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| Home > The Meeting Place > volunteers
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Mentor First Time Juvenile Offenders
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| Posted Date: 31st October 2001 |
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| Category: |
| The Meeting Place - ( Meet other like minded Professionals) |
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| Posted Category: |
| volunteers
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| Posting Title: |
| Mentor First Time Juvenile Offenders |
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| Reply To: |
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wendy
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| Posting Location: |
| City of San Francisco, Peninsula/South Bay Area, East Bay Area, North Bay Location |
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| Specific Location: |
| Oakland |
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| Description: |
The McCullum Youth Court Mentoring Project is currently recruiting committed, caring adults to mentor youth offenders who have been successfully diverted out of the traditional justice system. Mentors must be able to commit to meeting witha young person 2-5 hours every week for 1 year. Mentors will receive 20-30 hours of training prior to being matched with a youth. The training is designed to provide insight on effective relationship building techniques, orient mentors to the Juvenile Justice system., and explore issues of self-awareness, youth development, and multi-culturalism. Ongoing training will be provided quarterly. Mentors will receive on going support from the Mentor Project Coordinator including meetings, ongoing training and monthly support groups.
MYC Mentors will engage in a variety of activities to be determined by the mentee and the mentor. These activities include but are not limited to:
§ Trips to museums, fairs, sports games, shows, movies, etc
§ Going out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner
§ Helping with homework, school concerns and career guidance
§ Exploring new places and trying new things
§ Discovering and developing youth's natural strengths and abilities
§ Participating in community based volunteer activities
§ Modeling appropriate communication, problem solving and conflict resolution skills
§ Talking and listening
§ Helping youth deal with stress and anger in daily life
The goals of the MYC Mentor Project are:
v To reduce youth recidivism
v To raise school attendance and engagement
v To increase youth's ability to form trusting, positive relationships with caring adults
v To build skills and develop short and long term goals
v To promote healthy behaviors and physical well being
Qualifications/Time Commitment
MYC mentors must be :
§ At least 21 years of age
§ Live in the Bay Area
§ Make a serious 1 year commitment to the Mentor Project
§ Mentors serve as role models and companions and MUST be available to meet with their mentees a minimum of 2-5 hours every week.
The ideal mentor candidate:
· Enjoys youth and youth centered activities and believes in youth potential
· Likes to learn new things
· Is dependable, consistent and honest
· Is flexible, patient and can tolerate disappointment
· Is non-judgmental and culturally aware
· Shows sensitivity toward others
ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND/INFORMATION:
McCullum Youth Court (MYC) is a youth-driven, youth-focused diversion program for first time Juvenile Offenders. Offenders are represented in court by youth attorneys who have been trained in prosecution and defense; cases are tried by peer juries. Sentences are designed to hold youth accountable in a meaningful, innovative, and rehabilitative manner. Sentences include components like, conflict resolution seminars, jury duty, anger management workshops, community service drug and alcohol counseling or other related counseling. The staff works closely with offenders and their families to provide the most effective and appropriate services. MYC serves as a court process that feels legitimate to youth offenders as well as a stepping stone for aspiring youth attorneys, and a volunteer opportunity for youth to function in positions of responsibility and power.
Mentoring
The MYC mentor project was launched in January 2001 to address the need for continued support and positive adult role models in the lives of youth involved in the Juvenile Justice System. MYC mentoring cultivates positive youth development by connecting youth with committed adults who work one on one to provide support, guidance and concrete help to young people. Adults help youth to identify and use their strengths as well as develop healthy behaviors, attitudes and ambitions.
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