Meeting of the Hearts Mentoring Program

1. Meeting of the HeartsMentoring Program DeKalb County Human Development Department Thank you for this opportunity to brief you on one of the newest initiatives of the DeKalb County�s Human Development (also known as the Human Services) Department. That being said, it is very timely that I will brief you today on the planned activities of the department as it relates to a grant we recently received from the US Department of Health and Human Services: Mentoring Children of Prisoners.Thank you for this opportunity to brief you on one of the newest initiatives of the DeKalb County�s Human Development (also known as the Human Services) Department. That being said, it is very timely that I will brief you today on the planned activities of the department as it relates to a grant we recently received from the US Department of Health and Human Services: Mentoring Children of Prisoners.

2. 2 DeKalb County Joins an Elite Group One of a select few mentoring programs nationwide funded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to train adult volunteers to mentor children of incarcerated parents. Program Supports Youth and Families The myth: Incarcerated parents don�t really have relationships with their children Fact: 55% of male incarcerated parents and 75% of female incarcerated parents report having children under 18 Fact: 72% of women incarcerated parents with children under 18 lived with those children before prison Fact: Over 60% of incarcerated fathers report having had regular contact with their children before prison The grants are part of the Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) program; a program introduced by President Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address. What I�d like to point out about this grant is that it was awarded on a competitive basis. This was not a formulaic grant in which just putting our name in the hat meant DeKalb County automatically would get a share. We had to compete against NPOs, institutions of higher learning and other organizations (Funding was formally accepted by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners in November 2006). The grants are part of the Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) program; a program introduced by President Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address. What I�d like to point out about this grant is that it was awarded on a competitive basis. This was not a formulaic grant in which just putting our name in the hat meant DeKalb County automatically would get a share. We had to compete against NPOs, institutions of higher learning and other organizations (Funding was formally accepted by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners in November 2006).

3. 3 Program Supports Youth and Families The myth: Incarcerated parents don�t really have relationships with their children Fact: 55% of male incarcerated parents and 75% of female incarcerated parents report having children under 18 Fact: 72% of women incarcerated parents with children under 18 lived with those children before prison Fact: Over 60% of incarcerated fathers report having had regular contact with their children before prison Mission of Meeting of the Hearts Establish a community-based program to provide one-on-one mentoring relationships between a child of incarcerated parent(s) and a caring, supportive adult. Collaborate with other DeKalb County agencies and other community partners Child Advocate�s Office, Sheriff�s Department, DeKalb County School System, and others.

4. 4 Why Children of Incarcerated Parents? Educational Attention Difficulties Learning Disabilities Diminished Academic Performance Behavior Problems Truancy Behavioral Physical Aggression Acting Out Inappropriately Anti-social behavior / Conduct Disorder Violent or Serious Delinquent behavior The effects: These youth are 5 times more likely to be involved with the Juvenile Justice System In addition to the items on the slide, you also have to consider the mental health aspects, including Separation and Attachment Disorders and Traumas, which often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed or poorly treated The effects: These youth are 5 times more likely to be involved with the Juvenile Justice System In addition to the items on the slide, you also have to consider the mental health aspects, including Separation and Attachment Disorders and Traumas, which often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed or poorly treated

5. 5 Goals and Objectives Prevent alcohol and other drug use Delinquency prevention Improve school performance Prevent violence Prevent gang initiation/involvement Improve self-esteem, anger management, and independent living skills Develop education and career goals Develop life goals and coping skills What Is A Mentor? An adult who provides young people with support, counsel, friendship, positive 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. Although the intended goals or individual benefits of each mentoring relationship will vary as widely as the youth themselves, we expect our overall program outcomes to be consistent with those associated with other successful mentoring programs: Although the intended goals or individual benefits of each mentoring relationship will vary as widely as the youth themselves, we expect our overall program outcomes to be consistent with those associated with other successful mentoring programs:

