Education is a Community Goal in Haverhill!
I am proud to be an organizer for The Haverhill Youth Mentor Network, which is a collaboration of city service agencies, the schools and private citizens committed to helping Haverhill children achieve academic and life success through mentoring. Participating organizations are the Haverhill YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Club of Haverhill, Girls, Inc., Team Haverhill and Haverhill's public and private K-12 schools. Encouraged to build strong and productive relationships between Haverhill's youth and adult population, citizens in Haverhill have bonded together to coordinate and provide professional and volunteer experience to children in need.
Research has shown that when youth have a mentor, they are more likely to get along better with their families and have strengthened self and social confidence, feel more supported by peers, have more confidence in their schoolwork, and are less likely to begin using alcohol and illegal drugs, skip school, or feel disconnected from others. But many children have circumstances that jeopardize their potential for success and to become contributing members of their community due to limited positive adult involvement and support. A mentor can make an enormous difference in the life of a child.
According to the National Mentoring Partnership mentoring is "a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee." A mentor provides a child with "support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people who care, people who want to help young people bring out strengths that are already there. A mentor is not a foster parent, therapist, parole officer, or cool peer." A mentor is a caring, supportive and trained adult who plays an active role in a child's life by becoming a positive role model, a trusted friend and a resource for a child who could benefit from increased adult presence in his or her life.
The goal of the Haverhill Youth Mentor Network is to recruit caring adults that are willing to donate their time and skills to help Haverhill children. The Haverhill Youth Mentoring Network will recruit, screen, train and supervise the mentors. Candidates for the mentor program must undergo a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and a SORI (Sex Offender Registry Information) check. The screening process also includes an interview with a program staff member and two personal references.
Once accepted as a mentor in the program, the mentor will receive orientation and training appropriate for the mentoring setting. Mentoring opportunities will take place at the facility of one of the previously mentioned organizations or at one of the city's schools under the supervision of staff members of those organizations.
The Haverhill Youth Mentor Network's foremost purpose is to build and foster positive relationships for children. Through mentoring, a mentor can help a young person define individual goals and find ways to achieve them. Since the expectations of each child will vary, the mentor's job is to encourage the development of a flexible relationship that responds to both the mentor's and the young person's needs. Mentors can help children in a variety of ways: to support a child's school and academic needs, to help further a child's career plans and goals, and to bolster a child's social and emotional well-being.
Team Haverhill's newest initiative, The Haverhill Youth Mentor Network is designed to bring about positive change for the youth of Haverhill. The mentor initiative is a call to action to support children and young adults in need of assistance, support, and guidance. Mentoring and supporting Haverhill's children is a step in the right direction toward building and fostering a true sense of community. If you would like to be a volunteer mentor, please contact me at john@michitson.com or (978) 373-2231.
