On this episode of Close to Home, host Maureen Schwab welcomes John Piselli, Director of Emerge, to discuss the Emerge Mentoring program for youth in foster care ages 14-17. They speak on how mentoring differs from adoption, and how it creates high-quality relationships with the potential to improve social and academic behavior and reduce high risk behavior. Mentors meet one-on-one with their mentee at least 4 hours per month, help provide the youths with meaningful perspective on their lives and build a wider support net outside of foster care system.
For more info, to volunteer as a mentor, to connect a youth or to donate, please visit:EmergeMentoring.comor visit:MassMentors.org
Posted June 26th 2026 8:39pm.