Faith-Based
Mentoring

Why Faith-Based?

Youth that come through the Youth Court system are either abused or neglected or delinquent (have committed an act which would be considered a crime if they were an adult).

Many of the delinquent youth come from homes where they are taught morals and the youth has made a bad decision and will, hopefully, learn from the consequences of that bad decision and not commit another crime.

Some, however, don’t have a positive role model at home and may continue to commit crimes unless they have someone to teach them morals.

Faith-Based Groups (Churches) have the ability to spend time with these youth and teach them morals.

Objectives

• Growth In Moral Character
• Pursue Plan For Their Life
• Dreams & Personal Goals
• Develop Practical Life Skills

Mentoring

A personal relationship that:

• Encourages thoughtful, loving support.
• Guides personal growth and development.
• Leads by example.
• Empowers youth.
• Helps define what is important to accomplish.
• Helps find resources.

Mentoring is NOT...

• Being a professional counselor or social worker.
• Replacing family members.
• Tutoring youth in academic subjects as a means of improving grades.
• Providing solutions to all the issues facing the youth / family.
• Expecting dramatic changes in attitude, behavior or self-esteem quickly.
• Breaking the confidentiality / trust you have established with the youth / family unless there is a life threatening situation.

Team Mentoring

• A Group of People:
  • With Different Skills
  • With Different Temperaments
  • Working Together
• No Member’s Temperament is Better:
  • Each has its Strengths
  • Each has its Weaknesses
  • Each can be a Good Leader
• Team Members should:
  • Support each other’s Strengths
  • Compliment each other’s Weaknesses

Mentoring Team Members Responsibilities

• Make sure both you and your youth understand the essence of confidentiality within the mentoring relationship.
• Inform your TEAM of any accomplishments, situations, problems.
• Encourage your youth / TEAM and pass praises / requests along to your TEAM.Mentor’s Responsibilities
• Establish a positive one-to-one relationship with the youth.
• Assist your youth in defining, researching, and setting achievable goals to reach their dream.
• Assist your youth in defining academic objectives and monitor their progress. Request tutoring when needed.
• Support and encourage the youth value / character development so that he or she develops morally and spiritually.
• Be a friend and a role model. When appropriate, share your values and faith.
• Invite youth to community youth activities, Church youth group activities, Sunday School, Church, etc.

Matching Youth with Mentors

Church

• Church leader or his designee selects people who want to be a Mentor and who he believes would be a good Mentor.
• Background check performed on proposed Mentor (no cost to Church).
• If background check successful, Mentor receives orientation; Mentor signs oath of confidentiality; Name of Mentor put on Church list.

Youth and Parents

• Youth selected by Judge and Youth Court staff.
• Youth and Parents agree to participate knowing Mentor and Mentor’s Church will be advised of Youth’s conduct but that it will remain confidential.
• Youth and Parents shown list of Churches with any information supplied by the Church.
• Youth and Parents select a Church.
• Church contacted and specific information regarding the Youth is provided to Church.
• Church agrees to mentor Youth.
• Meeting arranged between Youth and Parents and one or more of the chosen Church’s Mentors.
• Youth and Mentors work together.
• Youth reports periodically to Judge and Youth Court staff regarding mentoring activities.