Mentoring

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16.

There are more than half a million children in the foster care system nationwide. Many of these youth move from home to home, living in uncertainty and lacking a healthy, stable environment to be raised in. Without a steady role model or parents to learn from, many age out of the system lacking the basic skill set to live independently. According to the Casey Family Programs Center for Resource Family Support, a recent study found that after 18 months of leaving the foster care system, 27% of males and 10% of females had been incarcerated and 50% were unemployed. The impact of these statistics is seen in the fact that about 30% of the nation’s homeless and 80% of prison inmates are former foster children (the latter statistic is from the National Association of Social Workers).

When you decide to become a mentor for Olive Crest, you will be providing a foster care or emancipated youth with a personal relationship that could forever change the trajectory of that child’s life, not to mention your own. By serving a youth in this way you may enhance the development of new interests, aid in educational and independent living practices, and assist him or her in learning to give and receive through a healthy relationship. You can be the inspiration for a child who is in desperate need of a stable friendship with an adult who can model life and be a person to look up to. Not only can this youth learn from you on how to live in this world but also in how to prepare for the next. Through sincere love and relationship building, you may have the opportunity share the gospel of Christ and introduce that child to our Father.

Under Olive Crest’s Mentor Program, you can pursue a one-on-one relationship with a child or have a group outreach focus. Prior to being matched with a child, there is a clearance process that consists of the following items:

• Attend New Volunteer Orientation with Olive Crest
• Attend Direct Service Volunteer Training
• Interview with Volunteer Programs Coordinator
• Obtain necessary clearance paperwork including Livescan background check, DMV background check, and negative TB (tuberculosis) test results

A DMV background check costs $5 (check Web site for price changes - www.dmv.gov/ca) and Livescan costs $55. Eligibility requirements include:

• You must be 21 years of age or older
• You must obtain clearance from Livescan’s background check. To obtain this you cannot have a felony or misdemeanor on your record for the past seven years.
• You must not have a reckless driving felony or misdemeanor on your DMV record within the past three years.

Though very rare, there are exceptions for people who do not gain clearance through Livescan and DMV background checks; any offense must be communicated to the appropriate Olive Crest employee prior to the clearance process. When becoming a mentor for one of the youth in Olive Crest, the minimum commitment is one year. This is important in not only allowing enough time to grow and develop a meaningful relationship, but also in providing stability to the child’s life. Please keep in mind that these children have several adults pass through their lives on an ongoing basis, so giving them at least a year assures that they will see the same person regularly for a good amount of time.

When participating in a one-on-one relationship you will be required to meet twice a month with your assigned youth and have weekly contact via telephone or e-mail. As a house mentor, your group will be required to meet at least once a month with the youth at a group home. Scheduling will depend on the child or home you are matched with. Time availability will be discussed during the interview and taken into consideration when being matched with an Olive Crest youth.

One hesitation people have in serving in this way has to do with time availability. Time management is extremely important and a valid concern for people to consider as they step into a one-year mentor relationship. There is also a common misconception and fear of not being able to meet the needs of a child. Most youth, whether they show it to you right away or not, or have a funny way of showing it, are just excited to have someone in their life that is there just for them. The kids appreciate being taken out of their normal home environment and enjoy a friendly ear to listen to them. To develop a healthy mentor relationship, you do not need to have a background in clinical psychology – instead, you need to have a background in compassion, understanding, and the good treatment of all people!

If you would like to start the process of mentoring an Olive Crest youth, please use the following contact information: Donia Lee Volunteer Programs Coordinator 714-543-5437 ext. 1254 Donia-lee@olivecrest.org Tamara Koch Community Involvement Coordinator 714-543-5437 ext. 1144 Tamara-koch@olivecrest.org