Become An AMS Mentor

Adoptee Mentoring Society mentors play a pivotal role in supporting mentees by sharing their personal adoptee experiences through virtual one-on-one sessions and group mentorship in The Adoptee Lounge. Mentors are trained to uphold healthy boundaries and provide empathetic guidance.

A box labeled 'Adopted Mentoring Society' placed on a table next to a cloth bag with the same label, along with some pens and attached notes.

Mentor Your Fellow Adoptees

Do you want to play a pivotal role in supporting mentees by supporting other adoptees through virtual one-on-one sessions and facilitating The Adoptee Lounge?

If so, we’d love to meet you.

Ready to learn more about what’s involved and how to prepare for the next application cycle?

Watch our Info Session and learn more about the role below.

Mentor Values

  • Outline of two hands forming a heart shape.

    Radical Acceptance

    We offer unconditional positive regard to all mentees while fostering an environment of respect and support.

  • Illustration of a layered Christmas tree made of colored paper with four levels in green, dark blue, peach, and light gray.

    Inch-Wide, Mile-Deep

    Our approach prioritizes meaningful, transformative work over surface-level efforts.

  • Two speech bubbles, one dark teal with three white dots, and one beige with three white lines, indicating conversation or communication.

    Openness

    We trust that the right people, timing, and outcomes will naturally emerge, staying present and open to the conversations and opportunities that unfold.

  • Close-up of a train track switch with metal rails and mechanisms.

    Boundaries

    We honor time and closure, ensuring we begin, end, and engage with intention while accepting that non-closure can be a valid stopping point.

Mentor applications will reopen November 1, 2025

Mentor applications will reopen November 1, 2025

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Eligibility

Who Makes a Great Mentor?

Successful mentors are eager to learn with and from their team members, are committed to fostering an engaging online community of adoptees, and bring levity to adoption conversations while maintaining high ethical standards. Applicants for the mentor role must:

  • Be an adoptee, age 25 or older

  • Have attended at least three Adoptee Lounges prior to applying to become a mentor

  • Be an active contributor in our Slack channel

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Benefits

How We Support Our Mentors

Join our mentor team and enjoy meaningful support, growth, and recognition, including:

  • $3,000 stipend for the year

  • Free monthly access to The Adoptee Lounge

  • Monthly consultations with a licensed psychologist regarding mentor-mentee relationships and interactions

  • Expert-led mentor training

  • Connection to an expansive adoptee community

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Requirements

What We Ask of Our Mentors

Mentoring is a 15-month commitment, about 10–15 hours per month, including:

  • Engaging our online community in our Slack #Loungers channel

  • Training & Onboarding (attendance is required)

    • March (week of 3/2/26): 3-hour onboarding meeting

    • March TBD (Seattle, WA): In-person Training

      • Travel to Seattle, accommodation, and some meals will be fully covered by AMS

    • Late March: 2-hour virtual facilitation training

    • April-September: 2-hour Mentor Coaching Sessions (8-10 total sessions)

  • Ongoing (attendance is required)

    • Monthly Reflective Consultation Group

    • Quarterly check-ins with AMS Staff

When Can I Apply?

Mentor applications will reopen November 1, 2025.

Here’s a look at our Application & Onboarding Timeline:

  • November 1-December 14: Applications accepted

  • November 17-January 14: Interviews

  • By January 23, 2026: Mentors selected

  • Early March: Onboarding & In-person Training 

  • March-May: Ongoing Training

  • June 2026: New mentoring cycle begins

To help you prepare, check out the 2025-2026 Mentor Application