Offices & Programs of ADJC
Faith-Based Mentoring
click here to view this document en español

Overview

The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections Youth Mentoring Program assists high risk youth to be successful as they transition back to their communities. It is a faith-based program that also includes community and secular mentor opportunities so that all youth have access to their individual preference. Partnerships with other established community mentoring programs include Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree Mentoring, One-on-One Partners, Match Point, and Incarcerated Youth Outreach.

The goals of the ADJC Youth Mentoring Program are to provide high risk youth with a caring adult who can:

Participate in the youth’s transition planning.

Help youth prioritize and set goals.

Be a friend and role model.

Support and encourage youth.

Assist the youth and their family with practical needs through faith and community contacts.

Introduce youth to work experience opportunities through faith and community contacts.

Be called upon in a variety of ways that are individual to the needs of the youth.

Geographically, ADJC Youth Mentoring Program serves statewide with an initial focus in the rural counties of Cochise, Mohave, Pinal and Yuma. However, the program is also established in Maricopa County, which has the largest number of ADJC high risk youth.

ADJC Youth Mentoring Program requires that youth and mentors are gender matched and when possible, youth and mentors will be the same race/ethnicity, be in proximate geographic locations, and have similar interests. There are three types of youth/mentor match models available:
1). One youth with one mentor (1:1).
2). One youth with two or more mentors (1:N).
3). Two or more youth with two or more mentors (N:N).

ADJC staff is expected to have contact with mentors for mentoring and supervision purposes 2-4 times per month and mentors are expected to provide ADJC staff with written/oral reports regarding their contacts with youth on a monthly basis.

Guidelines for Volunteer Mentors

Mentors for the program must be at least 21 years of age and must belong to a faith or community group. No “unconnected” individuals are recruited.

Prior to being matched with an ADJC youth, mentors must:
Participate in a screening interview.
Complete a written application and obtain references.
Agree to and successfully complete a Criminal Background Check.
Participate in ADJC Community Corrections Orientation.
Sign a written confidentiality statement and mentor contract.
Participate in training as required throughout the duration of the mentor/youth match.
Mentors are expected to make a commitment to participate in the program for a minimum of one year (12 months).

For further information please contact the Webmaster.

Number of Visitors: