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Join us at the Alberta Mentoring Partnership Learning Days 2019 to learn more about Covenant House as an organization, our unique approach to mentorship, and how mentorship is supporting youth in their transition from homelessness. Hear success stories and have your questions answered.
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Alberta Mentoring Partnership: Learning Days 2019
Covenant House Mentorship Programs: Supporting Youth in their Transition from Homelessness May 21-22, 2019
Goals for this Session: • Understand more about Covenant House as an organization. 2. Learn about our unique approach to Mentorship 3. Learn more about how Mentorship is supporting youth in their transition from Homelessness: 4. Hear and share some success stories
Learning Agenda: • 11:00am – Introductions (who we are) • 11:05am -Introduction to Covenant House: Who we are, principals, population we serve, programs- Brief overview • 11:15am – Our unique approach to Mentorship • 11:30pm – How Mentorship is supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness • 11:45am – Success Stories • 11:50am – Questions?
Covenant House CHV Mission Statement: • We who recognize God’s providence and fidelity to His people are dedicated to living out His Covenant among ourselves and those children we serve, with absolute respect and unconditional love. That commitment calls us to serve suffering children of the street, and to protect and safeguard all children. Vision Statement: • Covenant House will continue to fulfill its mission by providing shelter and services to children and youth who seek help with a priority of concern and commitment to those for whom no other service is available.
Covenant House What we do: • The staff at Covenant House makes a Covenant with each young person that comes through our doors: We agree to help them if they agree to help themselves. • We offer homeless and at-risk youth (ages 16-24) a continuum of programs designed to meet them where they are at on the often difficult road to recovery. • We are here to support our youth and provide them with the resources and guidance they need, but the initiative to change must come from them. This is a youth-centered approach that empowers young people to reclaim their lives and make positive choices.
Covenant House Core Principles:No matter where we work or volunteer within the agency, these five principles guide us. 1. Immediacy- CH immediately meets the basic needs of youth experiencing homelessness through a nourishing meal, a shower, clean clothes, medical attention, and a safe place to sleep. 2. Sanctuary- CH provides a safe haven from the hardships of homelessness. We recognize the fundamental worth of every human being and create a safe setting where all youth – regardless of life experience or identity – are served without judgement. 3. Value Communication - CH leads by example to demonstrate that caring relationships are based on love, trust, respect, and honesty. 4. Structure- CH provides the stability and structure necessary to build a positive future. 5. Choice- CH fosters confidence; encouraging young people to believe in themselves and make informed choices for their lives.
Covenant House Programs • Community Support Services (Vancouver & Toronto) • Crisis Programs (Vancouver & Toronto) • Rights of Passage (Vancouver & Toronto) • Supportive Housing HB (Vancouver & Toronto) • P.E.A.C.E Project (Toronto) • The Rogers Home (Toronto) • The Avdell Home (Toronto)
Our Unique Approach to Mentorship • WE MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT – A 1 size fits 1 approach • Youth Centered (choice, empowerment, leading) • Match across programs (also following them in and out of services/programs) • Vulnerable street entrenched youth facing multiple barriers • Low numbers for maximum support to matches • Ongoing support and training for mentors & mentees • Special events and Meet and Greet socials
Our Unique Approach to Mentorship • Supervise youth and mentor interactions • Provide ongoing support for both youth and mentors (check-in’s) • Plan a recognition event for mentors • Promote and market the program within the agency and to the community • Create partnerships with other mentoring organizations or other agencies that support our cause
Our Unique Approach to Mentorship • Working with the staff teams in all programs • Using community members and donors as mentors • Program is flexible enough to follow them as they exit and enter various programs and even leave CH services • Communicate together and ask for support from each other • Flexibility with our schedules – using technology and other supports
Our Unique Approach to Mentorship • The Mentor Coordinator will use a Match Rationale form to determine if a youth shares similar interests, goals and values with a potential mentor • A “Meet and Greet” social event will occur prior to the first match. Youth will get an opportunity to complete a Matching Worksheet that will state who their preferred mentor is • One on One meetings will also take place if the youth prefers a non-group setting • Pre-program survey (gain insight on youth situation, values, attitudes in school and in dealing with difficult situations) & Interest Surveys- helps for matching
HowMentorshipis supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness: • Providing them with a supportive and caring adult role-model from the community • Healthy, secure attachment (what this is and what is means?) • Connection/network/community support (careers, school, resources) • Someone to share their goals and dreams with • Having another person that believes in them and listens without judgement- Unbiased support • The opportunity to take some supported risks with someone by their side.
HowMentorshipis supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness: • Exposure to a professional workplace (tour of their work etc.) • Exposure to a college/university (mentors work in the industry or take them to see) • Helping them explore career and education options with a trusted individual • Networking to the greater community, other potential mentors, supports and connections
HowMentorshipis supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness: • To match youth connected with Covenant House services, with mentors for a years time (minimum, many stay matched longer) • We encourage this relationship to continue after the year is over • We want youth to be able to move away from having Covenant House as their prime resource – exposure to greater community • We want our youth to experience healthy relationships with adults (sets the example for other relationships)
HowMentorshipis supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness: Benefits for the youth include: • Awareness, empowerment & understanding • Developing valuable personal & professional skills. • Learning from a more experienced individual • Greater community network- leads to building a stronger sense of community • Engagement in activities (developing a new interest or commitment to an existing one. • Developing a trusting relationship with a caring and responsible adult
HowMentorshipis supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness: STATS Short Term Outcomes: • Increase of support from positive, healthy and trusting role-model adult (non-parental). • Self esteem building • Learning self-efficiency • Positive outlook • Increase in resources • Resiliency
HowMentorshipis supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness: STATS • COVENANT HOUSE VANCOUVER • 90% of Mentees surveyed strongly agree/and or agree that their Mentor praises their accomplishments. • 85% of Mentees surveyed strongly agree and/or agree that they are proud to tell their Mentor when they have done something well. • 80% of Mentees surveyed strongly agree and/or agree their Mentor helps them feel good about themselves and helps them to succeed, encourages them to do well and helps them to see different ways they can deal with my problems.
HowMentorshipis supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness: STATS Vancouver
HowMentorshipis supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness: STATS • COVENANT HOUSE TORONTO • 92% of Mentees surveyed strongly agree/and or agree that they are about to look to their mentor for guidance. • 87% of Mentees surveyed strongly agree/and or agree that their mentor helps them to succeed. • 91% of Mentees surveyed strongly agree/and or agree that their Mentor helps them to spend more time and effort into their learning. • 89% of Mentees surveyed strongly agree/and or agree that they do better in school/work because their mentors tells them they can.
HowMentorshipis supporting Youth in their transition from Homelessness: STATS Toronto
Mentorship Success Stories: • D and G – slow to connect but still connected over 3 years later and different countries • A and S – staying connected, letting us know about $50,000 grant for documentary • J and J – with the help and support of his mentor J has now completed his police foundations program and is on his way to becoming a police officer. • S and H – S is now married with 2 children. They have been connected for over 5 years and S often still calls H for advice and/or support.
QUESTIONS?!: Mentee Quotes: • “My mentor always has something insightful to say about career prospects. Through mentorship I can learn about engineering outside of school. It is one of the great services CHV offers, helping to connect youth with our community.” • “My mentor is my best friend. He has taught me so much about life skills" • “Through the mentorship program at CHT l now have someone to give me advice and a person to talk to about anything. My mentor is the first adult in my life I've been able to truly trust” • “It helped a lot in my progress forward in life having someone to talk to without constraints. ”
