School counselors can refer a student to Blackburn Mentoring by suggesting it to the family, who then complete a five-minute assessment or call (888) 305 5422. After a free intro call, the student is matched with one dedicated mentor who works with them weekly or more. With the family’s written permission, the mentor shares progress with you and coordinates, so your plan for the student gets carried out between your meetings.
Why counselors refer to a mentor
A counselor’s caseload rarely allows weekly follow-up with every student who needs it. You can help a student build a plan, but you may not see them again for weeks. Meanwhile the plan meets real life: a missed assignment, a week of avoiding a teacher, a weekend that disappears.
A mentor provides the follow-through. The student meets their mentor weekly or several times a week, with text and phone contact in between, and works on the steps you and the family already agreed. You keep your role; the mentor helps the student act on it.
Students who often benefit
- Students who leave your office with a good plan and lose it within a week
- Students behind on work who need help building a catch-up schedule, sometimes alongside credit recovery or summer school
- Students with an IEP or 504 plan who need help using it day to day, such as remembering to ask for an accommodation
- Students struggling with attendance or the routines around it (see chronic absenteeism)
- Seniors who need structure for the steps of senior year while you handle the counseling side
How to suggest mentoring to a family
Families respond best when the suggestion is specific. A few points that tend to help:
- Name the pattern you see, such as missed work or trouble starting tasks, rather than a label.
- Explain that a mentor is a practical, weekly support, not a tutor or a therapist.
- Share our number, (888) 305 5422, or the five-minute assessment, and let the family make contact.
- Tell them they can give permission for the mentor to keep you updated, if they want that.
Follow your school’s policies on sharing student information. Letting the family reach out on their own keeps the decision with them. Step-by-step details are on our refer a student page.
What happens after the family reaches out
- Our team reviews the assessment personally.
- We hold a free intro call. For a high school student, a parent or guardian is always on it and helps agree the goals.
- The student is matched with one dedicated mentor.
- The mentor and student set goals and weekly steps, and parents get regular progress updates.
- With the family’s written permission, the mentor shares progress with you and coordinates on the plan.
Where the mentor’s role ends
Mentors work alongside counselors, teachers and specialists, not in place of them.
- Your counseling role is untouched. Course planning, graduation checks and support decisions stay with you.
- Content help comes from teachers or tutors. A mentor will not reteach algebra or edit an essay.
- Admissions guidance stays with you or the college counselor. Mentors do not weigh in on applications.
- No clinical work and no advocacy. Mentors do not diagnose or treat, and they do not represent a family at an IEP or 504 meeting.
If a student’s struggles involve mental health or substance use, a licensed professional is the right step, and mentoring can sit alongside that care. In a crisis, call or text 988.
Where a mentor helps
The clearest sign of a good fit is a student who knows what to do and is not doing it yet. Mentoring is available by video anywhere in the United States and in person in Los Angeles. See mentoring for high school students, mentoring for schools and our guide for families on working with a school counselor.
Related
- For professionals
- Mentor vs tutor
- Executive function coach vs mentor
- Learning differences in high school
Common questions
Can I contact Blackburn Mentoring before talking to the family?
You are welcome to call (888) 305 5422 with general questions about how mentoring works. The referral itself happens when the family completes the assessment or calls us.
Will I hear how the student is doing?
Yes, if the family gives written permission. The mentor can then share progress with you and coordinate so the student hears one plan.
Does a mentor replace school counseling?
No. A mentor helps the student follow through between your meetings. Counseling, academic planning and support decisions stay with you and the school team.
Is a parent involved for high school students?
Always. A parent or guardian joins the free intro call, helps agree the goals and gets regular progress updates.
Get started
Have a student in mind? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.