1 Club Meetings Manual II - 1 Clubs, through GROUP MENTORING, supports and enhances one-on-one mentoring for every Club kid HOW? ommitment nderstanding eadership afe Place elonging/Belongings CLUBSCLUBS

2 C is for C OMMITMENT Manual II - 1 A foster child knows one thing about you when you walk into his or her life: Soon or later … you will leave The commitment between mentor and Club kid is strengthened by Community and Ceremony

3 Revolving Door of Foster Care Manual II – 1 (Commitment) Most infants in foster care:  Move every months Have 3 homes by age 4 Older children move even more

4 Failed Matches Are Dangerous Manual II – 1 (Commitment) Short-term mentoring match can actually harm an at risk child.* “Early terminations decrease feelings of self-worth and academic self-confidence, resulting in lower levels of pro-social activities and school attendance.” *Rhodes, “Mentoring: A Promise Intervention for Children of Prisoners.” Shay Bilchik, J. D. Edited by Jean E. Rhodes, Ph.D.

5 L is for L EADERSHIP Manual II - 1 Teaching Leadership, Character and Values Providing Role Models who take responsibility – Bible Stories, historical heroes and Mentors Providing ways for Club Kids to take leadership and responsibility in the group

6 U is for U NDERSTANDING Manual II - 1 Volunteers who ‘get’ where foster kids are coming from – child abuse training and camp experience – and work as a TEAM to create understanding. A Mentoring Director who supervises matches and a Club Psychologist A Mentoring Cohort that meets regularly to support each other

7 B is for B elonging Manual II - 1 Club kids often feel like outsiders, even in their own homes “You’re in the Club!”

8 Belonging(s) ! Manual II - 1 “You lose your stuff in foster care. I had one box of pictures and things left from growing up that the group home said they would keep for me. But they lost it.” 19 year old emancipated youth Biblical examples of touchstone objects Joseph’s Coat Samuel’s annual little priest outfit made by Hannah New clothes for festivals

9 S is for S afe Place Manual II - 1 ADULTS – Keep rules and don’t permit abuse or bullying CLUB KIDS – Foster care and friendship

10 Safety for Adults Teamwork Manual II - 1 Supporting each other Working as a team “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

11 Safety for Adults Wounded Children Manual II - 1 Building a relationship with a Club kid wounded by abuse is dangerous Manipulation Burn out RFK Clubs believes that group support for mentors is as important as group support for Club kids.

12 Overview & Program Planning Manual II - 2 Innovative Model C-L-U-B-S

13 Remembering the photos from Camp! Camp Memories Leadership Manual, II-2

What We Do At Club Manual II-3 14

RFK Curriculum Opening Activities Manual II-3 (continued) Games Music Ice Breakers 15

RFK Curriculum Puppet Plays Manual II-3 (continued) Two puppets come out onstage and have a discussion about the value of the month. 16

RFK Curriculum Bible Stories & Props Manual II-3 (continued) Key Verse Bible Story –Props –Planning 17

RFK Curriculum Pre-Club Planning Manual II-3 RFK Curriculum: Ice Breaker Puppet Show Bible Story (with props) You Develop Craft/Activity Music Food Field Trips 18

19 Using Curriculum Worksheets Manual II-4, VI-14 Make copies of the worksheet found in VI. Forms to record assignments for each month’s meeting See manual for sample 9-month Curriculum Overview (Section II-11 & 12).

20 Club Ceremonies Manual II – 4 Club time is perfect for CEREMONIES that publicly celebrate making and keeping commitments 1- Cape Ceremony 2- Closing Ceremony

21 SYMBOLISM OF THE SEAL – a solemn pledge to be true to one’s word Covenant Manual II-5

22 C is for COMMITMENT Cape Ceremony – Cape/Seal Ceremony A Promise Made Manual II 6-8 Leadership Manual, II-6 to II-8, details 1 st meeting of the year, Cape Ceremony process. Logo on back of cape

23 Cape/Seal Ceremony Midland, MI

24 Closing Ceremony A Promise Kept Manual II-9 Each Mentor and Club Kid Who Fulfills Their Covenant Promise Receives the Club Pendant Leadership Manual, II-9, details final meeting of the year, Closing Ceremony process.

25 Club Product Distribution Who gets what when?? Manual II-10

Staff Circle of Prayer Gather staff for prayer & peer support before Club kids & Mentors arrive Allow minutes Read Key Verse for the month Review the day’s Club Plan Prayer requests and praise Everyone stands, holds hands, forming a circle in the Club room, praying for God’s blessing on the children & adults 26 Manual II-13