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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The
purpose of mentoring is to
introduce an additional
caring adult into the life
of each child. The
intention is not to replace
the parent’s role or to “fix
something wrong” with the
child. Instead,
mentoring is important
because growing up can be
difficult, and children and
teens benefit from the
involvement of additional
people in their lives who
can talk to them on a
personal level and spend
relational time with them.
In a mentoring relationship,
the mentor and the child
spend time together for at
least one hour each week
either in the school, in the
child’s home, or at the
church, according to the
caretaker’s preference.
During their weekly time
together, they may focus on
schoolwork, reading,
talking, or just spending
time together – similar to a
big brother, big sister
relationship.
If you are
interested in receiving a
mentor for your child, all
you need to do is sign up. A
Safe Passage staff person
will then contact the
children’s caregiver to
discuss the child’s needs
and what type of person
would be best suited to be a
mentor to your child.
All
potential mentors are chosen
from selected local
churches, professional
organizations, and community
leaders. Each will be
screened by a police check,
a child line clearance
check, an interview, and a
recommendation process.
They are then trained and
monitored by Metro United
Methodist Urban Ministry and
Safe Passage staff.
Once the mentors and
children are matched, they
will begin meeting each week
for at least one year, but
expectantly longer.
Currently
Safe Passage mentoring is
taking place in the areas of
San Diego for children ages
10-18. If your child
lives outside the area or is
under the age of 10, you may
still sign them up, and we
will assist you in finding
other mentoring programs
that they qualify for.
We hope
that the Safe Passage
mentoring will be a helpful
resource to you. If
you have any questions or
concerns, please speak with
your social worker or
chaplain or contact Lavern
Bilal-Mustafaa at Metro
United Methodist Urban
Ministry, 3295 Meade Avenue,
San Diego, CA or call
619-285-5556 ext 23 or
lbilalmustafaa@metrosandiego.org
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jransome@metrosandeigo.org
Mentoring
Works!
Kids need
multiple caring adult
relationships in his or her
life to weather adolescence.
Research shows volunteer
mentors can play a powerful
role in reducing drug and
alcohol abuse and youth
violence, while greatly
enhancing a young person’s
prospect for leading a
healthy and productive life.
Today, too many young people
do not receive enough of the
guidance and support that
mentors can provide.
Mentoring
helps young people overcome
challenges by reconnecting
them to broader society.
Fortune magazine states, the
number one indicator of
success for a child is a
good relationship with a
caring adult.
A 1995
impact study shows mentored
youth are:
46% less
likely to begin using
illegal drugs
53% less
likely to skip school
33% less
likely to get in fights
The
Quantum Opportunities
Program, funded by the Ford
Foundation showed that high
school students from
families on public
assistance who had mentors
were more likely to graduate
from high school, enroll in
college, become involved in
community service and be
hopeful about their future.
Youth also
believe in the successes of
mentoring. A 1998 survey
conducted by The
Commonwealth Fund shows
mentors helped young people
a lot in the following
areas:
Feelings
about himself/herself with
62% of young people
Poor
grades with 48% of young
people
Hanging
out with the wrong crowd
with 42% of young people
Getting
into trouble outside of
school with 47% of young
people
Skipping
school with 52% of young
people
Smoking,
drinking or drug use with
45% of young people
In the
area of sexual activity with
25% of young people
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