Lydia (left), a member of the HOPE Project's 2010 cohort, with her mentor, Kelli
Youth and teens are matched with caring volunteer adults who are trained to focus on trust-building and the achievement of goals by engaging youth/teens in one-on-one outings, and learning and recreational activities in the community. BBBS of Lane County facilitates over 150 new matches each year; we are projecting facilitating approximately 250 new mentor matches annually by the summer of 2012. Once matched, youth/teens and their mentors participate in some of the activities below:
Group Activities
These are on-going recreational and learning activities throughout the year in which mentor pairs can participate in groups as long as they are actively involved with BBBS of Lane County. Some of these activities may include: white water rafting, bowling, fishing, sailing, kayaking and canoeing, snow showeing, rock climbing, and other.
Mentor-Youth Activities
These may include weekly outings between mentor and youth/teen pairs which could incorporate visits to ball games, movies, parks, art activities, concerts, meals, etc. These activities may also include training for mentors and families/care givers.
School-Plus Programs
These school-based mentoring programs are designed as a direct response to the current crisis faced by our public schools. In collaboration with the Eugene (4J), Springfield, and Bethel school districts, we expect to provide school-based mentoring services to target schools within each district for the 2011-2012 year as a pilot program. More information and confirmation on our capacity to provide these services is to come. Please let us know if you have questions or would like to volunteer for these programs (ashley@bbbslane.org).
Tailored Programs
These programs have been customized to provide specific content to a target population. The following two programs will be implemented during the 2011-2012 year:
- athletics for teenage boys: a running program in which male mentors foster positive changes in the lives of adolescent boys involved in the juvenile court system through goal setting, self-discipline, and athletic skill-development.
- financial development for teenage girls: a learning program in which accomplished female mentors foster financial independence in the lives of adolescent girls exiting the foster care system through financial and account management, goal setting, and independent living management.
National Awards & Recognition
- 2008: First Lady Laura Bush’s Helping America’s Youth Regional Conference – recognized nationally as outstanding mentoring agency
- 2007: Dept. of Health & Human Services Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award
- 2008 Oregon Mentors –Outstanding Mentoring Agency