Many children and youth face opportunity gaps or risk factors, such as food insecurity, family income at or below poverty line, repeated failure or low academic achievement, or living through a traumatic life event which could include moving, death of a loved one, or abuse. Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga, with funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) through Catholic Charities USA, is working to address this opportunity gap via the Youth Engagement Services (YES) Mentor program.
The OJJDP identified individual mentoring as a protective factor for these children. Though the strongest and most consistent benefit of mentoring was found to be a reduction in depressive symptoms, students facing an opportunity gap who meet regularly with a mentor are: 55 percent more likely to enroll in college, 78 percent more likely to volunteer regularly, 130 percent more likely to hold leadership positions, 52 percent less likely than their peers to skip a day of school, 37 percent less likely to skip a class, 46 percent less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs, and 27 percent less likely to start drinking.
In addition, mentored youth tend to trust their parents more and communicate better with them. Parents and mentors of students who are currently matched have seen academic and social improvements. As one YES mentor put it, “My once shy, quiet, and uninvolved gal enjoys joking, writing stories, and singing together. I believe that she is more confident in herself.”
Catholic Charities YES Mentor program needs volunteer mentors. The YES program staff will provide eight hours of initial training for mentors and ongoing optional support training. After completing training, mentors commit to spend two hours per week with their mentee for one year doing activities such as fishing, scrapbooking, singing, volunteering, gardening, or other activities you might both enjoy.
Currently, Catholic Charities has a waitlist of children and youth, many of whom have been referred to them through social service agencies or teachers. If you are at least 18 years old, can pass a background check, have reliable transportation, and would like to impact the life of a waiting child or teen, contact Sonnie Siegfried or Whitney Bauer at Catholic Charities Tioga Outreach Center at 414-1023. Limited reimbursement for mileage is available.
