The Mentoring Program
The Mentoring Program provides a mechanism by which Communities in Schools of Marietta/Cobb County (CISMCC) expands and/or enhances the personal one-on-one relationship between a caring adult and students attending our Performance Learning Centers. The mentors help the students develop and define goals as it relates to their post-secondary plans. Mentors also provide support and guidance to ultimately assist these students in successfully completing the requirements for their high school diplomas.
What Is a Mentor?
A mentor is a friend, a trusted counselor, a tutor, a coach, a big brother or big sister.
Why Mentor?
Mentoring helps children to grow and develop. Also mentoring can connect children with safe places and structured activities during non-school hours, a healthy start, marketable skills through effective education and an opportunity to give back through community service. Mentoring can also cultivate character and allow adults to serve as a friend, a trusted counselor, a tutor, or a coach.
Who Can Be A Mentor?
A mentor is an adult who, along with parents, provide young people with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people who care, people who want to help young people bring out strengths that are already there.
Getting Started!
- Submit a volunteer application to CISMCC which includes permission to obtain a background check
- Attend a CISMCC Orientation
- Participate in two-four hour mentor training sessions
- Enroll in the online national mentoring partnership training
Also, the mentor needs to be willing to attend bi-monthly support meetings and meet with the school at least 3 times a month as well write the mentee a letter/note/card once a month.
Making The Match!
After the volunteer application is processed the Services Coordinator will make a match and an introductory meeting is scheduled with the mentor, the mentee, parent and Service Coordinator. At that meeting guidelines and expectations are discussed and the mentor-mentee relationship is established.