|
If you would like to
be a volunteer mentor, please contact John at john@michitson.com
or (978) 373-2231. |
|
Education is a Community
Goal in Haverhill!
I am proud to be an organizer
for The Haverhill Youth Mentor Network, which is a collaboration
of city service agencies, the schools and private citizens committed
to helping Haverhill children achieve academic and life success
through mentoring. Participating organizations are the Haverhill
YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Club of Haverhill, Girls, Inc., Team
Haverhill and Haverhill's public and private K-12 schools. Encouraged
to build strong and productive relationships between Haverhill's
youth and adult population, citizens in Haverhill have bonded
together to coordinate and provide professional and volunteer
experience to children in need.
Research has shown that when
youth have a mentor, they are more likely to get along better
with their families and have strengthened self and social confidence,
feel more supported by peers, have more confidence in their schoolwork,
and are less likely to begin using alcohol and illegal drugs,
skip school, or feel disconnected from others. But many children
have circumstances that jeopardize their potential for success
and to become contributing members of their community due to
limited positive adult involvement and support. A mentor can
make an enormous difference in the life of a child.
According to the National Mentoring
Partnership mentoring is "a structured and trusting relationship
that brings young people together with caring individuals who
offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing
the competence and character of the mentee." A mentor provides
a child with "support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement
and constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people
who care, people who want to help young people bring out strengths
that are already there. A mentor is not a foster parent, therapist,
parole officer, or cool peer." A mentor is a caring, supportive
and trained adult who plays an active role in a child's life
by becoming a positive role model, a trusted friend and a resource
for a child who could benefit from increased adult presence in
his or her life.
The goal of the Haverhill Youth
Mentor Network is to recruit caring adults that are willing to
donate their time and skills to help Haverhill children. The
Haverhill Youth Mentoring Network will recruit, screen, train
and supervise the mentors. Candidates for the mentor program
must undergo a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and
a SORI (Sex Offender Registry Information) check. The screening
process also includes an interview with a program staff member
and two personal references.
Once accepted as a mentor in
the program, the mentor will receive orientation and training
appropriate for the mentoring setting. Mentoring opportunities
will take place at the facility of one of the previously mentioned
organizations or at one of the city's schools under the supervision
of staff members of those organizations.
The Haverhill Youth Mentor Network's
foremost purpose is to build and foster positive relationships
for children. Through mentoring, a mentor can help a young person
define individual goals and find ways to achieve them. Since
the expectations of each child will vary, the mentor's job is
to encourage the development of a flexible relationship that
responds to both the mentor's and the young person's needs. Mentors
can help children in a variety of ways: to support a child's
school and academic needs, to help further a child's career plans
and goals, and to bolster a child's social and emotional well-being.
Team Haverhill's newest initiative,
The Haverhill Youth Mentor Network is designed to bring about
positive change for the youth of Haverhill. The mentor initiative
is a call to action to support children and young adults in need
of assistance, support, and guidance. Mentoring and supporting
Haverhill's children is a step in the right direction toward
building and fostering a true sense of community. If you would
like to be a volunteer mentor, please contact me at john@michitson.com
or (978) 373-2231.
