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Monroe County Mentors

Changing the face of the future, one youth at a time...

Wanted: A Good Friend!!
Who we are:
The Monroe County Mentoring Program was developed and implemented through the Juvenile Justice Strategic Planning Forum. Beginning in 2000, the 38th Judicial Circuit Court, Family Division, lead a community wide effort by volunteers to develop a juvenile justice strategic plan. The project’s purpose was to identify, develop and coordinate an effective, community-based continuum of services to prevent or appropriately respond to juvenile delinquency. The mission was to assure that juveniles and their families had access to and be better served by an array of prevention and treatment programs in the community to address individuals’ needs. Monroe County Mentors was one of the many programs developed in order to address these needs. We are a true community program, employed by the United Way of Monroe County, housed at a local community center, and supported and monitored by the Active Balanced Community Initiative.

Definition of Mentoring:

• Mentoring is defined as an ongoing relationship between a caring adult and a young person

What we do:

• We are a mentoring program dedicated to empowering our children and youth to make positive life choices that will enable them to maximize and reach their full potential.
• We use adult volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of the youths in our community by asking them to commit to supporting, guiding and being a friend to a young person.
• With the help and guidance of an adult mentor, each child can discover how to unlock and achieve his or her potential

What exactly is a mentor?*

• The primary job of the Mentor is to provide friendship and companionship to the young person they are involved with
• Many people feel that being a mentor requires special skills, but mentors are simply people who have the qualities of a good role model

*For a more in-depth look at the job description of a mentor click here.

A Mentor Is a…

• Friend
• Coach
• Companion
• Supporter
• Advisor
• Advocate

A Mentor is NOT a…

• ATM
• Social Worker
• Parent
• “Cool” peer
• Nag
• Savior
• Babysitter

What are the benefits to the Mentor?
Many mentors report that mentoring:

• Provides a sense of meaning and purpose and a chance to give something back
• Provides a break from often busy professional lives
• Offers an opportunity for learning and personal growth as well as emotional satisfaction
• Reinforces a deep belief in the importance of helping others
• Is a way of making the community, the nation and possibly even the world a better place, one future citizen at a time

The best part is you’ll not only see what it does for them, you’ll feel what it does for you!

There are many benefits to the Mentee. Studies of mentoring programs have consistently shown that youths who are mentored show….

• Improved grades
• An enhanced self-image and sense of self worth
• Increased self-confidence
• Increased school attendance
• Have Better relationships with friends and family

Our goals and the youth we will be working with:

1. To improve the well-being of at-risk youth in the Monroe Community by:
   • Providing mentoring as an element of intervention for youth enrolled in the Monroe County Juvenile Drug Court
   • Providing mentoring as a preventative approach for elementary and middle school youth residing within the Lincoln School District.
2. To engage and change community attitudes and perceptions in regard to at-risk youth, promoting community accountability.

When you mentor a young person, you have a chance to have a positive effect on the course of his/her life. Most people who have ever made something of themselves had an adult who believed in them and encouraged them when they were young – it made a real difference. YOU can be that person!

Level of time commitment involved:
There are different ways the volunteer mentor can get involved with our program and the youth we represent.

1. Traditional one-to-one mentoring. The mentor is matched with a mentee on a long term basis (approximately one year) and commits to meeting with his/her mentee once a week for a minimum of one hour. Both parties involved in the relationship determine the type of activities they will engage in together. Just 4 hours a month can change a young person's life.
2. Group mentoring. The mentor is matched with a small group of youths (usually 8-10) of a similar age range. They meet for approximately 90 minutes twice a month at the school. The activities they will engage in can be either structured or unstructured and their focus will vary. They could include social activities and sports, community service, arts and crafts, homework help and discussion of specific subjects such as science, music, health education etc.
3. Team Mentoring. Several adult mentors teaching specialty areas within a project or program series. Time commitment varies.
   

If these options are unavailable to you there are other ways you can help:

• Ask your employer, church or any other organization you are involved with to host an informational session about our program at their convenience
• Make a donation: your gift is truly appreciated! Contributions to Monroe County Mentors, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, are deductible for computing income and estate taxes

How to Apply:
The easiest and fastest way is to fill out our application and mail it in.(click here)
After the application is received, a Monroe County Mentors staff member will contact you. You will need to:

• Provide three personal references
• Undergo background checks & provide a signed information release form
• Provide proof of Insurance
• Participate in two in-person interviews
• Complete two training sessions*

*For more information on the procedures volunteers will follow click here.

Or,
You can contact us for more information and we will send you an information packet.
Contact us at:
Monroe County Mentors, Arthur Lesow Community Center, 120 Eastchester, Monroe, MI 48161.
Lynda Nickelson, Program Coordinator.
734-915-7404 or ljnickelson@hotmail.com
Hours of operation:
Monday-Thursday 8a – 1p.

We are here to help so don’t hesitate to call us! We’ll be happy to guide you through the application process and we’ll be there to support you every step of the way!

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