This July, we had the chance to schedule an interview with Mother Mentors for our latest episode of "Inside Shift" -- a podcast that goes inside the mind of changemakers. Mother Mentors, a grassroots nonprofit in rural Island County, Washington State, is a safety net for mothers, children, and families. They provide compassionate mentorship and practical resources to help mothers through the challenges of parenthood. We talked to Jennifer Haase Morris, executive director, and Jane Bothel, board president, about how their work changes lives and builds a stronger community.
We started by discussing Mother Mentors' beginnings with Jane Bothel. She moved to Whidbey Island in 2012 and joined Mother Mentors as a volunteer for the Playscape program and mentored four families. Jane said, "I overheard somebody say something about Mother Mentors, and my ears perked up right away. Within a few weeks, I was matched with a family in a mentoring relationship." About the experience, Jane shares, her involvement with the organization gave her a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
Jennifer Haase Morris joined as executive director after a career in public health and nonprofit management. She has played a key role in expanding the reach and impact of Mother Mentors. Jennifer said, “I had been familiar with Mother Mentors through friendships and social circles. When I saw that they needed a new executive director, I thought, 'Oh gosh, that's a great job.' After reaching out, it turned out to be serendipitous, and it has been a whirlwind of a year and a half that I have loved every minute of.”
As a mentor, the relationship built between a mother and mentor can span many years. Jane shared a story of a mother of three toddlers, including recently born twins, that she was paired with. Jane partnered with the family when they moved to Whidbey Island at a time when the four-year-old was in outpatient care for leukemia after receiving treatments in Seattle. Jane shared, “Mother Mentors was able to provide a team of three mentors that supported that family over a period of time. It was amazing that one of our mentors was regularly going down to Seattle to be with her grandchildren. So while the family was down in Seattle, this mentor was able to stop by and spend time with the twins in the first six months. And then when they came back to the island, we had even more time with them. For me, individually, I spent the longest and greatest amount of time with them and I have just received so much joy from watching their story evolve.”
Mother Mentors operates on a volunteer-based model. Volunteers commit to supporting families for 6 to 12 months, providing essential support and building strong relationships, becoming almost an extension of the family. Jennifer said, “This significant investment helps build strong relationships and lasting support.” Volunteers engage in various roles, from mentoring to organizing community events.
Mother Mentors focuses on early childhood development, mental health support, and practical resources. The organization works to address the unique challenges faced by families on Whidbey Island and is committed to building a strong, resilient community. "Parenting is hard, and it's really hard to do it alone. Everyone can instantly go back to where they were and realize how crucial support is during those early years,” said Jennifer.
Mother Mentors makes an invaluable contribution to this rural community in Washington as a support and care network, helping mothers navigate the ups and downs of motherhood. For many, motherhood doesn’t come with the support of an extended family, let alone a handbook. The work of Mother Mentors ensures more children and their mothers benefit from the care and knowledge of experienced and compassionate mentors, setting a foundation for a thriving future.
While focused on Mother Mentors' mission and work, the podcast also shares valuable insights for nonprofit leaders and teams.
Want to hear more of the interview? Listen to our Podcast, Inside Shift, here. Watch the documentary produced by Thriving Communities.
Learn more about Mother Mentors here: https://www.mothermentors.org/