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Mentoring Training
Date*:
TBD
*Training is available by appointment call 326-8304 for details
Mission
Providing mentoring services to foster youth to equip for
successful futures.
MENTORING
FOR SUCCESS
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD ,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
The Jeremiah Project is a mentoring project
of Covenant Community Services, Inc.
View Jeremiah Mentoring Flyer
In our work with foster children, Covenant has
recognized the need for non-paid mentors to enrich the lives of
the young people we serve. True, young people in foster care
have many relationships with adults but most of these are paid
people. Foster parents, social workers, attorneys, law
enforcement officials, teachers, doctors, therapists and even
youth pastors are all paid people. The message that can be sent
is that “you are valued because I am paid as a result”. We
realize that there are terrific people working very hard to
improve the lives of young people in care but this is different.
The Jeremiah Project is all about utilizing our greatest
strengths … people and the community to initiate change. This
change of outlook and outcome is achieved when positive role
models arise and serve the young people in care.
Many of the young people in out-of-home
care are in need of positive role models that will point them to
achieve their full potential. It is our firm belief that a young
person needs a stable and strong relationship with a safe adult
to usher in life success. We have witnessed, time and time
again, that one person CAN make a difference in the life of a
child! The Jeremiah Project matches that “one caring adult” to a
young person in need of a positive relationship. We do this
because it is the right thing to do and it enables each young
person to connect to their “hope and future.”
What is a Mentor?
- A mentor is someone that comes
alongside the life of a child/youth and provides
unconditional support, love and direction.
- A mentor is an adult who, along with
significant others (parents, social workers, friends, etc.),
provides young people with support, counsel, friendship,
reinforcement and living examples.
- Mentors are good listeners,
compassionate, people who want to help young people bring
out strengths and fulfill their potential.
What does a Mentor do?
As a mentor, you help connect children with
the community and positive adult relationships that will help
them succeed, grow and develop. This is accomplished as you help
a young person top experience “firsts” in many areas or simply
spend time with them enjoying what they like to do. A “first” is
some activity or event that a young person has never
experienced. Many foster youth have had limited experience and a
limited exposure to culture or community. Thus, the experiential
aspect of mentoring is very rewarding as you get to experience a
young person’s “first experience” with them.
Mentors will be matched with foster youth
ages 10-18, for about 1-2 hours a week, for at least 6-12 months
to develop specific goals based on the young persons interests,
needs, and assets.
Features of the Jeremiah Project:
- One-on-one match with a child in
foster care (6 – 17 years old)
- Each mentor leads his or her child
through activities involving music, the arts, sports,
volunteer service, dining out and nature. Your commitment is
approximately 1 hour per week for one year.
- During the first visit, each
child/youth receives a backpack filled with an activity
journal, book and other gifts.
- During the last visit, each
child/youth receives a certificate of completion, a gift
card and a photo album filled with pictures taken throughout
the yearlong journey.
- At the end of the first year of
relationship, the mentor, staff and child/youth may decide
to continue on with the relationship.
Characteristics of a Mentor:
- At least 18 years old
- Genuinely enjoys children
- Enthusiastic about life
- Flexible
- Open-minded
- Able to listen
- Dependable
- Sense of humor
- Willingness to play
- Compassionate
What Mentors need:
- About 1-2 hours a week for 6-12 months
- A reliable car (plus auto insurance
and a clean driving record)
- No criminal background
- Willingness to complete an in-person
interview and background checks.
What Covenant provides to Mentors:
- 8 hours of comprehensive training
- An exclusive Mentor section on its
website with activity planning resources
- Monthly conversations with a coach
- Informal gatherings for networking and
support
- Licensed clinical support for
mentoring relationships
- The Jeremiah Project will have ongoing
training for mentors to reflect progress, discuss the
mentoring experience and address any issues and concerns.
"The greatest need of young people today is not another
program,
but another caring, loving human being."
-Norm Brown, President,
Kellogg Foundation
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