The Hot Springs Family YMCA is recruiting adults to serve as youth mentors for its Reach and Rise program, which is entering its fourth year in Hot Springs.
The only YMCA youth mentoring program in Arkansas at this time, it is designed to build a better future for youths 6 to 17 years old through the support of caring, responsible adults.
Elan McAfee, who took over as program director in August, said Tuesday the program was in a bit of a slump when she came on board, but they are "gearing up for our first training with seven potential mentors thus far and hope to bring that number up to 30 by midyear."
She noted the program had a lot of success in prior years, and said she hopes to get it going strong again.
McAfee said her background is primarily in education as an English instructor at the college level and she is the former director for Transcending Abuse, a nonprofit benefiting victims of domestic abuse.
"I had an interest in getting back into the nonprofit sector and was active at the YMCA, so I was excited when the position came available," she said.
Founded in 1992 in San Francisco, Reach and Rise has now expanded to 39 states. The program is funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency.
Volunteer mentors spend one to three hours per week for approximately one year with mentees, directly and indirectly developing skills that will help them find success throughout their lives.
Mentors are required to pass a fingerprint background check and complete 15 hours of training in therapeutic mentoring methods. McAfee said the training is heavy on psychology, developmental in particular, and endeavors to prepare mentors for the challenges youths face and other issues that commonly arise within the mentoring relationship.
The minimum age for mentors has recently been lowered by YMCA's national headquarters to 21, although there must be an eight-year gap between a mentor and mentee. "There is no set profile for a mentor other than a genuine desire to help youth succeed, although prior volunteer or work experience with kids is a plus," she said.
McAfee said she stays in close contact with mentors, mentees and the youths' families throughout the relationship.
The next mentor training is scheduled for two Saturdays, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, followed by matching mentors to the youths. "We have a couple of spaces open for youth as well," she said.
"The kids awaiting mentors now and those matched in the past don't necessarily fit a mold, although belonging to single-parent families is more common than not," she said.
"Our youth, 6 to 17, are as diverse as our mentors, and any child that can benefit from some extra attention from a responsible and caring adult role model is a prime candidate for the program, whether it is for guidance in future career planning or to hone social skills."
For more information on Reach and Rise or to get a Mentor application, call McAfee at 501-623-8803 or email [email protected]. The program is also accepting youth referrals for potential mentees.
Local on 09/28/2016