Empowering TRUSD youth with world-class mentorship and lifelong skills

Appa is a virtual program that connects students with vetted and trained mentors who offer personalized support and guidance to help teens build lifelong skills and thrive.

TRUSD students can get access to Appa at no cost to families.

Are you a parent or teen interested in mentorship?

Complete the form below!

Appa Interest Form

Appa can help students improve:

Motivation • Confidence • Stress management • Anxiety • Relationships • Organization

Hear from teens about what Appa mentorship has meant to them

How it works

Students

After you submit the interest form, our Care Navigators will reach out to you as soon as possible via text to help you choose a mentor and get started!

Parent/Guardian Permission

Once a parent, guardian, CASA, or other education rights holder gives permission, Appa will connect directly with the student soon after help them pick a mentor and begin their journey.

After getting support from Appa:

Mentors that truly understand students

Appa helps teens feel less alone by carefully pairing them with young adult mentors who truly understand what they are going through. Students choose a mentor based on their interests, goals, experiences and preferences, which helps them quickly build trust and connection.

Connection meets content

Mentors guide teens through weekly content that teaches them how to do things like get out of negative thought loops, get more motivated, and feel more confident around other people.

Meet our Content Creators

FAQ

Figure out if mentorship is right for your teen

  • Appa is a mentoring program designed for teens aged 13-18. Teens will meet with their chosen mentor for weekly 1:1 video calls while learning how to improve their motivation, deal with unhelpful thoughts, and improve their confidence.

    Your teen’s mentor will serve as a trusted listening ear, positive role model, and accountability partner.

    Your teen’s mentor will also guide them through a video curriculum that teaches science-backed psychology skills. These bite-sized videos teach teens strategies to overcome anxiety, reduce procrastination, manage stress, and plan for the future.

  • Our program is designed to be completed in 12 weeks. We also offer ongoing support for teens who would like to continue in the program.

  • Appa mentors are young adults who hold degrees from four-year colleges.

    All Appa mentors are background-checked and vetted for safety before meeting with teens. Appa mentors are trained to work with general education and special education students.

    Appa mentors meet weekly with our world-class clinical supervisors for ongoing training and support. Teens can choose their own mentor from our vetted list, based on who they feel most comfortable with.

  • Anything your teen wants support with that week! Some common topics include school stress, relationship issues, grief, anxiety, and motivation.

    Appa mentors are trained to provide a listening ear and handle tricky situations. Mentors utilize Appa’s science-backed curriculum of mental health skills to guide the weekly conversations and support teens with skill building such as self-awareness, self-management, and emotional regulation.

  • Each week, your teen will receive a link to a video that talks about a specific topic or skill. Your teen’s mentor will discuss the videos with your teen to help the content come to life!

    Please check it out some samples of our content here.

  • Though maintaining confidentiality is important for the mentoring relationship, teen safety is our first priority.

    Appa mentors are trained to handle any number of teen safety risks and we have a team of therapist supervisors on call to support on these issues. Our team will contact the parent if we determine that the teen is not safe or may cause harm to others.

  • Appa keeps parents/guardians in the loop while protecting teens' confidentiality.

    Our Parent Navigators will let you know when your teen has chosen a mentor and started the program. You will receive regular updates throughout the program and we will reach out if we have any questions or concerns. We will share with you general program updates and let you know if your teen is meeting with their mentor or if they are missing their weekly meetings or otherwise not engaging.

  • No. Appa is a 100% virtual mentoring program. Your teen will meet with their mentor via video call and through text messaging.

  • Appa mentors connect with teens via text message and secure video chat.

    To participate in Appa, teens must have access to a cell phone. It is preferred that teens have their own phone number; however, accommodations can be made for teens who share a phone number with their parents.

  • Protecting teens' privacy and confidentiality is important.

    We recommend that you allow your teen to meet with their mentor without parent supervision. If you have concerns that you would like to discuss prior to your teen meeting with their mentor, you can reach out to info@appahealth.com and we will have a Parent Navigator reach out.

  • We are able to provide accommodations for most physical disabilities. If you are concerned with your teens ability to access or understand the Appa curriculum please let us know so we can schedule a call to discuss your specific situation. Appa’s curriculum is designed for a 5th grade reading level and is based on the clinical principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is designed for people capable of achieving normal cognitive growth and ongoing development.

    When filling out the parent intake questionnaire, please indicate if you have any identified ADA needs or access concerns. A Parent Navigator will follow up with you directly to gather more information and create a plan for support. Our goal is to provide an inclusive teen experience when possible.

  • Please send us an email at info@appahealth.com and we will be able to support you in getting answers.