CLARK COUNTY JUVENILE COURT-Restorative Mentors

A mentor is not primarily a supervisor or taskmaster. They are first of all, and most importantly, a positive community connection and role model for youth. They are a listening ear, an encourager, a teacher, a fellow community member.

Responsibilities
• To be available to mentor assigned youth on a regular basis.
• To establish and maintain appropriate and supportive personal boundaries in the mentoring relationship.
• To encourage safe, responsible behavior while working with youth.
• To provide reasonable and prudent supervision to ensure the safety of assigned youth.
• To maintain the confidentiality of all information related to assigned youth, within the legal requirements for reporting abuse, criminal behavior, or issues of safety and health.

GOAL/MISSION:
Through presence and interaction, to be a personal, human connection to juvenile offenders that encourages them to see themselves as responsible, capable, and positive members of their community.
• To gain the trust and respect of the youth being mentored.
• To be someone who genuinely cares for the well-being of the youth.
• To be accepting of where the youth is now, as you encourage growth and change.
• To discover the youth’s interests.
• To support the youth’s positive actions.
• To help the youth develop to the fullest potential possible. 
• To develop a positive relationship with the youth’s family when possible.
• To provide the youth with positive relationships and experiences, and share your personal interests.
• To build a positive self-image in the youth (Look for positives, reinforce them, and keep building on them).
• To encourage in youth the sense that there is a place for them in their community.
• To involve the youth in making decisions.
• To affirm positive behavior, and respectfully confront negative behavior.

WHO IS MENTORED?
Male and female juveniles ages 11-18, with diverse backgrounds.

CURRENT NUMBER OF MENTORS/MENTEES:
36 mentors
Several youth who are mentored each week at community service projects in a group setting and several youth who are involved with mentors in individual situations.

WHO CAN BE A MENTOR?
Here at Clark County Juvenile Court, we view volunteering as something that can be done by every adult community member. We believe volunteering strengthens our communities and provides a source of community pride. It is a reservoir of the knowledge, skill, initiative and creativity possessed by individual citizens. Volunteering as a Community Mentor in the Juvenile Court’s Restorative Community Service Program is one way citizens of Clark County can contribute to their community.

Qualifications
• Be available.
• Be receptive to the youth’s ideas.
• Be sensitive to the youth’s needs.
• Be able to see and affirm even glimmers of positive thought and action.
• Be reliable.
• Be able to work with people.
• Be a patient listener.
• Be able to work independently.
• Be able to work under pressure.
• Be able to be flexible in a working schedule.
• Be able to communicate effectively with the youth and the community.
• Ability to identify and deal with manipulative behavior.

TRAINING REQUIRED:
• Interview
• 2-hour orientation
• Apprenticeship with experienced mentors as required
• Ongoing supervision

TIME COMMITMENT REQUIRED:
A minimum of 50 hours of direct mentoring activity.

CURRENT WAITING LIST:
Continually accepting applications from those interested in becoming one-on-one and group mentors. Program also has a constant flow of new youth needing mentors.

LOCATION:
500 W. 11th Street
PO Box 5000
Vancouver, WA 98666-5000