Mentoring System Involved Youth

The Mentoring Center (TMC) utilizes a “Transformative Mentoring” approach to serve highly at-risk youth. Transformative Mentoring/Intervention is an intentional, structured, systemic and corrective intervention focused on personally transforming the attitude and mental framework of a disrupted human development cycle. It is an intense service delivery system. TMC’s approach includes a group-mentoring program that is curriculum based and long term. The ultimate goal is to change the mentality in the youth that gives rise to destructive behavior.

TMC’s Transition/Transformative Curriculum is designed for Character Development, Cognitive Restructuring, Spiritual Development, Life Skills training, Anger Management, and Employability skills. Once the mentality and attitudes are successfully addressed the youth are then ready to benefit from TMC’s follow-up and support services including educational assistance, employment training, job placement, housing, clothing, transportation, and referrals for substance abuse counseling and mental health therapy.

For more information, please visit http://www.mentor.org/.

Chicago Economic Mentoring Program, IL

Their mission is to provide a high quality and transformative mentoring experience for youth impacted by the juvenile justice system. This experience aims to enable them to achieve educational and economic success and to achieve their full potential as contributing and responsible members of their communities. The Mentoring Initiative for System Involved Youth - Economic Mentoring Program (MISIY-EMP) is an economic mentoring program, which aims to bring entrepreneurship and business education to system-involved youth enrolled in 8th grade through 10th grade. The model is deeply rooted in the philosophy of Balanced and Restorative Justice. Through the MISIY-EMP, all youth will be followed and supported through high school graduation. Each youth will be matched with a mentor through four selected local community-based agencies. The mentors will be professional and will guide youth in the formulation and development of critical decision-making skills related to career development, educational achievement, and economic empowerment with the support of a group workshop series, interest assessments, lecture series and literacy component, field trips, and other experiential learning opportunities.

For more information, please visit www.mentorchicago.com.

MentorMatch is a volunteer mentoring service dedicated to bringing positive adult role models together with vulnerable youth to help them realize their social, vocational and entrepreneurial potential. The program offers each mentee a close, supportive, consistent and constructive relationship with an adult mentor designed to improve each mentee’s life, such as increasing their self-esteem, promoting positive decision-making, enhancing relationships, improving their grades, and accessing constructive recreation. Its ultimate goals are to stabilize foster care placements and reduce recidivism and unnecessary foster care placement for court involved youth.

Mentees served through the MentorMatch program are referred through the Departments of Social Services and Juvenile Court Offices from localities near Lutheran Family Services of Virginia regional offices. Eligible mentees are between the ages of 8 – 18 and currently involved in the foster care or juvenile justice system. They must participate, with a legal guardian, in an assessment interview prior to selection for the program; attend an orientation and training session prior to being matched with an adult volunteer; meet with their mentor weekly for at least two hours for one year and maintain regular contact with a Lutheran Family Services professional social worker/case manager throughout the year.

The motto is “Two people, two hours, one year.” Check out the Web site, www.mentormatch.info, for more information.

The Boys & Girls Aid Society's mentoring program, formerly know as Committed Partners for Youth (CPY), has changed its name to Mentor Portland. They believe the name change more accurately describes their program service, current geographic service area, and is a clear reflection of what they do.

Mentor Portland establishes and supports meaningful mentor relationships between responsible adults and middle school youth through a community that is committed to their growth and success. A mentor's year-long presence has a direct impact, and promotes positive youth development through increased school attendance, higher grades, improved social skills, and healthier family relationships.