The Provider organises the introduction. You will be given information about the mentee’s history, health, development, behaviour, and character, as well as recommendations on the best ways and methods of communication.

If, after a few meetings, both you and the mentee agree to mentorship, contact is considered successfully established, and this is grounds for concluding an agreement.

Conclude the mentorship agreement

The Provider arranges for the mentorship agreement to be concluded within a period not exceeding 10 calendar days from the day the mentee gives their consent to mentorship.

The agreement is concluded by three parties: you as the mentor; the mentee — or, if the mentee is a child, their parents, another legal representative, or the institution where they live; and the Provider. A mandatory attachment to the agreement is the mentee’s consent (in a form appropriate to their age and state of health) and an individual mentorship plan, which sets out the tasks, forms, and frequency of meetings, as well as the expected outcomes.

Provide mentorship in the best interests of the mentee

Your main task as a mentor is to act solely in the best interests of the mentee, supporting their development, adaptation, and preparation for independent living.

Individual mentorship is provided by a single legally capable adult aged 21 or older to one, or, if needed, two or more people at the same time — provided equal attention is given to each of them. Meet with the mentee regularly over a long period, preferably at the same time: this builds predictability, stability, and trust.

You can work with the mentee in the following areas:

Emotional support One of the most important tasks of mentorship is simply being there. The mentor creates a safe space for the mentee, where they can openly talk about their feelings, ask questions, and share their worries or joys — without fear of being judged.

This is an informal but critically important process of rebuilding trust in adults, in the world, and in oneself. This experience of a safe connection is the foundation for everything else: only when a relationship is built on trust does openness emerge to support in learning, socialisation, or professional self-discovery.

Throughout the mentorship, you will be supported by the Provider: for the first three months you report on the implementation of your individual plan monthly, and thereafter quarterly, receive consultations, and take part in supervision sessions — at least once every six months.