Mentoring Services

Early Childhood Program

The Early Childhood Program provides therapeutic mentoring services to children ages 4-7. Mentors provide children with a safe environment where the child can increase self- expression in an appropriate manner, through participation in activities such as puppet theatre, art, and dramatic play. In this way, children can process emotions that they may not or cannot otherwise verbalize. Mentors work collaboratively with parents, teachers and other providers to assess the areas of greatest need in order to structure activities.

For example, mentors can help children learn developmentally appropriate social skills, such as sharing, conflict resolution, and appropriate ways to seek help from adults. Mentors can also assist children in learning important school-readiness skills, such as confidence, persistence, and verbalization of emotional needs, which will reduce the incidence of behavioral issues in the school setting.

The mentor meets with the child 2-8 hours per week. The exact time allocation is informed by the needs, goals and activities identified for the child. Some activities can be held in the home to assist in the child-parent bond, but emphasis is placed on providing the child with activities in the community, such as parks and playgrounds.

Child and Adolescent Program

The Child and Adolescent Program provides therapeutic mentoring services to children ages 8-18. Mentors provide the same services as described in the Early Childhood Program (i.e., verbalization of emotions, socialization skills, academic support, collaboration with guardians, school and providers), but the activities are tailored to the child's developmental stage. Additionally, mentors provide children and adolescents with activities that increase their participation, commitment and engagement in their community. With this in mind, mentors encourage their mentees to volunteer together in different community agencies, such as animal shelters. Mentors also provide career mentoring services, helping the mentee explore their interests and goals, write resumes and assisting them in finding resources in the community that can provide career opportunities and training.

For older adolescents or adolescents with special needs, the mentor can emphasize self-help skills needed for independent living, such as time-management, self-care, bill paying, balancing bank accounts and cooking. Similar to the Early Childhood Program, the mentor will meet with the child 2-8 hours per week. The exact time allocation will be informed by the needs, goals and activities identified for the participating youth. Emphasis is placed in providing the child with activities in the community.