Where Mentors Become Friends

Posted Apr 20, 2007 by Stephen Hammill

Updated Apr 20, 2007 at 10:49 AM

CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

By STEPHEN HAMMILL
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DJ Hamilton flashed a radiant and precocious smile as she remembered, to the day, when she and Diane Levesque started hanging out: it was October 16.
“We made Easter baskets last week, and we colored eggs,” DJ said.

Levesque was sitting next to her, and added, “We try to do some crafts, just something different.”

Levesque is a mentor/volunteer in the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s MODEL Mentoring Program. Over the past seven months, she and DJ have become a part of each other’s lives.

The MODEL program stands for Mentors Opening Doors Enriching Lives. It is a one-to-one mentoring program aimed at children ages four to 15 who have an incarcerated parent. Each child is matched with an adult mentor with the goal of building trust that will help the child perform better in school, have stronger family relationships and be more equipped to avoid negative activities or peer relationships.

“We recently made lasagna for her whole family,” Levesque said. “Her grandmother looked tired so we decided to make it ourselves.” DJ’s parents are both in prison; she currently lives with her grandparents.

The mentor walks a line between buddy and teacher. Some days are reserved for pizza and movies; other days feature lessons, like exercise and schoolwork.

“She was having some problems with her reading, so we started ‘Charlotte’s Web,’” Levesque said, “and she actually got her grade up. I’m also trying to teach her about exercise and about healthy eating.”

When DJ’s grandmother asked if she wanted to take part in the MODEL program, she jumped at the chance. DJ has twin sisters who are also in the program with mentors of their own. She has two cousins who are on a waiting list.

The Children’s Home Society of Florida is seeking more volunteers like Levesque to serve as mentors for at-risk children. Camie Bernhardt is the program supervisor for the MODEL program, which she initiated at CHS three years ago. Bernhardt said DJ had to wait a while before a mentor became available. The need for volunteers is close to urgent, as the waiting list hovers in the 40’s.

“We have 88 mentors right now,” she said. “A high majority of our children in need are males.”

The program is similar Big Brothers Big Sisters, except in the MODEL program all the children share the common thread of an incarcerated parent. According to Bernhardt, the most fundamental prerequisites for mentors are responsibility, openness and flexibility.

“We want a positive role model,” Bernhardt said. “We don’t want them becoming part of the child’s life only to disappear or be unreliable.”
As part of the commitment then, CHS asks that the mentors and kids agree to meet one hour a week for a year.

Established in 1902, Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) is one of the state’s oldest private nonprofit organizations providing services to children and families. CHS initially provided adoption and foster care services to homeless children, later becoming a multi-service organization aiding children and families. Programs now provide education and support services to teen mothers, single and struggling parents, intergenerational and extended families, runaway teens, at-risk youth and developmentally and emotionally challenged children.

According to CHS, children in mentoring programs are 46 percent less likely to use drugs and 52 percent less likely to skip school. 
CHS is headquartered in Winter Park, and is comprised of 14 divisions with over 200 locations throughout the state.

Bernhardt said the volunteer application process takes about two weeks. Once a mentor is matched to a particular child, a meeting takes place.

“We all get together and make sure everybody gets along. If they’re not comfortable with the mentor it won’t work out,” she said. “I think the biggest thing is somebody who is going to be committed and not judgmental.”

Levesque, a Carrollwood resident, volunteers in the MODEL program for simple reasons.

“I do it because I have fun,” she said. “I’ve been blessed as an individual. I have a great family, a great job and a great place to live. I’ve had such a great life, and not everybody has, but I can share that with everybody.”

Levesque initially looked into volunteering for the Guardian ad Litem program, “but it’s so intense,” she said. “Then I saw CHS and I thought I could take baby steps.” She said she still plans on volunteering for Guardian ad Litem, which serves neglected and abused children throughout the state, in the future.
“If everybody gives a little, maybe we can make an impact on somebody,” she said.

Levesque does not act as a respite from DJ’s daily life; instead, she integrates herself into it, getting to know DJ’s family and inviting her friends to join her on visits to Levesque’s home.

DJ is a 5th-grader at Davis Elementary School in Tampa. She now lists math and reading as her favorite subjects, somewhat to Levesque’s surprise – further proof of the tangible impact the program is having on her.

DJ pondered some of the other changes that have occurred in her life since meeting Levesque.

“I do eat healthier now,” she said, “and now I help with my grandparents more.”

Just like any other friendship, Levesque and DJ share a give and take relationship where sometimes the student even becomes the mentor.
“She’s teaching me some new dance moves,” Levesque said.

DJ just smiled wide at that.

MODEL Volunteers must be 21 or older and submit to a national background search and complete an orientation. Applications are available on the CHS Web site at http://www.chsfl.org or by calling 727-552-1482 ext. 235.

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