MENTORING
To get more information on Mentoring and upcoming classes,
Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@angelreach.org
To complete the Mentor Application, please click on the following link.
A Volunteer Coordinator will be contacting you about this wonderful opportunity!
What We Do:
Angel Reach recruits mentors who work with young adults who have aged out of the foster care system, assisting them in the difficult transition to becoming successful and productive adults. The mentoring program’s goal is to prevent the historical consequences that have resulted when immature teenagers are released into the community without the necessary life skills, resources, and family support.
Who We Serve:
Mentors work with young men and women age 18-24 who have arrived at the established age when state financial assistance comes to an end. These young people can be found in multiple living situations including approved foster homes, group homes, living with aging relatives, or, literally, on the streets. Regardless of where they are, they do not have the benefit of a “forever family,” and therefore, are left to fend for themselves following their 18th birthday when the state declares them no longer eligible for assistance.
Why We Need To Help:
These youth have no place to turn for the advice or guidance that is normally provided by parents. They are left on their own to figure out how to navigate the adult world of employment, higher education, housing, automobile ownership, budgeting, and all the responsibilities that living on their own entails.
In addition, these are our most vulnerable youth in terms of dealing with drugs, alcohol, sexual diseases, and criminal behavior. The following statistics tell the tragic story of these teens who age out of the foster system without any family support.
- 40% never complete high school
- 36% will end up homeless within one year
- 56% are on the unemployment roles in 18 months
- 27% of young men are in jail within 3 years
- 40% (60% for young women) produce children, many of whom end up in the foster system to repeat the cycle
- 30% become drug addicts – over 50% abuse alcohol or drugs
- Less than 10% complete higher education
What Is a Mentor and What Do They Do?
Mentors volunteer to serve as role models for an assigned teen or young adult. Through direct, regular contact, a Mentor can provide guidance on life and relationship issues and be a positive influence to offset the many hardships of living without parents that have left these teens with distorted views of right and wrong. Through being a friend, adviser, and confidant, Mentors reshape attitudes, instill acceptable values, and help develop a sense of responsibility.
Mentor Requirements and Commitment:
- Mentors need to demonstrate stability in career and personal life.
- Mentors must show a willing heart to help others and to demonstrate an ability to accept young people for who they are, without prejudging.
- Mentors must be a minimum age of 21, however, we prefer our Mentors to be in their late 20′s or older.
- Mentors must have valid driver’s license, appropriate insurance, and the ability to safely transport the assigned teen.
Process:
To receive more information on Mentoring, please complete the VOLUNTEER APPLICATION , and choose Mentoring as Volunteer service you prefer. If you are interested in other areas to serve, choose your interest and the Volunteer Coordinator will discuss those with you..
Commitment:
Accepted Mentors are asked to commit to a minimum of one year during which weekly contacts are to be made, to be available via phone in case of emergency, and to be willing to stay in touch with their assigned teen as they grow and mature.