Mentoring

• Do friends often ask you for suggestions on how to handle parenting situations?
• Do you enjoy interacting with young children and teens?
• Do you like sharing your experiences as a parent with someone less skilled?

If so, you can help a new mom at St. Agnes Family Center to raise her baby in a helpful, healthy manner. Be a positive role model by doing the little things that make a big difference. By matching mentors, adult role models, with pregnant teens and teen parents (Mentees), the program strives to produce healthier babies and capable, confident teen parents.

In addition to helping a young mother, the mentor program offers a valuable growth experience, rewarding to both teens and mentors. Adult volunteers will be provided with mentor training and ongoing support.

Pregnant teenagers and teen parents face difficult times filled with uncertainties, pressure from families and friends and conflicting messages. The Mentoring program unites teen and mentor in a unique relationship: a creative, exciting approach to support and prepare teens for effective parenting.

As a mentor, you must be:

• An emotionally stable, mature person wtih sincere interest in helping the teen mother develop her potential through personal and telephone contact
• 18 years of age or older
• Willing to give 2 hours per week for one year
• Understanding and sensitive to the challenges facing the teen
• Able to provide encouragement, concern, consistency and the willingness to listen
• Develop a caring relationship with a teen who is seeking skills, confidence and patience as a parent
• Use your communication and organization skills as you work independently