Become a Mentor: Litchfield Area Mentorship Program - Kinship

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Litchfield Area Mentorship Program - Kinship is most often thought of as preventative. This differentiates it from the clinical approach and excludes to some degree children with several behavioral and emotional problems.

LAMP-Kinship also is an intervention program serving many children "at risk," a label widely used to describe young people with behavior problems or disorders which could lead to delinquency but who have not legally reached this status. This classification includes such behavior as disobedience or disrespect toward parent or guardian, truancy and behavior difficulties in school, and minor involvement with law enforcement agencies.

Young people exhibit some social or emotional adjustment difficulties or the potential for developing such difficulties. Our program can often help prevent or improve these problems. Many children may be dealing with issues of trust, self-confidence and loss and will benefit greatly from the attention that an empathetic Kinship mentor provides.

The Mentor is an individual adult, adult couple or a family willing to befriend a child. The LAMP-Kinship concept prescribes a one-to-one friendship between a mature, stable adult and a child, or in the case of couples, two adults and a child. The goal of this program is that over a period of time, with professional support, supervision and consultation, the Mentor will positively influence the emotional and social growth of the child through friendship, role-modeling and enrichment.

The Mentor provides support, guidance, friendship and recreational opportunities. The Mentor is not a peer, a counselor nor a substitute parent; rather, he/she is an older, responsible, mature person who cares for and about the child. The Mentor is a person who is capable of making the following commitments when matched with a child.

1. To see the child on a regular basis, approximately four times every month for a minimum of 1 hour per week or 4 hours per month, in which there shall be two face to face meetings at least twice per month; (exceptions can be made by the program director).
2. To maintain this consistent schedule, within reason, for a minimum of two years, with the understanding that formal involvement expires when the child turns 18, has graduated from high school or until otherwise advised by the agency.
3. To maintain contact with the professional staff member who monitors that match, according to a prescribed and prearranged schedule.
4. To keep the agency informed of his/her current address and phone number plus any significant developments in his/her life; for example, other adults added to the household.



Seeking Female Volunteers: Yes

Seeking Male Volunteers: Yes

Minimum Match Commitment (in months): 12 months or longer

Type of Mentoring: One-to-One, Group

Youth Population Served: Academically At-Risk, Adjudicated/court involved, Foster, Residential or Kinship Care, Gang At-Risk, Gang involved, General Youth Population, Gifted/Talented/Academic Achiever, Homeless/Runaway, Incarcerated Parent, LGBTQ Youth, Low Income, Mental Health Issues, Parent Involved in Military, Pregnant/Parenting, Recent Immigrant/Refugee, School Drop-Out, Single-Parent Household, Special Education

Mentoring Program Goals: Education/Academic Support, Friendship/Socialization, Healthy Behaviors, Reduce Recidivism

Ages of Youth Served: 7 and under, 8-10, 11-14, 15-18