WE THRIVE WHEN WE MATTER
What we do
Silver Lining Mentoring empowers youth in foster care to thrive through committed mentoring relationships and the development of essential life skills. We are one of only a few mentoring organizations in the country exclusively focused on youth impacted by foster care.
SLM mentor matches last an average of 55 months — more than six times the national average.
67% of SLM youth are employed — versus 43% of their peers in foster care.
SLM youth are 7 times more likely to go to college than their peers in foster care.
COMMUNITY BASED MENTORING
Community Based Mentoring pairs youth in foster care ages seven and older in one-to-one mentoring relationships with a trained volunteer mentor.
LEARN & EARN
Learn & Earn builds on mentoring with twelve weeks of life skills training, focusing on employment and financial literacy with a matched savings component.
YOUNG ADULT SERVICES
Young Adult Services provides individualized clinical support, resource brokering, housing support, and meets other urgent needs for young people who are aging out of foster care.
innovation
INNOVATION:
We encourage creativity and collaboration in pursuit of leadership, learning, and continuous improvement.
innovation
COMMUNITY:
We believe that all youth need positive connections to peers and adults, and a place to feel like they belong.
innovation
GRATITUDE:
We are inspired by our community and are dedicated to acknowledging, appreciating and celebrating the strengths and successes of our community.
EQUITY VISION:
We believe that diversity strengthens communities and are committed to cultivating an environment where marginalized people are lifted up and centered in service of dismantling systems of oppression.
innovation
COMMITMENT:
We are dedicated to building relationships and skills that will serve youth into the future as they define and achieve personal success.
What you can do
What’s new
- Silver Lining Mentoring: Honoring Volunteer Mentors for Foster Youth
A Night to Say Thank You to our Mentors
What happens when we get a group of Silver Lining mentors together in one place? We have a celebration to remember, filled with amazing energy, new connections, and insp... Read More >
- Mentor Lauren Huang Community Day 2025
Mentor Spotlight: Interview With New Mentor Lauren
Are you wondering what mentor training is like? Perhaps you’re curious about what motivates people to join the SLM community as a volunteer mentor to a youth in foster ca... Read More >
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Highlights from Community Day!
On July 26th, Silver Lining mentees, mentors, and staff gathered at Skyline Park in Brookline for an afternoon of connection and fun & games for our annual Community ... Read More >
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Silver Lining Mentees Play “The Game of Life”
SLM staff Sally Sanchez-Peña discusses banking and retirement savings with mentee Onyx (right) and their mentor, Mak. On July 14th, 28 mentees & mentors gathered in... Read More >
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SLM In the News: Reimagining the "Aging-Out" Mindset
We’re excited to share a piece featured in Youth Today co-authored by Institute Program Coordinator Liz Barker (far right) & Assistant Director of Education and Train... Read More >