Strive Mentoring Program helps young people through outreach and activities

Early in 2018 a program began to provide mentors for at-risk children who found themselves in front of a judge’s bench in Juvenile Court. A year later the Strive Mentoring Program has helped several young people through regular outreach and community activities designed to help them see the benefits of making positive life choices.

Program director Phillip Hines said a previous Bargain Hunter story at the beginning of the program brought about 15 mentor volunteers within two days. “We now have nine who are active. The remaining six are on hold waiting for their schedules or other conflicts to free up. We are still actively seeking volunteer mentors as the Juvenile Court has several kids who are in need of a program such as this.”

The program still needs mentor volunteers and community business partnerships to provide enriching experiences.

Hines said the program matches mentor with child, one on one. “Each mentor meets with their mentee one hour each week or four hours each month. Each mentor has just one young person they work with.”

The children have chiefly made some unfortunate choices in their young lives. “There may be truancy issues or some poor behaviors, but mainly they’ve just made bad decisions, which have landed them in court. The Strive program helps to guide them in a better direction,” Hines said.

The program is a part of the community effort of Catholic Charities, though Hines said it is not religious based. The program is funded via a grant from Ohio Department of Youth Services.

“The community has been very supportive of what we’ve been able to do so far,” Hines said. “I’ve spoken to chambers of commerce, the Knights of Columbus, Masonic lodges and many other groups about what we are doing for these young people. Probation officers of the court are happy with the positive changes in the kids, and parents also have given us good feedback. An interested, caring adult in a child’s life can make a huge difference.”

Aside from one-on-one time with mentors, Hines said the young people go out into the community to learn from experiences provided in partnership with area businesses and organizations.

“This month we’re working with a picture-framing business, and the mentees get a look at what it’s like to run a business as well as getting their hands on the actual process of picture framing. In February we’ll be at the Wayne Center for the Arts doing some stained-glass work and pottery. We will spend time with fire department search and rescue teams. In the process of doing these things and having these experiences, kids discover what they are capable of. They engage with people across a broad spectrum and are able to see what they can do with their lives by making better choices. We try to match kids with their interests and increase their self-esteem and sense of self-worth. These are children who would not have these kinds of positive experiences and guidance without something like the Strive program.”

The program fits with the work of the Catholic Charities organization. “We welcome the opportunity to help build healthy kids and strong families,” Hines said.

No particular profession or educational background is necessary for mentoring volunteers, who are paired with a single child once background checks have been completed.

“We still need mentors,” Hines said. “And we are always looking for businesses and organizations who will host groups of kids and their mentors for learning experiences.”

Volunteers are asked to be available for one year, though their pairing with the child may not take that long. “I have to say, though, that when kids have completed their court-mandated time in the program, we invite them to continue, and they’ve all asked to do so. They don’t want to give up that time with their mentors.”

Hines may be called for further information at 330-317-0326, or one can learn more at www.ccdocle.org/program/strivementors.