The Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) Torrance Office has partnered with the South Bay Community Partnership Council to coordinate and implement a community-based mentor program for foster youths called the South Bay Mentors Coalition. The program is now actively seeking adult volunteers in the South Bay community (from Inglewood down to Palos Verdes Peninsula) to become mentors as a means to help local foster youth become successful adults. Mentors provide the youth with exposure to a positive range of opportunities and life experiences along with serving as role models – validating and encouraging the youth’s abilities, talents and potential.
The minimum suggested commitment for volunteers is one year, with 8 hours of in-person contact and 1 to 2 hours of collateral contact (e-mail, phone calls, etc.) per month with the youth or on the youth’s behalf. "A little quality time can make a lasting impact," said Jan Springer, a Coalition mentor volunteer.
Torrance Regional Administrator Harvey Kawasaki said the program offers volunteer mentors a great avenue to give back to their community by providing foster youth with a connection to a caring adult.
"As these kids come of age and exit the foster system, this program will be invaluable for them to successfully transition to adult society. Most people who live here don’t realize the South Bay area is home to thousands of children who are living apart from their families because of abuse, neglect or other unfortunate circumstances," he said.
A foster child’s connection to an adult can make a big difference. Eighty-one percent of the youth feel that talking with adults helps reduce teen pregnancy. Fifty-three percent credit mentors with improving their ability to avoid drugs and 59 percent of mentees see their grades and/or attendance improve after they received help from their mentor.
Youth who participate in mentor programs are generally between the ages of 12 and 18. They may be academically lagging or high achievers. They many be in a stable placement or may have experienced a succession of caregivers. Most have little or no support system other than their social workers, foster parents or group home staff. All can benefit from some guidance and feedback from a respected and caring adult.
Mentor orientation meetings will be held on January 20th and on February 6th and 21th in the South Bay area for those who want to learn more about mentoring a foster youth. If you are interested in attending one of these orientations to learn about becoming a mentor, please contact Marsha Morton, DCFS Mentor Liaison, at (310) 972-3129. For more information, log onto:
www.Mentors4FosterYouth.org