CHRIS CRYE MENTORING PROGRAM
Become a Mentor for Youth Villages’ Children in Tennessee and Georgia
BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL
Through the Chris Crye Mentoring Program, you can become a powerful, positive force in the life of a child with emotional and behavioral challenges. When you commit to mentoring a child in Youth Villages’ care in Georgia or Tennessee, you might become the first positive role model that child has ever had.
Studies show that children who have just one consistent, caring adult in their lives:
- Are less likely to drop out of school
- Have fewer run-ins with the law
- Build better relationships with their own families
As a mentor, you will have the opportunity to:
- Support a young person through an ongoing one-on-one relationship
- Serve as a positive role model and friend
- Plan and participate in activities together
- Build self-esteem and motivation in a young person
- Set goals with your mentee and work toward accomplishing them
- Spend 4-6 hours per month one-on-one with mentee
As a mentor, you will receive:
- Initial training
- Ongoing support and access to mentor/mentee group activities
- Satisfaction of knowing that you are making a difference
- Complimentary tickets to community events when available
- Tax deductions for mileage and mentoring expenses
Our Youth Mentoring Program
at Youth Villages
Our Youth Villages’ Youth Mentoring Program is a unique program that makes it possible for young people to have a mentor. The program aims to help as many young people as possible to develop their abilities, talents, and potential. Through this process, they are allowed to acquire knowledge, skills, and understanding that will help them in their future endeavors.
The Benefits of Youth Villages’ Youth Mentoring Program
Many benefits come with having a mentor. These include:
Consistent Adult
It’s important to have a consistent adult in a child’s life. It is also vital for children to know what is expected of them to succeed. A mentor can help ensure that these things are being taught correctly so that children do not make any mistakes along the way, which could ruin their chances of success later on down the road.
Helps Provide Direction to Youth
Another benefit of having someone to mentor a young person is that it allows children to learn more about themselves, which can then give them direction on the kind of life they’d like to lead.
Youth Can Learn Skills and Gain Knowledge From Their Mentors
The program helps young people acquire the skills and knowledge that will enable them to become independent and self-reliant adults.
Creates a Supportive Environment
The Youth Village system provides a supportive environment for young people to learn from others and their own experiences. The program also provides support through practical advice, guidance, and encouragement.
Helps Provide Career and Academic Guidance
The youth mentoring program provides an opportunity for young people to explore new interests, activities, and careers within a supportive environment where they receive guidance from experienced mentors. These mentors can offer insight into the world outside their immediate environment.
By participating in the youth mentoring program, young people are allowed to make new friends who share common interests with them. It may include sports or music, or they may be able to help others in need through volunteering at local events or contributing to community projects. This also results in a lower high school drop-out rate as the youth can better focus and apply themselves in school.
What Are the Requirements to Qualify?
There are a number of requirements needed in order to qualify as a mentor. These include:
- You must have worked with children for at least a year before becoming a mentor. Additionally, it would help if you had a genuine interest in mentoring and a willingness to assist others. Mentors don’t need to be volunteers or employees of the church.
- Before becoming a mentor, you must complete an application and attend an orientation session. You will learn more about the program and how to get started during the orientation.
- You must be 18 years old and have a clean criminal record.
- You must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or refugee.
- You must be able to attend all meetings without personal supervision or electronic devices (i.e., cell phones, laptops, or tablets) to avoid disruption during the sessions.
- You must not have any arrest record in the last five years.
The youth mentoring program at Youth Villages is a great way to give back to the community and make a difference in young people’s lives. The program is not limited to just mentors and mentees but can also be used by teachers, parents, friends, and family members.
