You may have thought about the issue of boundaries when you were first considering becoming a mentor, wondering how much of your time it would take and how deeply involved you would have to become in a young person’s life. Boundaries define what is appropriate and inappropriate in the relationship, and they clarify the limits of the mentoring relationship. Appropriate boundaries are crucial because they facilitate successful relationships and protect the mentee and mentor from harm.

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Program-specific.

Some boundaries are defined in the specific context of each mentoring relationship and mentoring program requirements.

Values.

These are less evident, such as not imposing your own religious beliefs or political views.

Safety

These include avoiding sexual or romantic contact, not engaging in illegal acts, not being physically abusive or violent, and not putting your mentee in dangerous situations.