Overview

ROOTS Mentoring was created in 2013 as a component to the NEFWC WIA Youth program. The WIA Youth program works with at risk low-income teens and young adult’s age 16-21 that have dropped out of high school. WIA provides online HiSET preparation as well as tutoring to qualifying students.

Many of the students we serve lack the social, emotional, and professional guidance they need to take the “next step” in their lives. Volunteer mentors fill this void in the lives of their mentees, simply by being a friend and motivating resource. For young people faced with adversity, such bonds can have lasting and measurable influence. Our mentors and staff work to help marginalized young people identify life goals and guide them to the path of personal, professional, and social success.

 

Mentor Roles

• Serve as a positive role model and friend, build a professional one-to-one relationship with the mentee

• Work to increase self esteem and motivation in the mentee

• Help mentees with development of life skills such as a positive attitude toward learning, decision making, goal setting and conflict resolution

• Assist the youth in exploring education and career options

• Act as a recourse broker, help the mentee access information and recourses that will help them to achieve their

 

Mentor Qualifications

• Must pass CORI 

• At least 19 years of age

• Able to practice open communication

• Show interest in the needs and concerns of persons with internal and external barriers to achieve success

• Practical problem solving skills and ability to suggest options and alternatives

• Sensitivity to persons of different educational, economic, cultural or racial backgrounds

• Be able to establish a professional relationship with a mentee based on equal respect

 

 

Time Commitment

• Agree to maintain the relationship for a 9-12 month period

• Meet with your match at least 2-4 times a month

• Meetings should last for at least 1 hour

• Attend group activities 2-3 times during the year

• Be in contact with your mentee weekly via phone or email

 

 Qualities for Successful Mentoring

• Commitment to helping a young person reach their potential

• Active listening

• Empathy

• Resourcefulness

• Patience and Respect

• Open-mindedness

• Persistence 

 

Overview

            The students that study in the WIA Youth Program study on an online system called ALS (Anywhere Learning System). This system is designed to test knowledge on various subjects and develop individualized study plans for each user based on their areas of weakness. We have learned that the ALS is sometimes not enough for the students because they may not connect with this teaching style. We have limited staff and do not have the ability to devote the one on one time that is sometimes required.

           We are looking for volunteer tutors that can help our students in all subjects. Math and writing are the areas of most need. If tutoring is too much of a commitment we are also looking for volunteers who can host a single day workshops on a subject that could be beneficial to the WIA Youth Program.    

 

Tutor Roles

• Provide tutoring based on your availability

• Host single day workshops on various subjects

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Suggested Workshops 

• Writing and grammar

• Elementary to high school level mathematics

• Career exploration

• College and University exploration

• Life skills (i.e.. Personal finance, anger management, healthy choices)

• Other