Mentorship Program

Mentorship that leads somewhere.

One-on-one mentoring for justice-involved and at-risk individuals in Tampa Bay, with a clear path to education and work.

  • 1:1mentor and participant
  • Every other weekabout 2 hours, plus work between meetings
  • 60–90 daysplan horizon, reviewed at every meeting
  • 3 pillarsmentorship, scholarships, jobs
Who it’s for

People ready for a next step

People with a justice-involved background, or at risk of becoming involved, who want to build skills, earn a credential, go to school or find steady work. Anyone is welcome. If you’re not ready for every step yet, we’ll help you get there or connect you with someone who can. Participants under 18 join with a parent or guardian’s consent.

The pathway

Six steps, one plan

  1. Welcome and intake

    A signed participant agreement, then a 30–45 minute conversation about life right now and where you want to go.

  2. Readiness check

    Seven basics that make progress possible. The result decides where we start, not whether we help.

  3. Goals

    Two or three specific goals in your own words. Any license or credential a goal needs is checked for barriers.

  4. Skills and gaps

    What you already bring, compared with what each goal requires.

  5. Development plan

    For each gap: the program or resource that closes it, the cost, how it is funded, and who does what by when. Signed by both of us.

  6. Scholarship, job placement, or both

    A Know More scholarship application for school or a credential, a warm connection to employers and workforce partners through job placement, or both.

Readiness

Seven basics, three possible outcomes

The seven basics

  1. Housing that is stable for the next 60–90 days
  2. A reliable way to get to meetings and training
  3. A phone or contact that will stay active
  4. Time: about 2 hours every other week
  5. Basic needs and income not in daily crisis
  6. Recovery support in place, and supervision conditions that fit, where these apply
  7. No current mental health crisis; if there is one, we connect to care first

The outcome

  • Ready. All seven in place: goal-setting starts.
  • Stabilize first. Warm referrals and a date to recheck.
  • Income first. Job placement starts now, with goal-setting alongside.

Mentoring continues in every case.

Need help with the basics? Start with the Hillsborough Help Map.

How it works

Boundaries, graduation and results

Mentoring, not counseling

  • A mentor is a guide and an encourager. Mentoring is not counseling, therapy, legal advice or case management; we refer to people who provide those.
  • Every referral is a warm handoff with a follow-up date.
  • What you share is confidential, except risk of serious harm, abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, or a court order.
  • We don’t record criminal record details, diagnoses or treatment information.
  • Meetings happen in public or agreed places; a code of conduct applies both ways.

Graduation and exit

  • Graduation: the plan’s goals are met: enrolled in training or school with funding in place, credential earned, or working steadily.
  • Follow-up: a check-in 90 days later.
  • Pause: basics need attention first; referrals and a recheck date.
  • Stepping away: your choice, any time. The door stays open.
  • Safety: violence, threats or aggression pause or end mentoring; a referral is still offered where safe.

What we track

  • Readiness outcome at intake
  • Development plan completed
  • Scholarship awarded
  • Credential earned
  • Employed at 90 days
Scholarships

Before a scholarship application

Five checks come first: stable basics, a confirmed goal, a chosen program with known cost and schedule, licensing barriers cleared, and one step taken on your own. Applications are reviewed quarterly by our Scholarship Committee; awards are not guaranteed.

For referral partners

Know someone ready for a next step?

  1. Confirm the person wants to hear from us and agrees to be contacted.
  2. Send us their name, best phone or email, and good times for an intro call.
  3. We reach out directly to set up the first conversation.
Robert Schafbuch, Executive Director[email protected] · (319) 322-8257

Know More, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. 5004 E Fowler Ave, Ste C311, Tampa, FL 33617.

Mentoring is general guidance, not counseling, therapy or legal advice. In an emergency call 911. For a mental health or suicide crisis, call or text 988.