Your child doesn’t have to be the only one
braveONE matches kids and teens living with Type 1 Diabetes with an adult mentor who lives with it too. It’s free, and it starts with one short form.
Who braveONE is for
- Kids and teens, typically ages 5–17, living with Type 1 Diabetes.
- Families anywhere in the US. We started in the Houston area and now have matches in 19 states.
- Always free. There is no cost to families, ever.
- No mentor near you yet? Sign up anyway. Where families are waiting is how we decide where to grow.
What happens after you sign up
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Step 1
Fill out the family interest form
A few minutes: your child’s age, where you live, what they’re into, and how to reach you.
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Step 2
We talk with you
Our team follows up to understand your child, your family’s routine and what you’re hoping a mentor brings.
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Step 3
We find their mentor
We match on shared experience, interests and personality, then introduce you to a mentor who has passed a background check and completed our training.
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Step 4
Outings begin
Ice cream, bowling, a trip to the barn, a visit to school. We check in regularly with both of you.
How we keep your child safe
You are trusting us with your kid. We take that seriously, and nothing about the process is informal.
- Every mentor passes a background check and reference check.
- Every mentor completes braveONE training and onboarding before meeting your child.
- All outings follow our safety guidelines, and we stay in close contact with both families and mentors.
braveONE is friendship and lived experience, not medical care. Mentors never replace your child’s care team.
Questions families ask
Who can join as a mentee?
Kids and teens, typically ages 5–17, who live with Type 1 Diabetes.
How are mentors and mentees matched?
On shared experiences, interests and personalities. We take time to get to know both the mentor and your child so the match is meaningful, not just a good fit on paper.
How are mentors screened?
All braveONE mentors are required to complete a background check and mentor training before being matched with a mentee.
Screening includes identity verification, a Social Security number trace, a national criminal records database search, sex offender registries across all 50 states, and federal watchlists. Criminal records are reviewed to match them to the verified applicant.
Our background checks are database-based, not fingerprint-based. In addition to background checks, braveONE requires mentor training and keeps parents involved throughout the mentorship.
How long is the wait for a match?
It depends on where you live and how many mentors are nearby. More than 150 families are waiting right now, which is why every new mentor and every donation matters.
Ready to find your child’s mentor?
Fill out the family interest form and our team will be in touch with the next steps.