Family
Empowerment Project
Mentors can make a real difference in the lives of the families
they work with. Please consider committing 1-4 hours a week
of your time to mentoring with the Family Empowerment Project.
This program provides in-home mentoring and support for overburdened
families.
Family Empowerment Project program managers, work with Klamath
Youth Development Center’s Community Outreach coordinator,
Amy Boivin, to recruit, train and support community volunteers
and to plan monthly events for the eleven families that are
currently involved in the program. “We match our mentors
with families that are dealing with chronic abuse or neglect
issues. We get referrals from Head Start, Klamath Youth Development
Center, and Child Welfare and Self Sufficiency,” says
Amy. “The requirements for eligibility are that the family
have a child under eight years of age and the family has to
be trying to better their life.”
Volunteer mentors are recruited with posters, presentations
at service clubs and news stories. The volunteer and the family
are asked to commit for one year. The mentor agrees to meet
with the family 1-4 hours each week. Mentor are trained to learn
what community resources are available i.e. education, housing,
food baskets and utilities.
