1. Mentoring Clubs

2. Why MENTORING CLUBS? RESEARCH CLINICAL FINDINGS CAMP EXPERIENCE
SAFETY and SUPERVISION

3. Key Elements
Mentoring Clubs, through GROUP MENTORING, supports and enhances one-on-one mentoring for every Club kid
HOW?
Commitment
Leadership
Understanding
Belonging/Belongings
Safe Place

4. C is for COMMITMENT
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 Mentoring Club kid is strengthened by Community and Ceremony

5. C is for COMMITMENT Move every 12-18 months Have 3 homes by age 4
Most infants in foster care:
Move every months
Have 3 homes by age 4
Older children move even more

6. C is for COMMITMENT Failed Matches Are Dangerous
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.

7. L is for LEADERSHIP Teaching Leadership, Character and Values
Providing Role Models who take responsibility – Bible Stories, historical heroes and Mentors
Providing ways for Mentoring Club Kids to take leadership and responsibility in the group

8. U is for UNDERSTANDING
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 Club Director who supervises matches and a Mentoring Club Psychologist
A Mentor Supervision & Support Meeting that meets regularly to support each other

9. Club kids often feel like outsiders, even in their own homes
B is for Belonging
“You’re in the Club!”
Club kids often feel like outsiders, even in their own homes

10. Belonging(s) ! Biblical examples of touchstone objects Joseph’s Coat
“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

11. S is for Safe Place ADULTS – CLUB KIDS –
Keep rules and don’t permit abuse or bullying
CLUB KIDS –
Foster care and friendship

12. Safety for Adults 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

13. Safety for Adults Wounded Children
Building a relationship with a Mentoring Club kid wounded by abuse is dangerous
Manipulation
Burn out
RFK Mentoring Clubs believes that group support for Mentors is as important as group support for Mentoring Club kids.

14. What We Do At Mentoring Club

15. Camp Memories
Remembering the photos from Camp!

16. RFK Curriculum
Opening Activities
Games
Music
Ice Breakers

17. RFK Curriculum Puppet Plays Focus on values with humor
introduces Bible story theme

18. RFK Curriculum Bible Story Key verse for each month
Bible story (with suggested props and non-speaking parts for Mentoring Club Kids)

19. Mentoring Club Ceremonies
Mentoring Club time is perfect for CEREMONIES that publicly celebrate making and keeping commitments
1- Cape Ceremony
2- Closing Ceremony

20. 1st Meeting of the Year A PROMISE MADE C is for COMMITMENT
Cape Ceremony –
Leadership Manual details 1st meeting of the year, Cape Ceremony process.
Logo on back of cape

21. Cape and Seal Ceremony

22. Covenant
SYMBOLISM OF THE SEAL – a solemn pledge to be true to one’s word

23. Closing Ceremony A PROMISE KEPT
Each Mentor and Mentoring Club Kid Who Fulfills Their Covenant Promise
Receives the Club Pendant
Leadership Manual for details final meeting of the year, Closing Ceremony process.

24. Staff Circle of Prayer
Gather staff for prayer & peer support before Mentoring 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

25. Mentoring Club Staff Positions
Mentoring Club Coordinator Position
Certified Mentoring Club Staff & Non Certified Mentoring Club Staff
Activity Center Coordinator
Bible Teacher
Music Coordinator

26. Mentoring Club Staff Positions
Mentoring Club Register
Grandpa & Grandma
Mentors in Training (MIT)
Special Guest
Mentoring Club Photographer
Mentoring Club Psychologist

27. Mentoring Club Staff Positions
Child Matching Coordinator
Mentor
Safety Companion