6. 6 What Is A Mentor? An adult who provides young people with support, counsel, friendship, positive 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. What is Mentoring? Mentoring is a sustained relationship between a young person and an adult in which the adult provides the young person with support, guidance and assistance. Mentoring is a fundamental form of human development where one person invests time, energy, and personal know-how in assisting the growth and ability of another person. In his book, Code of the Street: Decency, Violence and the Moral Life of the Inner City, Elijah Anderson refers to these neighborhood mentors in the African-American community as �Old Heads.� Their role is often to �pull children aside and warn them about the consequences of their choices and encouraging them to mend their ways.� (Anderson, 1999)In his book, Code of the Street: Decency, Violence and the Moral Life of the Inner City, Elijah Anderson refers to these neighborhood mentors in the African-American community as �Old Heads.� Their role is often to �pull children aside and warn them about the consequences of their choices and encouraging them to mend their ways.� (Anderson, 1999)

7. 7 What Is Mentoring? Mentoring is a sustained relationship between a young person and an adult in which the adult provides the young person with support, guidance and assistance. Mentoring is a fundamental form of human development where one person invests time, energy, and personal know-how in assisting the growth and ability of another person. In his book, Code of the Street: Decency, Violence and the Moral Life of the Inner City, Elijah Anderson refers to these neighborhood mentors in the African-American community as �Old Heads.� Their role is often to �pull children aside and warn them about the consequences of their choices and encouraging them to mend their ways.� (Anderson, 1999) Mentoring is a way of encouraging human growth. Mentors are helpers. Their styles may range from that of a persistent encourager who helps you build self-confidence, to that of a stern taskmaster who teaches you to appreciate excellence in performance. Whatever their style, they care about you and what you are trying to do. Mentoring can be defined as a significant, long-term, beneficial effect on the life or style of another person, generally as a result of personal one-on-one contact. A mentor is one who offers knowledge, insight, perspective, or wisdom that is especially useful to the other person. Mentoring relationships vary in two ways: 1) formality (from highly structured to virtually no structure) and 2) length of intervention (from long-term even for life to short-term and spontaneous). In his book, Code of the Street: Decency, Violence and the Moral Life of the Inner City, Elijah Anderson refers to these neighborhood mentors in the African-American community as �Old Heads.� Their role is often to �pull children aside and warn them about the consequences of their choices and encouraging them to mend their ways.� (Anderson, 1999) Mentoring is a way of encouraging human growth. Mentors are helpers. Their styles may range from that of a persistent encourager who helps you build self-confidence, to that of a stern taskmaster who teaches you to appreciate excellence in performance. Whatever their style, they care about you and what you are trying to do. Mentoring can be defined as a significant, long-term, beneficial effect on the life or style of another person, generally as a result of personal one-on-one contact. A mentor is one who offers knowledge, insight, perspective, or wisdom that is especially useful to the other person. Mentoring relationships vary in two ways: 1) formality (from highly structured to virtually no structure) and 2) length of intervention (from long-term even for life to short-term and spontaneous).

8. 8 Why Mentoring? Mentoring Works! Caveats: Relationships of short duration may do more harm than good Successful mentoring was often augmented with other services The most effective mentoring relationships are: Sustained longer in duration perceived by the youth to be high-quality structured and supervised youth focused and youth-driven Let�s speak to augmenting services. We envision using this program to coordinate with other efforts now going on at the Juvenile Court, with youth employment efforts at Workforce Development, with the on-going prevention activities of the Cooperative Extension Department and with other agencies including the DeKalb County School System. We are also planning on Building partnerships with Communities of Faith because evidence has demonstrated that many successful mentoring programs mobilize members of the faith community. Referrals for mentors will be made to civic organizations, fraternities and sororities, college campuses, county employees, churches, among others. Let�s speak to augmenting services. We envision using this program to coordinate with other efforts now going on at the Juvenile Court, with youth employment efforts at Workforce Development, with the on-going prevention activities of the Cooperative Extension Department and with other agencies including the DeKalb County School System. We are also planning on Building partnerships with Communities of Faith because evidence has demonstrated that many successful mentoring programs mobilize members of the faith community. Referrals for mentors will be made to civic organizations, fraternities and sororities, college campuses, county employees, churches, among others.

