Blackburn Mentoring works with families, students and young adults in Whittier and Downey through one dedicated mentor, meeting in person in Los Angeles or by video. Each client sets a few concrete goals, works on them in weekly steps and has text and phone contact with the mentor between sessions.
Southeast county, close-knit cities
Whittier began as a Quaker town in the late 1800s and still has a traditional downtown in Uptown Whittier, with the Puente Hills and their trails rising behind it. Downey, a few miles west, has a long aerospace history; work on the Apollo program and the space shuttle was done there, and a space science center now marks that past. Both cities sit along the 605 and the 5, with easy access to downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Both are established suburbs with parks, local main streets and a steady mix of families, commuters and young adults working their first jobs. For a young person growing up here, the next step after high school can feel close to home or very far away, depending on the plan.
Questions families bring
- How do we help a teenager who is smart but has stopped trying? (motivating a teenager in school)
- What should our graduate do next: community college, a four-year school, a trade or work? (life after high school)
- Our son or daughter is in their twenties and still at home. How do we set expectations without a fight? (a living-at-home agreement)
- How does a first-generation student navigate college without anyone at home who has done it?
How a mentor works with the family
A mentor is a steady adult outside the immediate family who helps the young person set their own goals and stick with them. For high school students, a parent or guardian joins the intro call, agrees the goals and gets regular progress updates. For young adults, updates go to family only with permission. Either way, the aim is to take some pressure off home, where conversations about grades, jobs and chores can go in circles (mentoring for families).
Common weekly goals
High school
Turning in assignments, a bedtime that holds, less gaming on school nights and a first part-time job (high school mentoring).
College and community college
A schedule that fits classes, work and commuting; asking for help early; and planning a transfer or job search well ahead (community college mentoring).
Young adults
A steady job or a better one, a budget, saving for a first apartment and a clear timeline for the next step (young adult mentoring).
This is not tutoring, therapy or admissions counseling. With permission, they coordinate with professionals already involved.
Meeting in person or by video
Whittier and Downey are close enough to central Los Angeles for in-person meetings when they help, and video sessions make it easy to meet after school or after work. Many people mix the two. Nearby, see mentoring in Long Beach, mentoring in the San Gabriel Valley and mentoring in Los Angeles.
Getting started
- Take the five-minute assessment (a parent can fill it out for a teenager).
- Our team reviews every answer personally and sets up a free intro call.
- One dedicated mentor is matched to you.
- Your first sessions set two or three goals, and the weekly rhythm starts from there, in person in Los Angeles or by video.
Related
- Mentoring in Long Beach
- Mentoring in downtown Los Angeles
- Mentoring in the San Gabriel Valley
- Mentoring across California
Common questions
Can more than one family member be involved?
Yes. For a high school student, parents or guardians are involved from the start, and other family members can be included if everyone agrees.
Do you work with young adults who live at home?
Yes. Setting goals around work, money and responsibilities at home is common for young adults living with family.
Do sessions have to be in person?
No. Sessions can be in person in Los Angeles or by video, and you can switch between them as your week changes.
Is mentoring the same as counseling?
No. Mentors focus on practical goals and follow-through. For mental health concerns, a licensed professional is the right step.
Get started
Ready to talk about mentoring in Whittier or Downey? 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.