Wanted: Mentors for UC Partnership to Transform the Lives of Foster Youth

The New Year kicks off a new round of building bright futures for area foster youth, as a UC partnership begins recruitment for mentors to be matched with 25 youth in Hamilton County foster care.

The partnership, called Higher Education Mentoring Initiative (HEMI), is an education-based program aimed at keeping young people who age out of the foster care system on track to a higher education. The pilot program first got underway last year by matching mentors with 25 high school seniors in Hamilton County foster care. The next round of mentors will work with high school juniors in foster care.

HEMI is a partnership represented by UC’s Partner for Achieving School Success (PASS) program in the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH), the UC School of Social Work, Hamilton County Job and Family Services and the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners.

The partnership was created because both national and local figures indicate that college is often a distant dream for kids who age out of foster care. In fact, 2004 figures from the Pew Commission suggested that 20 percent of those children end up homeless and only 58 percent complete high school.

The role of the mentor in this partnership is to assist, encourage and support the academic achievement of the foster student – through high school as well as college – so in some cases, this service could involve up to a six-year commitment as a role model dedicated to building a student’s success. Mentors and students also meet up to two hours per week. The HEMI partnership provides support for both the students and the mentors who are participating in the program. This includes a monthly support group meeting for the mentors as well as monthly training seminars.

To be considered as a mentor, participants must fill out a registration form and undergo a background check and interview process. This includes providing a copy of a valid drivers’ license and proof of insurance. Mentors must also attend either a six-hour training program that will take place on Jan. 23, after they have been cleared in the initial screening process, or a two-part training program on Feb. 2 and Feb. 4. To obtain registration forms and more information, contact Annie Dick, HEMI program coordinator, at 513-556-4368 or e-mail annie.dick@uc.edu.

The selected mentors will meet the foster students on March 11.

The HEMI program also welcomes volunteers who would be willing to serve on support communities involved in event planning, fundraising and training. To become a mentor or get involved, call 513-556-4368.

Partner for Achieving School Success Program

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