Catholic Charities and Family Services

Description

One-on-One Mentoring is a program funded through the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) since 2001, and is in collaboration with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The goal of the program is to provide trained, adult volunteers, to mentor and guide DCF committed youth. A committed youth is a teenager age 14-23, living is foster care, a group home, or in a residential setting, whose parents no longer have custody or parental rights. In special situations, the program provides mentors to youth who live with a custodial parent; however, the needs of youth in foster care are the priority for this program.
One-on-One Mentoring is designed to provide quality role-models and caring adult leadership to youth as they progress through the DCF system. DCF now provides voluntary services to committed youth up to the age of 23, provided those youth are attending college, or vocational training, and are working at least part-time. One-On-One Mentoring provides direction and support to teenagers who are setting goals for independent living, and who are exploring options for their futures. Our program does not provide therapeutic mentoring, and our Mentors are not expected to provide clinical counseling or on-going behavioral intervention.
Our program requires a one-year commitment from the Mentor, to meet with their mentee at least two to three times per month, and to have contact with their Mentee at least once per week. We believe we have an exceptional team of volunteers, and hope you'll consider joining us.