9. 9 Benefits of Mentoring Research shows that youth who participate in mentoring relationships experience a number of positive benefits, including: Better attendance and attitude toward school Less drug and alcohol use Improved social attitudes and relationships More trusting relationships and better communication with parents A better chance of going on to higher education Youth development experts now agree that mentoring is a critical element in any child�s social, emotional and cognitive development. It builds a sense of industry and competency, boosts academic performance and broadens horizons. Young people who have the benefit of caring adult mentors navigate the path to adulthood more successfully. A successful mentoring relationship will provide opportunities for mentees to develop self assurance, competency, a sense of belonging.Youth development experts now agree that mentoring is a critical element in any child�s social, emotional and cognitive development. It builds a sense of industry and competency, boosts academic performance and broadens horizons. Young people who have the benefit of caring adult mentors navigate the path to adulthood more successfully. A successful mentoring relationship will provide opportunities for mentees to develop self assurance, competency, a sense of belonging.

10. 10 How Does It Work? Each child is matched with a screened, trained adult volunteer mentor for a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Mentors agree to interact with his/her mentee weekly to provide support, encouragement, and guidance. Mentors agree to maintain a mentoring relationship with his/her mentee for a minimum period of ten months. Staff monitors and assists mentors on an ongoing basis. Staff provides program activity support for all mentors/mentees. Program reimburses mentors for travel expenses. The overall project will serve as a catalyst to foster the collaboration of community involvement in developing mentoring services for system involved youth. This program will help buffer the risks that may interrupt the youth�s healthy development. The proposed project objectives will maximize existing county-wide mentoring efforts. Complementing this new project is an array of comprehensive services that promote development in education, employment, family support, mental health, primary health and substance abuse treatment, and leadership development.The overall project will serve as a catalyst to foster the collaboration of community involvement in developing mentoring services for system involved youth. This program will help buffer the risks that may interrupt the youth�s healthy development. The proposed project objectives will maximize existing county-wide mentoring efforts. Complementing this new project is an array of comprehensive services that promote development in education, employment, family support, mental health, primary health and substance abuse treatment, and leadership development.

11. 11 Criteria for Mentors Must be 21 years of age or older Must be willing to serve on a voluntary basis Must have (3) personal references Pass (3) major background checks: Sex offender background Child abuse background Criminal background Commit to 1-2 hours per week Commit to program for 10 months Complete an orientation and ongoing training Plan to live in Metro Atlanta area for 1 year Report progress to program staff Criteria for Youth Children ages 4-18 Parent or significant family member incarcerated in a Federal, State or Local Correctional System Must be committed to the program for at least (10) months to (1) year; unless mentoring youth & children in foster care at least (10) months minimum Must be committed to the program for at least (10) months to (1) year; unless mentoring youth & children in foster care at least (10) months minimum

12. Interested inBecoming a Mentor? Contact: William E. Smith Human Development Department Phone: 404-370-7255 Email: wesmith@co.dekalb.ga.us We are pleased to report that we currently have 30 persons who have called and expressed an interest since November. We undertake this program that fits well within the mandate outlined by the CEO and within the rubric of the Prevention Initiative implemented by Comm. Larry Johnson. We undertake this program because we will not allow these children to be blamed, judged or labeled because of their parent�s incarceration. Thank you for your time today. I look forward to returning and bringing you periodic updates regarding this program. We are pleased to report that we currently have 30 persons who have called and expressed an interest since November. We undertake this program that fits well within the mandate outlined by the CEO and within the rubric of the Prevention Initiative implemented by Comm. Larry Johnson. We undertake this program because we will not allow these children to be blamed, judged or labeled because of their parent�s incarceration. Thank you for your time today. I look forward to returning and bringing you periodic updates regarding this program.